While he may be Falcon no more,Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) tenure as the iconic hero before going full-Cap was a great one.Before he took up the legendary mantle, he fought alongside the firstCaptain America, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) as the Falcon, and brought some of the most classicMarvel Cinematic Universescenes out there.
He’s certainly going to pop-offin 2025’s highly anticipatedCaptain America: Brave New World, but he made his mark as Falcon before anything else. Whether he was taking part in a massive battle or taking a moment to slow down and honor one of the most influential, yet secret, members in America’s history,Sam’s time as Falcon is one not to be forgotten, even as he moves on to greater things.
Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World follows Sam Wilson as he steps into his role as the new Captain America. Navigating the complexities of geopolitics, Sam encounters an international incident involving a mysterious global plot. As tensions rise, he must uncover the mastermind behind the scheme to prevent worldwide chaos.
10The Freeway Fight
‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ (2021)
Of all the Disney+ Marvel series,The Falcon and the Winter Soldieris one of the best and has some of the best moments, especially for Sam’s character. One of the most creative and entertaining fights that Sam has been part of is one that takes place atop two semi-trucks barreling down a freeway. Falcon isn’t alone, however, as he’s joined by Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) & his partner,Lemar Hoskins (Clé Bennett).
As a group of new super-soldiers are up to no good, they crash the job to try and stop them. The fight is so dynamic, especially for Sam, ashe not only fights hand-to-hand on top of the trucks, while also taking flight when needed.This is also the first time he got to fight against the new and ever-hated Captain America (at the time), John Walker, which set his and Bucky’s growing animosity towards John into higher gear.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Following the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Sam Wilson/Falcon and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities – and their patience.
9Falcon Comes Out of Hiding
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)
Steve Rogers' entrance inAvengers: Infinity Waris one of the best,most rewatchable scenes in the MCU.This also serves as the entrance for his comrades, which includes Falcon. As the grizzled captain distracts everyone on the other side of the train tracks, Falcon rockets in and kicks the blue out of Proxima Midnight (Carrie Coon).
Together, the three force the two Black Order members into retreat. The three work so well together and are like a well-oiled machine. The little combo moves that Falcon gets with the other two as they kick Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive (Michael Shaw) to the curb to aid Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany).
Avengers: Infinity War
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
8Sam Takes Down HYDRA/S.H.I.E.L.D.
‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ (2014)
Captain America: The Winter Soldieris renowned asone of the best MCU moviesof all time. It also happens to be the film that introduced Sam Wilson into the franchise. While he initially is brought in as a supportive hand for Steve Rogers, he takes up his old wings from his time in the military and becomes the Falcon to aid Steve and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) in their mission to stop HYDRA/S.H.I.E.L.D. from executing their new world order.
He gets the most high-flying action in this final battle, flying around the multiple Helicarriers and taking down air support for the enemy. For it being his first big fight in the MCU,this scene does a wonderful job showing the kind of dynamic action that he was going to bringto the cinematic universe. It’s a wonderful scene that introduced a whole new type of action to theCaptain Americaseries.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
7Sam and Bucky’s Couples Therapy
Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes have a dynamic unlike any other in the MCU. They have a profound respect and brotherly love for one another; but they also seemingly disdain each other, and itprovides some great back and forth humor between the two. So, whenThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierwas announced asthe next Disney+ Marvel series, audiences were pretty excited to see what sort of hijinks the two would get themselves into.
Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes have a dynamic unlike any other in the MCU.
The show decides to lean into this relationship in a scene that is both funny and charming. Sam gets dragged into Bucky’s therapy session to get at what has been eating at Barnes. It goes exactly how one would think, especially when they start “soul gazing” and immediately have a staring contest. But after the jokes have come and gone, the scene hits right at home when Bucky puts the pressure on Sam about giving up Steve’s shield.This adds to the weight that pushes down on the next Captain America through the entire series. So not only is it laugh-inducing, but extremely vital to Sam’s arc.
6Sam Comes to Steve’s Aid with Half the Universe
‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
This may be a small Falcon moment, but it’s one of his most legendary. Just when things look the most dire inAvengers: Endgameand Captain America is ready to make his last stand, a familiar voice begins to break through his communications earpiece. Audiences caught onto what might have been happening, butone line that is a phenomenal callbacksealed the deal: “On your left.”
