Of the many characters in theMarvel Cinematic Universe , Bucky Barnes has been one of the longest - serving , stand for he has many consequential scenes that define his story . Concerning therelease fiat of Marvel movies , Bucky has been around a farseeing metre , with his first appearing come in 2011’sCaptain America : The First Avenger . This level kickstarted Bucky ’s journey , which is only set to continue in severalupcoming Marvel moviesas one of the most important characters in the entire multiverse .

Not only is Bucky appearing in several2025 Marvel movies , be itCaptain America : Brave New WorldorThunderbolts*,but he will also come along in two future tentpole pic . Sebastian Stan was confirmed for thecast list ofAvengers : Doomsday , and likelyAvengers : Secret Wars , rise just how big an MCU future Bucky has . With this future in mind , it is worth looking back on Bucky Barnes ' MCU history , specifically the enceinte scenes that have defined the character ’s journey and aim him from an ally to Captain America to an evil supersoldier and , finally , a redeemed hoagy in his own right .

10Bucky Barnes Helped Steve Rogers Before World War II

From Captain America: The First Avengers (2011) & Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Although this list set about with the least - delineate moment of Bucky Barnes ' most consequential MCU scenes , I consider his backstory with Steve is deserving addressing . I allow in , these moments are not quite as big as some others on the inclination , but they helped define who Bucky Barnes is at his center and simply as a human being . This begin in 2011’sCaptain America : The First Avenger . This film outlined how Bucky was always uncoerced to be there for Steve , irrespective of what was take place , delimitate how good a booster he was and still is .

The scenes delimitate the characteristics that make James Buchanan Barnes a purely decent soul …

Be it defend Steve from the bully in the alleyway or asking his partner to take a friend with her to the Stark Expo so that Steve was not alone , the scenes define the characteristics that make James Buchanan Barnes a strictly comme il faut somebody . Captain America : The Winter Soldierbuilt on this , with a flashback exhibit Bucky reaching out to a plaintive Steve , whose mother was conk . This scene render one of my still - favourite quotation mark of the MCU that connect to more of Bucky ’s most defining moments:“I’m with you till the remnant of the line , pal . "

Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier and Bucky Barnes in the MCU in front of an American flag

9Bucky Telling Iron Man That He “Remembers All Of Them”

From Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Captain America : Civil Warhas lots of setting that go far in defining Bucky ’s MCU journey , yet one stands out above the rest . When Iron Man aggress Bucky and asks if the latter remember kill the former ’s parent as the Winter Soldier , Bucky replies"I remember all of them . “The second is a small one but is incredibly impactful because of its subtlety . It once again defines that , despite the awful things Bucky was forced to do , he remain decent at his nucleus as he tragically remembers everyone he hurt as the Winter Soldier , reinforcing his lawful self .

8Bucky Embraced Sam Wilson As Captain America

From The Falcon & The Winter Soldier (2021)

One of the more recent appearances inBucky Barnes ' broad MCU timelinecame inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier . The focal point of this show was in the main on the former hoagie , Sam Wilson , and his journey to becoming Captain America after Steve Rogers . While Sam took center stage in this storyline , it included many moments that reinforced the aforesaid persona trait that define Bucky , with one support magniloquent .

Bucky Barnes , the MCU ’s Winter Soldier , is one of the franchise ’s longest - serving character reference , but rewatching his appearances highlights a few outcome .

The minute is solidify in the final episode ofThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierbut is teased throughout the show . It involves Bucky swallow that Sam Wilson is Captain America now , not him . Bucky has a stint as the hero in Marvel Comics , and many believed that he should have been the MCU ’s Cap after Steve retired , get division when it was Sam who accept on the shield . As such , it would have been sluttish for Marvel to lean into this and cause a rift between Sam and Bucky , but the latter was nothing but supportive .

Alexei Shostakov, Ava Starr, Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova and John Walker in an elevator in Thunderbolts*

Bucky endsThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierby call Sam " Cap , " prove how he accepts who carries on his friend ’s bequest . Buck never made a title for the shield or want it to be his , instead supporting Sam throughout and intoBucky ’s cameo inCaptain America : Brave New World . Like the early scenes I have refer , this defines Bucky ’s case more than anything , showcasing his humility and reliableness as a supporter .

7Bucky Barnes Healed In Wakanda

From Black Panther (2018)

A smaller moment in the gravid - graduated table movieBlack Pantherfeatures Bucky , but it is a bragging one in footing of defining his overall electric arc in the MCU . BeforeBlack Panther , Bucky ’s primary storyline involved his struggle between his true ego and the Winter Soldier program HYDRA instilled in him . After the 2018 film , he was mostly comfortable with himself . This is largely due to his overall healing journeying in Wakanda , something that is shortly hinted at in the post - credits panorama ofBlack Panther , which defines his switch from a troubled soldier to a recovering paladin .

6Bucky Became An Avenger During Thanos’ Search For The Infinity Stones

From Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

move towards the top half of the list , Avengers : Infinity Warhas a giving define moment for Bucky Barnes that combines his previous definition of character and overall write up . Suitably , this make out somewhere around the heart of Bucky ’s many MCU appearances , when Thanos invades Wakanda in lookup of the Infinity Stones . Bucky reunites with Steve and decide to fight alongside his good friend , the Wakandans , and the other Avengers present .

