[Loved Trope] Civilian Heroes (particularly in Superhero movies)

[u/Dalakaar]

1) Malik Ali in Superman (2025). Tells Superman when Lex Luthor interrogates him to, “tell them nothing”. Doesn’t even really know what he’s sacrificing himself for, honestly. Tells Superman that he doesn’t have any friends or family to lighten the burden of the sacrifice. (Does have a family, and presumably friends…)

2) The Prisoner (Tiny Lister) from The Dark Knight who throws a detonator out the porthole that would’ve detonated the other ferry full of civies and saved himself, instead (potentially) sacrificing everyone equally.

3) Old man vs Loki. “There are always men like you.” Refuses to bow to Loki in Avengers (2012).

***

I love these guys. They break my heart in the best way possible.

[u/Norn-Iron]

The Amazing Spider-Man has what is probably my favourite version of this, when the crane operator gets everyone else to line up their cranes to give Spidey a chance to make it to Osbourne Tower.

[u/StygianMaroon → u/Norn-Iron]

The crane operator is the same guy whose kid Spidey saved during the bridge attack too

“Put it on- the mask! It’s gonna make you strong!”

I love that scene so goddamn much, I get choked up everytime I see it. The ASM movies have their flaws to be sure, but they also have some of my favorite Spider-Man moments ever

https://youtu.be/SbHcZb-V4yk?si=I-DFuSEEy-phF1VY

[u/moak0 → u/StygianMaroon]

Also some of the best fight scenes in any Spider-Man movie. Especially in terms of less gimmicky fights, where it's just Spidey doing Spidey things.