10 Best Scenes Of Superheroes Saving People In Comic Book Movies

Comic book movies often neglect a critical component of superhero work, saving civilians, with a handful of scenes standing out as being perfect examples of what more films should be doing. From the eclectic DC films from Warner Bros to the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s shockingly often that superhero movies actually remember to include scenes of heroes saving people, a crucial element of their job other than fighting villains or struggling with a secret identity. Luckily, a select few movies take the time to show the more altruistic side of their famous characters.

When scenes like this do come up in celebrated superhero movies, they usually fall into one of two categories. Either the hero is saving citizens from an ill-timed natural disaster or deadly human-fault accident, or they’re forced to step in when one of their supervillains threaten the peace by getting innocent bystanders involved. In either case, the best superhero moviestake the time to establish that their protagonists don’t just beat up villains and criminals, but actively help those in need as well.

10 Iron Man Makes A Monkey Chain

Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 is the criminally underrated finish to the original Iron Man trilogy, featuring one of the few moments to show Tony Stark using his suit to directly save lives. After a deadly attack from an Extremis-empowered terrorist depressurizes the cockpit of a plane, Iron Man is forced to use his flight to save all 13 falling passengers. Luckily, he has an idea inspired by the classic toy many kids grew up playing with, “Barrel of Monkeys.”

Instructing each passenger he saves to link hands with one another, Iron Man manages to daisy-chain all the falling victims of the attack by electrifying their arms to force their grip shut, eventually gliding downwards with the entire baker’s dozen for a rough but non-lethal water landing. This scene truly showcases Tony’s ingenuity and ability to think-on-the-fly, using every resource available to him to overcome the odds. Even better, the scene was filmed mostly practically with real sky-divers, adding a palpable sense of danger to the sequence.

9 Spider-Man Stops A Runaway Train

Spider-Man 2

The moment in which Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man stops a run-away train is one of the highlights of the entire Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy. After a commuter traincar is sent hurtling towards a short bridge, Spider-Man has to act quickly to keep it from falling off. Using his body as a brake, Spider-Man thwips multiple strands of web between himself and the surrounding buildings, barely managing to slow the train down enough in time before it topples over the edge.

What makes this scene so particularly great is just how exhausted Spider-Man is after performing the rescue, collapsing from the stress of one of his most powerful displays of strength ever. The appreciative riders gingerly lifting him back to safety over their heads is one of the film’s most poignant moments. As is their promise to keep Peter Parker’s secret identity hidden and even stand up to Doc Ock when he comes looking for Spider-Man.

8 Superman Catches A Falling Passenger Plane

Superman Returns

Brandon Routh’s Superman is an often overlooked member of the elite group of actors to have played the Man of Steel in cinemas. While he may have mostly been cast for his resemblance to Christopher Reeve, he was more than capable of making the role his own, as demonstrated in the film’s plane scene. After Lex Luthor’s EMP disables a space shuttle’s ability to decouple with the plane carrying it (as well as Lois Lane), Superman springs into action for the first time in years to avert the disaster.

Saving not one, but two aircraft simultaneously is an impressive feat for any Superman, and Brandon Routh makes it appear effortless as he gently guides the spacecraft into orbit. Not forgetting about the passenger plane, he then races towards the plummeting vehicle to catch it in time with all the grace of an All-American hero. Seeing Brandon Routh finally park the jet in the middle of an active baseball stadium is a quintessentially “Superman” moment that deserves more acclaim.

7 Batman Leads The Flood Rescue Effort

The Batman

Matt Reeves’ The Batman is all about an early Batman’s realization that needs to be not just as symbol of fear for the criminal element within Gotham City, but a bastion of hope for the law-abiding citizens living there, too. This gradual acceptance of his new role is punctuated by his efforts to lead the relief against the flood caused by the Riddler’s bombs. First, he lights a flare to guide survivors, literally becoming a glowing bastion of hope to Gotham citizens, before continuing to aid paramedics and rescue services on the scene.

This sequence is so significant for many reasons. The imagery and metaphorical weight of Batman’s actions aren’t lost on the tone of the film, which shifts from bleak to hopeful. It’s worth noting also that Batman doesn’t perform any flashy rescues or actions that couldn’t be completed by a trained paramedic, simply adding his hands to those managing the crisis. At this moment, Robert Pattinson’s Batman became one of the most faithful and thoughtful of any gritty movie interpretation.

6 Captain America Aiding Evacuation Efforts In The Avengers

The Avengers

The invasion of New York City by the fearsome Chitauri warriors is one of the most deadly single battles in the MCU. In The Avengers, Captain America proves his mettle against the aliens, recognizing that he’ll have to fight to save a group of civilians they’ve rounded up into a bank for easy extermination. Spotting the Chitauri detonation device, Captain America acts quickly to prevent the explosion, buying enough time for all the huddled civilians to escape in his fight against Loki’s soldiers.

