Welcome Home: The Best MCU Family Moments

As the god of thunder once said, “Families can be tough.” Family puts us through a whole range of emotions — even when you’re a super hero. Sometimes they might make us want to smash a fourth wall or fly into the atmosphere, but at the end of the day, we depend on family to have our backs.

Whether we’re talking parents, siblings, or the friends we view as family, these support systems are essential. And that goes double when you’re trying to subdue a super-villain or save the world! Here are 10 of the best family moments in the MCU so far.

Warning: Spoiler in the last entry for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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“I Love You 3,000”

Avengers: Endgame

Gotta start off with a classic, and that’s the line shared between Tony Stark and his daughter, Morgan. Their banter together is especially adorable because we see a softer side to Iron Man, as well as Morgan’s heartwarming precociousness. For little Morgan, “3,000” is the biggest number she can think of and for Tony, that’s the only number that matters in the whole universe.

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“We are Groot.”

The Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1

Found family is just as important as blood family, especially for a group of misfits like the Guardians of the Galaxy. It takes some time for these intergalactic outlaws to form trust in each other but once that bond is established, it’s unbreakable. Groot’s sacrifice, a rare moment in which he deviates from his usual syntax, shows the extraordinary heights to which these heroes have grown from friends to family.

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Yelena and Natasha’s Family Dinner

Black Widow

This is a tough one. From start to finish (minus the mind-controlled pig) this dinner perfectly captures the ups and downs of a meal with family. The dynamics between parents and siblings are all there until Natasha, frustrated with the lack of information, asserts that their family was never real. In that moment, Yelena decides she’s had enough and tells her sister to stop. Their family might have been the product of espionage and the horrific Black Widow program, but to Yelena, the love they shared was still real.

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Thor Sees His Mom One More Time

Avengers: Endgame

For those of us who have lost a loved one suddenly, we often wonder what it would be like to reunite with them just one more time. During the Time Heist, Thor is granted this special opportunity when he runs into his mother, Frigga. With her witchy wisdom, she sees through her son’s plan and the two enjoy their few moments speaking together.

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Wanda’s Super Family Fights Together

WandaVision

Wanda Maximoff goes through an impressive character arc. From unsure ally to unstoppable villain, the Scarlet Witch is a force to be reckoned with. However, her power is often closely connected to the love she holds for others, especially her family. Though she must eventually say goodbye to Vision and their sons, this moment in WandaVision is extremely powerful. It’s inspiring to see such a new family of super heroes who are willing to stick together, even against an evil like Agatha Harkness. Though her family suffers, it can’t be denied that Wanda inspires love wherever she goes.

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Shang-Chi’s Pendant

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

For Shang-Chi, family is a bit difficult. His father put him through turmoil throughout his childhood, his sister is estranged, and his mom passed away when he was young. But this memory, when Ying Li gives her son the jade pendant, connects Shang-Chi to his mom. An heirloom can represent a family’s wealth or importance, but it can also be a treasured connection. The pendant is a gift from Shang-Chi’s mom that will always guide him home when he loses his way.

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Kate Visits Clint’s House for Christmas

Hawkeye

The holidays can be a difficult time for people who have lost family or who are no longer close to their family. Kate Bishop knows this all too well by the end of the Hawkeye series. However, Clint Barton takes Kate (and Lucky the Pizza Dog!) home to his family for the holidays. As soon as they walk through the door, Laura and the kids welcome Kate with open arms and warm smiles.

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Kamala Tells Her Family about Ms. Marvel

Ms. Marvel

This scene, in which Kamala Khan tells her family the truth about her super hero identity, mirrors a moment that many families experience. No matter what sort of truth is being shared, there’s always the fear that it will not be met with understanding. After an inspiring talk with her Naani, Kamala decides it’s time to tell her family about Ms. Marvel. Fortunately, Kamala’s family learns about her powers with grace and a sense of humor, reassuring her that they still love her and are proud of who she is. This is family at its best.

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America’s Moms

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

For queer MCU fans, this is a huge moment. In addition to America’s pride pin on her jacket, we also get to relive with her a memory of her moms. Of course, the memory soon gives way to a nightmare when young America is startled and her portal powers kick in. But until then, we have a brief moment of beautiful representation. America loves her moms more than anything and hopefully she will be reunited with them as she learns to control her power.

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Shuri Meets New Family on the Beach

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Family also represents legacy. We see ourselves in the younger generations, and try to lift them up so they can have better lives than us. Even in times of grief, we can look to them as beacons of light, the ones who will keep it going forward. For Shuri at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, she has finally learned to embrace the grieving process. She burns her mourning robes on a beach in Haiti while visiting Nakia.

When Shuri is ready, Nakia brings out a surprise: her son with T’Challa, whom they named Toussaint. His name, in French, means “all saints,” an allusion to the way he connects his father’s legacy to those who love him. Shuri is shocked but her tears are filled with happiness too. T’Challa does continue to live on.

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Of all the family moments in the MCU, which is your favorite? Join the conversation alongside other Marvel fans in the Let Your Spoiler Sideshow Facebook Group, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!