Summary
Over the years, several characters have managed to leave theMarvel Cinematic Universewith a happy and satisfying ending. One of the things that makes the MCU so believable and realistic is the fact that not every major character in the franchise sticks around forever. While some have simply moved on to embark on adventures audiences may not see, others have laid down their lives, paying the ultimate price to protect the Earth and the universe as a whole. Seeing belovedcharacters leave the MCUis often emotional, but some have had tender and touching endings.
Many MCU characters haven’t been lucky enough to get their happy endings. Most prominently, theMCU’s best villainsare usually defeated by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes before completing their missions, but several heroes have also seen bitter ends. While the likes of Quicksilver, Black Widow, the Scarlet Witch, and the original Loki and Gamora, among others, didn’t get happy endings,there have been a handful of MCU characters who have ended their journeys on a lighter and more satisfying note.
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10Jane Foster Was Granted Access To Valhalla
Jane Foster’s MCU Story Ended In Thor: Love & Thunder (2022)
Jane Foster’s demise inThor: Love and Thunderwas bittersweet.It was a shame for Foster to succumb to her cancer only days after reconnecting with Thor, but she cemented herself as a powerful and significant hero in the moments prior to her death. Despite her death,Jane Foster’s Mighty Thorwas able to destroy Gorr the God Butcher’s necrosword, and convince him to renounce his quest against the MCU’s Gods, instead prompting him to revive his daughter, Love, at the altar of Eternity.
The Mighty Thor’s hand in the battle against Gorr the God Butcher earned her a place in Valhalla inLove and Thunder’spost-credits scene. This means that, even though she may be gone, Jane Foster will be graced with an eternity in paradise.This is a fitting end for the long-running MCU character, as Natalie Portman has portrayed Jane Foster since 2011’sThor, and has always been a steadfast ally and companion to the God of Thunder.
Jane Foster joined Idris Elba’s Heimdall in Valhalla, following his death at the hands of Thanos inAvengers: Infinity War, and she could meet several other fallen MCU characters there.
9Yondu Redeemed Himself As A Guardian Of The Galaxy
Yondu’s MCU Story Ended In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Initially depicted as a minor antagonist and then tenuous ally to Peter Quill and the Guardians of the Galaxy, Michael Rooker’sYondu fully redeemed himself inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.Yondu helped in the fight against Ego before sacrificing himself to save Peter Quill’s life, proving that he was a better father figure to Star-Lordthan his biological father ever could be. This occurred moments after Yondu was christened an official member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, marking a huge transformation for the Ravager.
What made Yondu’s ending even more joyous was the appearance of his former Ravager friends at his funeral. After previously being exiled from the group, Yondu’s actions throughoutGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2persuaded the Ravagers to flash their fireworks display as his body was sent into space.This was an incredibly emotional moment, underlining the impact that Yondu had on many lives, and making his send-off a beautiful event, giving him a happy ending despite his unfortunate demise.
8Sprite Was Finally Granted The Thing She’d Always Wanted
Sprite’s MCU Story Ended In Eternals (2021)
Despite being one of Phase 4’s most divisive projects,Eternalshad a moving ending that finally gave Lia McHugh’s Sprite everything she’d been dreaming of. While the Celestials designed the other Eternals in the shapes of adult humans, Sprite was locked in the body of a teenager for millennia, leading to a great deal of resentment.All she wanted was to feel what it is to be human, to grow old, to fall in love, and to eventually die after a long life, and Sersi was able to grant this to herinEternals’final moments.
With her power enhanced by the Uni-Mind,Sersi was able to transform Sprite into a living and breathing human, giving her a happy ending, despite her previous betrayal. This ultimately meant that Sprite had to leave the other Eternals behind, but this will allow her to set out to pave her own path. It’s unclearwhat the future holds for the other Eternals, but Sprite will have the boring, mundane, human life she’d always dreamed of.
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7Odin Made Peace With His Death In A Beautiful Moment
Odin’s MCU Story Ended In Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Anthony Hopkins' brief appearance asOdin inThor: Ragnaroksticks out as one of the MCU’s most touching and emotional scenes. After being a powerful and strong figure throughoutThorandThor: The Dark World,Ragnarokcaught up with a weakened Odin on Earth, who had already come to terms with his impending demise. He took this opportunity to speak to his sons, Thor and Loki, informing them that his death would release Hela, but also stating how proud he was of both of them.
This culminated in Odin dissipating into stardust, presumably making his way to Valhalla.This was a moment of quiet and contemplation in Taika Waititi’s hilarious MCU debut, giving Odin a peaceful farewell, and making the most of Hopkins' incredible talent in only a few moments. Most characters in the MCU perhaps wish for a death as graceful and beautiful as Odin’s, though few are so lucky.
6Drax Became A Father Figure
Drax’s MCU Story Ended In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Throughout the entirety of James Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise, Dave Bautista’s Drax the Destroyer was dealing with the after-effects of the murder of his wife and daughter. This fueled his hatred forRonan the Accuser and Thanos, but after both of these villains were eliminated, Drax was still something of a lost soul without his family. This changed inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and evenDave Bautista has commented on the fact that the 2023 movie marked a"perfect exit"for his long-running MCU hero(viaVariety).
