Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, is one of the most skilled fighters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with some very spectacular fight scenes to prove it. Bucky’s combat skills, enhanced strength, and metal arm make him a formidable opponent in every battle he enters. Throughout the MCU timeline, he has been involved in some of the most intense and brutal fight sequences, showcasing his deadly efficiency and relentless determination. Whether fighting as a brainwashed assassin or as a redeemed hero, Bucky’s battles are always thrilling.
Bucky Barnes appeared in the MCU as Steve Rogers’ best friend in Captain America: The First Avenger, before being presumed dead and later reintroduced as the Winter Soldier in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. From then on, he became one of the MCU’s most complex and compelling characters, torn between his dark past and his struggle for redemption. His fighting style blends raw power, precise martial arts, and brutal efficiency, making his action sequences some of the best in the franchise.
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Bucky And John Walker Face The Flag Smashers
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 5
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 5 proffers a fun and dynamic battle in which Bucky teams up with John Walker’s Cap to fight the Flag Smashers, before Sam Wilson arrives to save them both. Beginning on the street, the characters are launched into a construction site that only facilitated a more brutal bout. While the battle lacks the high stakes of some other MCU fights, it still delivers a solid mix of hand-to-hand combat and strategic teamwork.
Bucky’s skill is on full display as he takes down multiple enemies with precise and powerful moves, while John Walker’s unhinged aggression adds tension to the sequence. The Flag Smashers, though not the most memorable villains, provide a decent challenge for the trio. Though not the most complex fight in the series, it offers plenty of great moments and showcases Bucky’s evolution as a fighter. The brutal yet efficient nature of the fight makes it an exciting addition to Bucky’s best battles.
9
Bucky And Sam Wilson Fight Flag Smashers On Trucks
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 2
One of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s most dynamic action sequences takes place on top of moving trucks as Bucky, Sam Wilson, and John Walker battle the super-soldier Flag Smashers. The fight is intense from the start, with Bucky’s brutal combat skills clashing against the enhanced strength of his enemies. The fast-paced choreography makes great use of the moving trucks, adding peril as the heroes struggle to maintain their footing.
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Sam’s aerial maneuvers complement Bucky’s grounded fighting style, making for an engaging contrast in combat approaches. John Walker, still early in his tenure as Captain America, plays a pivotal role in the battle, but the focus remains on Bucky and Sam’s teamwork. While the Flag Smashers prove formidable, the fight ultimately highlights Bucky’s resilience and ability to adapt to high-stakes situations, making it a standout action sequence in the series.
8
Bucky Fights Black Panther On A Rooftop
Captain America: Civil War
This brief yet impactful fight takes place in Captain America: Civil War, as Bucky Barnes finds himself hunted by the formidable Black Panther after T’Chaka’s assassination. Taking place on a rooftop, the scene is tense and filled with slick choreography, as Bucky’s raw strength clashes with T’Challa’s agility and skill. Bucky fights defensively, clearly caught off guard by Black Panther’s speed and precision.
Though the sequence isn’t as prolonged or dramatic as others in Civil War, it effectively highlights Black Panther’s lethal efficiency while showcasing Bucky’s resilience. The fight’s setting, a rooftop chase, adds an extra layer of urgency. Though not the most action-packed battle in Bucky’s history, the confrontation is an essential moment that foreshadows their future dynamic in Infinity War and Endgame. It’s a fast-paced and skillfully executed fight that leaves a lasting impression.
7
Bucky And Sam Wilson Face John Walker’s Captain America
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 5
One of the most gripping and emotionally charged fights in the MCU, this battle sees Bucky and Sam Wilson taking on John Walker after he publicly killed a man while wielding Captain America’s shield. The setting, a dimly lit warehouse, adds to the tension as Walker, still under the influence of the super-soldier serum, fights with unrestrained brutality. Bucky and Sam struggle to bring him down, exhibiting a brutal and exhausting fight that leaves all three battered and bruised.
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The choreography is hard-hitting, with each blow carrying significant emotional weight. Bucky’s precision, Sam’s agility, and Walker’s sheer aggression make for a gripping spectacle. The moment when they finally wrest the shield from Walker’s grasp is one of the most powerful in the series, solidifying this fight as one of Bucky’s most memorable and impactful battles in the MCU.
6
The Winter Soldier Rampages After His Mind Control Is Reactivated
Captain America: Civil War
When Helmut Zemo reactivates Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier programming, he turns into an unstoppable killing machine. This extended sequence pits Bucky against nearly every Avenger in a confined facility, exemplifying his ruthless efficiency. He breaks out of containment, dismantling guards with ease before engaging in brutal one-on-one clashes.
He delivers a bone-crunching brawl with Black Panther, hurls Natasha Romanoff like a ragdoll, and fights off Sam Wilson’s aerial maneuvers. The sequence is capped with one of Bucky’s most shocking moments: firing a handgun at Tony Stark at point-blank range, only for Iron Man’s armored hard to barely block the shot. This fight underscores the raw power of the Winter Soldier, emphasizing his lethality when unchecked. The blend of acrobatics, hand-to-hand combat, and sheer chaos makes this one of the most intense fights in the MCU.
