Sometimes, the most iconic scene from a movie will revolve around food. Even if it’s not a major moment that advances the plot, there’s something about food scenes that can really stand out in a film. A ton of people will point to various animated Disney or Studio Ghibli scenes when they think of on-screen food that sticks in their memory because it looks good enough to eat. Food can be a way to bring characters together on screen, and to create something in a film that the audience could even recreate at home (for example, the sheer amount of Lord of the Rings watch parties that involve making all of the various foods mentioned in the series to eat as you watch).
As it happens, the MCU is no stranger to food scenes, and has a plethora of them that are either iconic to their respective stories or just fun little bits that make certain scenes more enduring or meaningful. From throwing drinks to eating donuts, from having characters discuss a situation over mac and cheese to misunderstanding the use of the word “fondue”, the MCU has plenty of incredible scenes that revolve around food in some way or another.
After he returns from his captivity, Tony Stark only wants one thing - a cheeseburger. It’s the first thing he asks Happy to get for him, and the scene continues with him sitting in front of his podium and eating it during his press conference. It’s a great moment of character building for Tony, because it shows where his priorities lie with his newfound freedom. And that’s what the burger represents to him - freedom. Tony sitting and calmly eating his cheeseburger in front of a group of reporters who are desperate for his story is also just a hilarious visual.
Of course, the cheeseburger comes back in Avengers: Endgame, when Morgan Stark (Tony’s daughter) tells Happy after Tony’s funeral that she wants a cheeseburger. It’s a nice nod to the beginnings of the MCU and where Tony’s character started from, and a hint that Morgan is carrying on her father’s legacy, in this one minor way, at least.
In what is perhaps one of the funniest moments of the series, Loki attempts to explain his idea about how to catch the variant they’re searching for by using Mobius’s lunch as an illustration. As he talks about his theory surrounding Nexus events and apocalypses, he starts dumping various things into the salad while Mobius looks on sadly. This scene plays up the differences between Mobius and Loki and leans on the comedic chemistry that the actors have together, while also being a fun moment to give a little more personality to Loki.
Loki in general is really good at giving the audience large swaths of exposition without it dragging the show down too much. This is a great way to visually explain what Loki is talking about while keeping it engaging for the viewer, who may not even notice that they’re listening to any exposition. This scene is one of the most memed from the series for a reason.
The first episode of WandaVision really revolves around food, as the sitcom parody involves a plot line where Wanda has to make dinner for Vision’s boss and his wife. This leads to a Bewitched-esque scene in which Wanda is floating the various elements of the meal around the kitchen with her magic, trying to put it all together amongst the chaos. The whole dinner scene is a great introduction to what the show is going to be about, and to setting up the whole classic sitcom vibe of the series. It’s also just a fun practical effect, and helps give personality to some characters that hadn’t had much time to shine in the MCU yet.
Speaking of Wanda and Vision, it seems as though their relationship is tied to food in a lot of ways, as their on-screen connection really begins with this scene from Civil War. Vision attempts to make paprikash (a Hungarian dish that usually involves chicken in a creamy paprika sauce) for Wanda, albeit unsuccessfully. The scene shows Wanda and Vision getting to know each other better, and displays their chemistry right off the bat. It’s a really sweet moment that calls back to Wanda’s heritage and gives Vision more personality, and it’s such a cute way to set up their romance.
This is perhaps one of the most well-known food moments in the MCU, and it’s not even in the main movie itself. This post-credits scene was fun for a number of reasons: it’s a callback to Tony’s craving for shawarma after he wakes up from the wormhole knocking him unconscious, and it’s a great comedic bit to see this group of people in their superhero costumes sitting down for a meal immediately after saving the world. It’s a fun tableau that makes them feel like any other group of friends going out for a meal, despite the ridiculous circumstances. No one even says a word in the scene, but it’s still super effective, and is still one of the most memorable scenes from the MCU even 10 years later.
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