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3marked the end for the original Guardians line-up, with each member heading off for new adventures of their own. For Drax, this involved remaining in Knowhere, where a new society had been established, comprised of the saved experiments and individuals from theHigh Evolutionary’s laboratory.Drax formed a close bond with the children saved from the High Evolutionary, and became a father figure to them all, finally letting go enough to burst into dance in the movie’s powerful ending.
5Nebula Is The Leader Of A New Society On Knowhere
Nebula’s MCU Story Ended In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
While Drax has become a father figure to the new children in Knowhere, Nebula has become the leader of the entire society.Karen Gillan’s child of Thanos became one of the MCU’s most complex, and most improved, characters over her almost-decade-long arc. Nebula went from villain to antihero, and eventually to bona fide hero and Guardian of the Galaxy. However, her story has, for now, come to an end, as she will be kept busy forging a new civilization.
Nebula’s complete arc wrapped up perfectly inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but her MCU story might not actually be over just yet. A recent report fromDeadlinesuggested thatKaren Gillan may be billed to return, so audiences might soon get a glimpse at the vibrant and bustling new community she has helped to create in Knowhere. For now, Nebula’s happy ending has seen her become a true leader, someone to trust, and a kind and compassionate hero, which is a far cry from her personality in her 2014 debut.
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4Gamora Found Her New Family
Gamora’s MCU Story Ended In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3seemed to include the most happy endings for the most characters in the MCU’s history. As well as Nebula, Drax, and other members of the original Guardians team, the2014 variant of Gamorawho traveled to the present day inAvengers: Endgamealso got her own version of a happy ending inVol. 3. Unfortunately,this happy ending didn’t include her staying with the Guardians in Knowhere, but instead saw her return to her new Ravager family at the end of the movie.
Zoe Saldaña’s original Gamora was sacrificed by Thanos inAvengers: Infinity War, and this new version was taken from the timeline before meeting the Guardians of the Galaxy. Her hard personality made her a much better fit with the Ravagers, so this was a fitting end forGamora in the MCU, despite the fact that she had to bid an emotional farewell to Peter Quill.Her time with the Guardians of the Galaxy taught her a lot, but it was great to see her return to her new loving family.
3Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Villains Were All Cured By Peter Parker & His Variants
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) Made The Endings Of Several Villains’ Stories Better
Each of the five multiversalvillains featured inSpider-Man: No Way Homepreviously had bitter deaths in their original movies. Luckily for them, however, Doctor Strange and Peter Parker’s meddling with unpredictable spells plucked them from their original universes in the moments before their demises, offering them a chance at redemption. This was, indeed, a hard process, butTom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Men eventually managed to cure all five villains, reverting them to their original and sane selves.
Norman Osborn, Dr. Otto Octavius, Flint Marko, Dr. Curt Connors, and Max Dillon were subsequently returned to their original universes, only now with a second chance to do better. This was an incredibly cathartic ending for each villain, particularly in the case ofWillem Dafoe’s Green Goblin, who is the modern era’s longest-running live-action Spider-Man villain.These villains may not have deserved their happy endings, but the fact they got them proved Peter Parker’s compassion and heroism.
2Tony Stark’s Sacrifice Could Be Seen As A Happy Ending, Despite His Death
Tony Stark’s MCU Story Ended In Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Robert Downey Jr.’s departure from the MCUinAvengers: Endgameforged one of the franchise’s most emotional moments. Many would consider Tony Stark’s death the opposite to a happy ending, but this actually isn’t the case.The sheer fact that Stark evolved enough as a character to sacrifice his own life, when he began as an egotistical and arrogant genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, proves his heroic nature. Stark’s Iron Man was perhaps the most transformed character in the MCU’s Infinity Saga, and hisEndgamesacrifice solidifies this.
Tony Stark used the Infinity Stonesto eliminate Thanos and his armies, paying the ultimate price to save the entire universe. However, it wasn’t the universe he was saving, but his wife, Pepper Potts, and daughter, Morgan Stark. In these characters, and heroes such as War Machine, Ironheart, and Spider-Man, Stark leaves his legacy.Stark made peace with his possible demise prior to embarking on the Time Heist, but made sure that his daughter knew he loved her in his final moments.
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1Steve Rogers’ Ending Perfectly Wrapped Up His MCU Journey
Steve Rogers’ MCU Story Ended In Avengers: Endgame (2019)
While Tony Stark’s “happy ending” inAvengers: Endgameculminated in his death, the same cannot be said for Steve Rogers, who actually received a genuine happy ending.Chris Evans' Captain America was dealt many blows throughout his MCU career, including sacrificing himself inCaptain America: The First Avenger, losing Peggy Carter inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, and becoming a fugitive inCaptain America: Civil War. However,Avengers: Endgame’sbeautiful endingmore than made up for these losses.
After defeating Thanos and returning the Infinity Stones and Mjolnir to their respective timelines,Steve Rogers decided to retire from the Avengers. He found a new home in the 1950s, presumably in an alternate timeline, where he reunited with his lost love, Peggy Carter.Avengers: Endgameended with Rogers and Carter dancing in their living room, but not before the elderlySteve Rogers passed his legacy on to Sam Wilson. This was an incredibly moving sequence of events at the end of the most powerful project in theMarvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