5
Winter Soldier Faces Captain America On The Helicarrier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The final battle between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes aboard the helicarrier is one of the MCU’s most emotional and brutal confrontations. Unlike their earlier encounters, this fight carries the weight of Steve’s refusal to fight his best friend while Bucky ruthlessly tries to complete his mission. The choreography moves seamlessly between hand-to-hand combat, knife fights, and gunplay, as the two warriors battle across the collapsing structure.
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The close-quarters combat highlights Bucky’s deadly efficiency, utilizing his cybernetic arm to counter Steve’s shield. The emotional core of the fight comes when Steve finally drops his shield, allowing Bucky to pummel him mercilessly, before ultimately choosing to save him. The blend of fluid action, emotional weight, and dramatic tension elevates this The Winter Soldier sequence into one of the most powerful fight scenes in the MCU’s entire history.
4
The Winter Soldier’s Flashback Mission
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Episode 1
Bucky’s haunting flashback to his days as the Winter Soldier in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a chilling reminder of his past as an unstoppable assassin. In this nightmare sequence, Bucky infiltrates a high-security estate, eliminating guards with swift, brutal precision. His movements are ghost-like, taking out enemies before they can even react. The way he seamlessly alternates between firearms, knives, and his cybernetic arm showcases the full extent of his lethality.
The most chilling moment arrives when he eliminates an innocent witness, a cruel reminder of his lack of free will under Hydra’s control. The cinematography emphasizes his merciless efficiency, using dim lighting and quick, brutal cuts to illustrate his inescapable past. This fight may be short, but its psychological impact on both Bucky and the audience is undeniable, reinforcing the lingering trauma that haunts him in the present day.
3
Bucky Fights Romanian Police In A Stairwell
Captain America: Civil War
In one of the most intense close-quarters fight sequences in the MCU, Bucky battles his way through an apartment complex and down a stairwell while evading the Romanian police and the relentless pursuit of Black Panther. The sequence is a brutal, relentless slog that highlights Bucky’s raw combat prowess. Every movement is precise, every strike devastating. The fight feels reminiscent of classic one-take action sequences, drawing comparisons to Oldboy’s legendary hallway fight.
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Bucky uses his cybernetic arm to crush walls, disarm officers, and even repel bullets. His tactical mind is on full display as he utilizes the environment to gain the upper hand. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Bucky’s sheer skill allows him to hold his own until Steve Rogers arrives. The combination of claustrophobic cinematography and visceral hand-to-hand combat makes this an unforgettable display of the Winter Soldier’s abilities.
2
Winter Soldier Teams Up With Cap To Fight Iron Man
Captain America: Civil War
The three-way battle between Captain America, Bucky Barnes, and Iron Man is one of the MCU’s most emotional and visually striking fights. Trapped in an underground facility, Bucky and Steve work together seamlessly against Tony Stark, demonstrating their years of battlefield camaraderie. The choreography is a brilliant mix of teamwork and desperation, with Bucky using his cybernetic arm to block repulsor blasts while Steve lands devastating shield strikes.
Tony, overwrought with grief and anguish after learning of Bucky’s involvement in his parent’s death, is soon overwhelmed by anger. However, Bucky and Cap’s slick cooperation nearly defeats Iron Man. Bucky’s attempt to disable Tony’s suit leads to one of the most iconic moments: Iron Man blasting off Bucky’s arm. The fight is both stylish and savage, blending acrobatics, brutal strikes, and deeply personal stakes, making it one of the most unforgettable fights in the MCU’s history.
1
Winter Soldier’s Iconic Highway Scene
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Arguably the most iconic Bucky Barnes fight scene in the MCU, the highway battle sequence from Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a relentless display of his full combat prowess. The fight begins with a car crash ambush and quickly escalates into a high-intensity sequence featuring rocket launchers, firearms, and unparalleled hand-to-hand combat. Bucky’s agility and tactical brilliance are showcased as he takes on both Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff with lethal efficiency.
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His fluid knife work in his duel with Cap remains one of the most well-choreographed fights in the MCU, featuring rapid exchanges and lightning-fast counterattacks. The moment when Bucky catches Captain America’s shield with ease solidifies his status as a formidable adversary. This fight is the perfect blend of tension, stunning fight choreography, and unforgettable moments, securing its place as the definitive Winter Soldier action sequence.
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Captain America: Civil War
- Release Date
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May 6, 2016
- Runtime
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147 minutes
- Writers
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Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
- Producers
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Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso, Alan Fine
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
- Release Date
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2021 – 2020
- Showrunner
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Kari Skogland
- Directors
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Kari Skogland
- Writers
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Derek Kolstad, Malcolm Spellman, Michael Kastelein, Dalan Musson, Josef Sawyer
