Oftentimes, there's little as satisfying as seeing a character in a movie get what they deserve. It's even more satisfying to see that justice be delivered through the sheer power of a character, especially in films that focus on complex systems of superpowers and magic. It makes things feel a little more realistic to see a well-executed punch.
The history of punches in movies dates back to cinematic history's beginnings. From Clint Eastwood-led westerns to high-budget Marvel blockbusters, punches have been the center of some of Hollywood's most iconic scenes. These ten punches in films are not only surprising, but they're quite memorable in films full of other kinds of action and drama.
10 Henry Cavill Reloading His Fists
When the first trailer for Mission: Impossible - Fallout dropped during the 2018 Super Bowl, fans were quick to notice a particular scene involving Superman himself, Henry Cavill. In the scene, Cavill pumps his arms up before punching a man in a bathroom alongside Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt. Fortunately for those fans, the scene made it into the final film.
The scene comes when Hunt and Cavill's character, CIA agent August Walker infiltrate a nightclub to intervene in an arms deal. They follow their suspect into the men's bathroom, where an epic fight occurs. Cavill's reloaded punch is just one of many great suckers thrown in this scene, and is one of the best action sequences in the entire franchise.
9 McLovin Tries To Buy Alcohol
The 2007 comedy Superbad doesn't have a lot of action compared to a Mission: Impossible film, but it still features an iconic hit. One of the film's early scenes has Christopher Mintz-Plasse's iconic Fogell enter a liquor store to buy alcohol with a fake ID that names him McLovin. It's a plan that's doomed to fail for protagonists Seth and Evan.
However, McLovin almost gets away with it, until a robber delivers a surprising and swift punch to McLovin. Though the teenagers' plan goes awry, the punch does result in McLovin meeting Slater and Michaels, a pair of cops played by Seth Rogen and Bill Hader. The rest of the night becomes a wild ride for this trio, engaging in some pretty outrageous activities.
8 Gipsy Danger's Rocket Punch
Pacific Rim is a 2013 monster film directed by Guillermo del Toro. It's an American take on classic kaiju (giant monster) films, revolving around a war between humanity and large undersea monsters. The film thus features big, CGI fights between these Kaiju and the humans' line of defense: humanoid mechs known as Jaegers controlled by human pilots.
The film's lead, Raleigh Beckett, pilots a Jaeger known as Gipsy Danger, and is dispatched to fight Kaijus throughout the film. In one scene, an amped-up Beckett activates Gipsy Danger's Elbow Rocket ability, triggering a superpowered blow to the Kaiju. It's a pretty iconic, epic moment in a film full of seat-edging action.
7 Gilgamesh In Babylon
There are plenty of great action setpieces throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Chloe Zhao's Eternals, however, has some of its most ambitious moments. Centering on a family of immortal aliens sent to Earth to protect it from evolved Deviant monsters, each of the individual Eternals get their own moment to shine as unstoppable alien warriors.
However, few are as easy to root for as Don Lee's Gilgamesh. During an early flashback scene that takes place in Babylon, the Eternals fight a group of Deviants and protect the citizens of the ancient city. In one moment, Gilgamesh easily dispatches of a raging Deviant with a casual slap in the face, proving him to be one of the strongest Eternals.
6 Narrator Vs. Tyler Durden
David Fincher's 1999 film Fight Club features some pretty raw fight scenes. The film centers on an unnamed narrator played by Ed Norton, who starts an underground fight club after meeting an eccentric soap salesman named Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt. An early scene in the film finds Tyler coaxing the narrator into a fistfight in a parking lot.
Infamously, Ed Norton actually goes for it, socking Brad Pitt in the ear. Pitt, in character, reels from the realistic yet painful punch. It's an iconic, humorous moment in a pretty intense film, though when it's later revealed that Tyler Durden is a disassociated personality of the narrator's, it begs the question of how the punch even occurred at all.
5 Holly Gennaro Vs. Reporter
Die Hard may or may not be a Christmas movie, but it certainly is one of the greatest action films of all time. After his wife is kidnapped during a terrorist attack, Bruce Willis' John McClane doesn't hold back as he fights to rescue her. The film features many iconic action sequences that have cemented McClane as one of the greatest action heroes of all time.
However, one particular moment at the end of the film stands out from all the rest. After rescuing his wife Holly, played by Bonnie Bedelia, a reporter hassles them as they exit Nakatomi Plaza. Proving herself as not just a damsel-in-distress, Holly sucker punches the reporter before her and McClane drive away into the sunset.
4 Indiana Jones Vs. Nazis
The first film in the Indiana Jones franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark, is often considered the best in the series. The film finds Harrison Ford's iconic archeologist as he attempts to recover the Ark of the Covenant from a squad of Nazis in 1936. Thanks to this film's premise, Indy gets more than a few chances to deal some well-earned damage to Nazis.
In one sequence, Indy finds himself in a bout with a Nazi mechanic, as his ex-lover Marion. (played by Karen Allen) takes out Nazi troopers with a turret. Though the mechanic gets a few good socks in, Indy lands a few satisfying blows, busting the mechanic's nose. Fortunately, it's not a punch from Indy that takes the mechanic out, but a plane propeller.
3 Hermione Vs. Draco
The Harry Potter franchise has no shortage of action, as the series often finds its character in the throes of battles between wizards, casting spells with their wands. One scene in the third movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, finds Harry's friend Hermione Granger, played by Emma Watson, using a different method of attack.
In the scene, Hermione confronts Draco Malfoy after the Slytherin boys harass Hagrid's Hippogriff. Hermione sticks her wand at Draco's throat, as the cocky bully cowers in fear. Before letting him go, Hermione punches Draco in the face, and when he scurries away, she tells Harry and Ron, "That felt good."
2 Rocky Beats Apollo
Rocky is one of the most iconic sports dramas of all time, but some would argue that it's 1979 sequel, Rocky II, is just as brilliant. Following the events of the first film, Rocky has been defeated by the legendary Apollo Creed, despite getting the girl anyway. The sequel finds the two engaging in a particularly brutal rematch.
In the final round of their climactic fight, trade some pretty hard blows between each other. By the end, they're bruised, swollen, and bloody, but keep going. Rocky finally nails Creed with a punch so devastating, they both collapse onto the ground. As Creed falls, Rocky is able to pull himself up before the referee counts to 9, finally winning the fight.
1 George McFly Vs. Biff Tannen
Few movie punches are as suspenseful as the climactic moment of 1985's Back to the Future. After toying with his parents' meet-cute in 1955, time traveler Marty McFly finds himself having to arrange their romance himself. With a school dance on the horizon, Marty plans for George to punch him in defense of his future wife, Lorraine, and get the girl.
When George arrives to deck Marty, however, it's his bully Biff Tannen forcing himself onto her. It's a triumphant moment where George's face falls, and the audience can see his fist ball up. He delivers a helluva punch to Biff, knocking him out and rescuing Lorraine, before the two return to the dance and kiss, saving the life of Marty and his siblings.