Top 10 Movie Moments That Made Us Love Chris Evans

We love seeing the small, pre-transformation Steve Rogers - who is just as brave and determined as he is when he becomes Captain America - say this line and mean it. While Steve also shows his selfless side when he sacrifices himself to cover up a grenade during military training, it’s watching Steve get into a fist fight in an alley while obviously losing the mismatched brawl that makes our list. First, this moment from Chris Evans’ first film as Captain America spawned the now-infamous line, which he says throughout the MCU. But we also see Steve hold up a garbage can lid like a shield - giving us a little glimpse of what’s to come and introducing us to the beloved character.

In his directorial debut, we see Chris playing Nick - a man who spends his night exploring New York City with his newfound companion, Brooke. In this scene, Nick is telling Brooke about his previous relationship, and Chris proves to his audience how capable he is as a male lead in a romantic movie. We can’t help but empathize with Nick as his story shows how vulnerable and romantic he is - something we love to see in a Chris Evans character. Although Chris hasn’t directed another movie or played in many romantic films since “Before We Go”, we hope that’s something that changes very soon, as he is as irresistible in this one.

For this entry, we go back to the beginning of the millenium - to Chris's first feature film, to be exact. Before he was saving the world as the Human Torch and Captain America, he played Jake Wyler in this hilarious parody film, which came out when he was just 20 years old. Here, he is seen playing the cool, “popular jock” trying to seduce Janey Briggs - the stereotypical “ugly” duckling character. In this scene, Janey amusingly mistakes his revealing get-up for a sundae instead of a banana split. While correcting her, Chris proves that even early in his career, he was just as charming, funny, and likeable as he is now - over twenty years later.

Chris Evans and Anna Faris playing strip basketball to a Black Eyed Peas tune? Color us there. In this cute and flirty scene, playboy Colin and his neighbor turned love interest, Ally, are playing a somewhat unconventional yet adorable game of hoops. Even though she initially enlists him to help her track down her ex-boyfriends, while she helps him to hide from his one night stands, we can’t blame Ally for falling for Colin. This scene embodies their compelling relationship. Everyone loves when the guy who can’t seem to settle down falls for the girl next door, and that’s exactly what we get with Chris as Colin.

We’ve loved seeing Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans in several Marvel flicks through the years, but one of their best moments together is during the second of their many movies together. Here, we see Annie the nanny meeting the aptly named “Harvard Hottie.” As Annie loses control of the boy she’s looking after, this Ivy Leaguer sweeps in to save the day: he returns the missing stroller and convinces the mischievous little Grayer to open the door for her. Charming as ever, Evans’ Hayden instantly makes an impression on both Annie and the audience in his mysterious first appearance, and we are already cheering for these two to get together.

We’ve all seen Chris in a fight scene or two, but we rarely get to see him as the bad guy. In this cartoon-like altercation, Chris plays Lucas Lee, who fights Scott Pilgrim as the titular character tries to thrash all the ex-boyfriends of his new love interest, Ramona. There are so many great things about Chris Evans in this role, like the fact that everything he says is serious yet comes out hilarious, the slightly over-the-top villainous voice, and who could forget those eyebrows? Chris himself recreated and made fun of the character during a virtual reunion with his castmates during the 2020 pandemic.

Who doesn’t get goosebumps watching this scene? In this “Avengers: Infinity War” sequel, we see all of our favorite superheroes assemble for this epic battle, and who better to lead this group than the first avenger himself? This scene is full of references to all of the movies that led up to “Avengers: Endgame,” including Falcon announcing his entrance with “On your left.” And of course, there’s the unforgettable moment when Cap reveals he really can lift Thor’s hammer, which is a callback to one of the most hilarious scenes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (Xref) Everything in this scene reminds us of all of Captain America’s best moments as we see him lead the Avengers in their biggest battle to date.

In this modern day whodunnit, Chris plays the cocky and entitled Ransom Drysdale, the grandson of Harlan Thrombey who has just died under mysterious circumstances. Even with this all-star cast, Chris’ character stands out as he makes his entrance later in the movie than the others. Prior to the will reading, we see Ransom arrive in what would become an iconic white knit sweater - proving that Chris Evans really can pull anything off. When the family discovers Ransom’s been cut out of Harlan’s will, they begin to chastise the playboy. But it turns out that Ransom knew all along. His reaction to tell his whole family off… yet he’s somehow still likeable and convivial while doing so.

This tear-jerking scene shows the bond between Frank and his gifted niece Mary, as they’re reunited after a lengthy custody battle. While we’re used to seeing Chris play a leader and a hero, we don’t often get to see him in a fatherly role, and this moment in particular showcases his ability to tap into the emotions of being a parent. Let’s be honest: there’s nothing more endearing than seeing a caring father comfort his little girl, and Chris plays the guardian role perfectly. It's clear that his on-screen daughter was just as crazy about Chris as we were in this movie, as she couldn’t help but rave about him during an interview the two of them had with Ellen.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“On Your Left!”, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014)
Cap’s Super-Speed Gets on Sam’s Nerves During a Jog, & It’s Hilarious

Mike in the Courtroom, “Puncture” (2011)
Drug-Addicted Attorney Michael David Weiss Fights for His Client

Meeting Wilford, “Snowpiercer” (2013)
Curtis Everett & Wilford Try to Intimidate Each Other in This Intense Conversation

Captain America’s Public Service Announcement , “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)
Peter Parker & His Classmates Get Some Advice at School from a Fellow Superhero

Yoga Fail, “Playing It Cool” (2014)
Chris’ Character, Me, Tries His Best, But Totally & Adorably Fails at Yoga

At the end of “Avengers: Endgame,” we see Steve Rogers' story come full circle. After going back in time to return the Infinity Stones, Cap decides not to return to the present so that he can live out his life with Peggy instead. This means he finally gets his dance with her, which is something he’s wanted since he went into the Arctic at the end of the first Captain America movie. Not only do we get to see Steve Rogers as an old, happily married man, ready to pass on the torch to Falcon - letting fans know his legacy will live on - but also this emotional final scene encompasses everything we love about Steve Rogers. Even after everything he has gone through and accomplished, Peggy is the one part of him that was missing, and his getting to be with her is the perfect ending for Chris Evans as Captain America.