When Sam’s iconic line hits, a portal opens and Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and his crew walk through.Half of the universe is back, and who initiates the big moment? The falcon-winged Avenger. The Falcon then flies through the newly opened portal and circles the battlefield, where even more portals begin to open. This isn’t solely Falcon’s scene in the slightest, but this small moment kicks off one of themost celebrated scenes in all superhero cinema.
Avengers: Endgame
5The Falcon vs. Spider-Man
‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016)
Everyone loves a good hero-on-hero fight. It’s a huge reason that people flocked to theaters to seeCaptain America: Civil Warin 2016. Fans grew even more excited when the trailers revealed that the MCU’s Spider-Man (Tom Holland) was going to be making his cinematic debut in the third entry. And who was one of the first heroes to trade blows with the new Wall-Crawler? Guess.
As the rest of the heroes duke it out on the airport tarmac, Bucky and Falcon run through the terminal to get to the Quinjet. Things getsticky, though, when Spidey crashes through the glass and takes both heroes on, two-on-one. While this is a very rewatchable scene for Spider-Man, it’s also a pretty big win for Falcon, ashe gets to be the one (alongside Bucky) to first fight the MCU Peter Parker. It’s also an extremely fun battle.
Captain America: Civil War
Political involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
4The Lagos Fight
The opening action sequence ofCaptain America: Civil War is a thrilling fight. Picking up during a mission looking for Agent Brock Rumlow (Frank Grillo), aka Crossbones, in Lagos, Steve Rogers and his newest Avengers lineup get in quite a scuffle with the villain and his crew. This scene serves as the first real time thatFalcon is included in a legitimate Avengers team roster.
Having an Avenger who can provide air support that’s a lot more mobile than Iron Man is a great inclusion.
The high-flying hero ends up being one of the reasons that the battle is so dynamic. Having an Avenger who can provide air support that’s a lot more mobile than Iron Man is a great inclusion.His combo moves with the likes of Scarlet Witch are awesomeand keep this fight unlike any in the MCU up to that point.
3Sam Wilson vs. Agent Rumlow
While he may be the Falcon, Sam Wilson doesn’t need his wings to kick some serious butt. After he is de-winged by the Winter Soldier late in the final battle ofCaptain America: The Winter Soldier,he still takes action and ends up taking on Agent Brock Rumlowin the S.H.I.E.L.D. building as the world fell down around them.
While he may be the Falcon, Sam Wilson doesn’t need his wings to kick some serious butt.
Not only does he take on a highly decorated S.H.I.E.L.D. agent alone, hand-to-hand, he also manages an insane feat byjumping out of the building and landing in a helicopter piloted by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as the building collapsed behind him. If fans hadn’t been convinced that Sam had earned a place in the MCU earlier in the movie, this was the perfect cherry on top.
2"That’s why it’s yours."
There was an unspoken promise withAvengers: Endgamebefore release thatthe original six Avengerswere most likely going to all find their way out of the MCU some way or another. Steve Rogers was one of the said majority. When he returns to the present day after living a full life with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Steve makes a huge decision that will change Sam Wilson’s life forever.
…Steve makes a huge decision that will change Sam Wilson’s life forever.
Steve Rogers hands the Captain America shield and mantle down to his good pal, and it’s a monumental moment for both characters.It simultaneouslywraps up Steve’s character arcand sets a whole new one in motion for the next in line. It’s a huge moment that may very well be one of the most pivotal in the MCU.
1Sam Wilson Meets Steve Rogers
The first scene inthe always entertainingCaptain America: The Winter Soldieris not the kind of moment many would expect a traditional Marvel movie to open up on. As Steve Rogers takes a sprint around Washington D.C., he comes across Sam Wilson, who’s going for a run—at normal human speeds. They have a hilarious back and forth, whichsets up the running “on your left” gag in the franchise.
His interaction with Sam also introduces a new heroand does the perfect job at getting viewers caught up to speed with where the titular character has been since the events ofThe Avengersand the kind of life he’s leading. It was not only the best opening scene the movie could have, but the best debut Mr. Wilson could have had.