While this scene is technically more of a fight than a straightforward rescue, it still demonstrates the same heroic mettle that other superheroes strive for when saving civilians. Captain America pulls no punches against the invaders, snapping necks and forcing friendly fire in his effort to save as many lives as possible. Even if the advanced bomb does eventually go off, Captain America’s efforts in protecting his hometown’s residents can’t be undersold.

5 Superman’s Helicopter Rescue

Superman

It’s fitting that one of the earliest-ever scenes featuring Christopher Reeve’s legendary Superman is a straightforward rescue. Clark Kent is among the Metropolis crowd who spot a helicopter ride gone horribly wrong, the vehicle being precariously perched on a skyscraper with no easy way off. This prompts him to change into his Superman suit, jumping into action to save the dangling Lois Lane.

It’s great enough that this scene is Superman and Lois’ first meeting, setting the classic precedent for their relationship to come. The reassurance in Reeve’s voice as he talks her through the emergency and effortlessly catches a falling helicopter (with an incredibly impractical grip) immediately sold 70s audiences to the fact that they were seeing something truly special. The scene also accrues some bonus points for being the first instance of Superman’s classic outfit change while spinning through a revolving door.

4 Spider-Man Webs Up A Bisected Ferry

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming proves that when dealing with a critical emergency situation, it always helps for a given hero to have a little back-up. When one of the experimental Chitauri-based weaponry peddled by The Vulture goes off on a ferry, it bisects the vessel clean in half, immediately fanning the flames of panic as those aboard prepare to go down with the ship. Luckily, Spider-Man is there to control the chaos, spinning countless threads of web to physically pull the two halves of the boat back together with his inhuman strength.

Just when it seems hope is lost as Spider-Man’s efforts aren’t good enough, Iron Man swoops in for the assist, pushing the cracked shell back together with the aid of some suspiciously-specific repulsor drones and spot-welding the hull back together with his laser. It’s a shame that this moment serves as a low-point for Peter Parker, who goes behind his mentor’s back only to fail, but serves as a crucial moment in the development of Spider-Man and Iron Man’s mentor relationship. That aside, the shot of Peter struggling to hold the ship together is too good to ignore.

3 Multiple Spider-Men Save People On A Collapsing Bridge

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

As great as Iron Man and Spider-Man’s team-up to save lives in Spider-Man: Homecoming is, the interdimensional collaboration to save citizens on a falling bridge in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse manages to outdo it. While in Earth-50101’s Mumbattan, Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, Spider-Punk, and the dimension’s native Spider-Man have to act quickly when a canon event is interrupted, causing a breach in the fabric of space and time that begins to subsume a densely-populated bridge. The following rescue is a harrowing collaboration between all four heroes.

Beyond being an impressive action setpiece that shows off the animation of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the scene is great for the film’s character building purposes. Each Spider-Man variant puts their pride below their efforts as they quickly split up duties and follow each other’s orders with no hesitation, realizing that lives are on the line with every second that passes. The scene also sets up Miles’ unwillingness to let people die, even in the face of canon events.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

While technically taking place in another DCEU movie chronologically, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice features a dramatic opening sequence that quickly establishes the universe’s take on Batman. In the wake of Zod and Superman’s fight in downtown Metropolis, the city below becomes a hellscape of falling buildings and rubble, with countless civilians dying in the battle. While still in plainclothes as Bruce Wayne, Batman springs into action, doing what he can to save terrified civilians.

The awe-inspiring imagery of Bruce Wayne running headfirst against the grain of the ground into a terrifying plume of dust is some of the film’s most striking imagery. The scene makes it clear that Batman will put saving innocent lives above all else, even when out of costume, demonstrating his pre-existing character while setting up his weariness of Superman’s existence. For all the mistakes Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice made, this beat is a prominent point in the film’s favor.

1 Superman Protects Oil Rig Workers In A Disaster

Man of Steel

Batman isn’t the only hero of the DCEU willing to put his life on the line to save others even when out-of-costume, as demonstrated by Clark Kent in Man of Steel. Before assuming the Superman persona, Clark Kent works a series of odd-jobs that put his mental fortitude to the test, including serving on the crew of a dangerous fishing vessel. When his ship comes across a burning oil rig, Clark Kent can’t watch idly by, and springs into action, diving into the searing flames of the oil and bitter cold of the sea.

This scene demonstrates this version of Superman’s immense strength, able to withstand the full weight of a collapsing oil rig. More importantly, it demonstrates a clear character arc, with Clark now willing to use his powers in broad daylight despite the horrible lesson his father attempted to teach him with his own death. Zack Snyder’s first DCEU comic book movie is difficult to outdo in terms of daring rescue scenes.