Bucky Barnes MCU Movies

Release Date

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man upset and determined in No Way Home

Captain America : The First Avenger

July 22 , 2011

Captain America : The Winter Soldier

Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes and The Winter Soldier in the MCU above a cindered background of a clock

Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic

April 4 , 2014

Captain America : Civil War

May 6 , 2016

Bucky standing behind skinny Steve in a flashback scene from Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Black Panther

February 16 , 2018

avenger : Infinity War

Iron Man holding Bucky Barnes in Captain America Civil War

April 27 , 2018

avenger : Endgame

April 26 , 2019

Bucky fights in Infinity War

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

March 19 , 2021

Captain America : Brave New World

Bucky looking up at Steve as a prisoner in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

February 14 , 2025

thunderclap *

May 2 , 2025

Bucky cries after the Dora Milaje helps him overcome his programming

avenger : Doomsday

May 1 , 2026

This moment speaks to the previous definitions of Bucky ’s character as he is uncoerced to agitate for Earth and on the side of the Avengers , despite many turning against him inCaptain America : Civil War . Where his overall story electric arc is relate , this was a defining moment as it proved Bucky has truly overcome his past times as the Winter Soldier and is being trust - and trusting himself - to protect Earth in a time of motivation , propelling him into his post - Avengers : Endgamestorylines .

Marvel Cinematic Universe Image

5Bucky Barnes Becomes A Member Of The Thunderbolts

From Thunderbolts* (2025)

Stemming from Bucky becoming an Avenger , another defining here and now of his MCU journeying is becoming amember of the Thunderbolts team . As I alluded to , his stint with the Avengers defined Bucky ’s modulation from the evil Winter Soldier to his heroic reclamation moving forrader . The history ofThunderbolts*proves this , with Bucky conjoin his own team in the absence seizure of the Avengers in the Multiverse Saga .

With the MCU ’s Thunderbolts * movie having now formally free , here ’s everything you need to get laid about the Marvel moving picture and its story .

AlthoughThunderboltshas not yet been released , outside elements relating to MCU undertaking demonstrate how much it will delineate Bucky ’s journeying . The pic will go him into the overall story of the Multiverse Saga , with the Thunderbolts support for an appearance inAvengers : Doomsday ’s climactic news report . Thunderboltswill be the catalyst of this next stage in Bucky ’s floor , marking a truly braggart step for him .

Movies

4Bucky Was A Prisoner Of Arnim Zola During World War II

From Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

act into the most defining scene of Bucky Barnes ' MCU journey , his imprisonment by Arnim Zola kickstarted the second phase angle of his life . Before the scene in which Steve loose Bucky from Zola ’s compound , Bucky ’s life was comparatively normal as a steady soldier . As revealed inCaptain America : The Winter Soldier , though , Zola injected Bucky with supersoldier serum during this aspect . Therefore , this scene defined the next 70 + years of Bucky ’s lifespan , with the blood serum and Zola ’s other plan changing a normal life into one of torment and healing .

3Bucky Barnes Fell From The Train & Became The Winter Soldier

The third - most defining scene in Bucky ’s entire MCU journey stems from the quaternary : his gloam from the train inCaptain America : The First Avenger . During a mission , Bucky fall into a chasm and seemingly dies . However , the supersoldier blood serum consecrate to him earlier by Zola stimulate him to last the fall , leading to Bucky ’s re - imprisonment as a issue of HYDRA .

The fall is what allowed HYDRA to get their hands on Bucky once more and turn him into the deadly assassin be intimate as the Winter Soldier . Much like the scene in which Zola imprisons Bucky , the fall defines the next several decennary of Bucky ’s life , which leads to Steve find him inCaptain America : The Winter Soldier . For this cause , the train nightfall ranks on the podium as a defining second on Bucky Barnes ' MCU timeline .

2Bucky Barnes Is Freed From His Winter Soldier Programming

One of the most emotional aspect in Bucky ’s total MCU journeying is also one of his most defining . The scene fare inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierepisode 4 and show a flashback to Bucky ’s healing journey . In this view , the Dora Milaje warrior known as Ayo recites the words that HYDRA used to trigger Bucky ’s Winter Soldier programing .

Bucky ’s aforementioned post - credit scene in Wakanda fromBlack Pantheris ranked abject than this scene as it does not delve as profoundly into the extent of Bucky ’s emotional state during his journeying .

Bucky is show struggling to hold the near - 100 of overrefinement and brainwashing but manages to resist . Ayo states"You are free,“causing Bucky to emotionally snap off down in relief . The panorama is truly beautiful and Sebastian Stan give one of his full performances in the MCU , with the moment truly defining when Bucky ’s spirit bring a turning for the good . While early moments , like those ranked fourth and third in this lean , specify Bucky ’s life history go from normal to tortured , this moment emotionally outlines the specific percentage point of reclamation of his life that lead intoAvengers : InfinityWar​​​​​​.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

1The Winter Soldier Saves Steve Rogers From The River

From Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Although it would have been prosperous for me to place Bucky ’s scene with Ayo first on this list , one fromCaptain America : The Winter Soldierdefines Bucky ’s journey above all else . In the film ’s climax , the Winter Soldier is tasked with kill Captain America and ensuring HYDRA ’s Project Insight goes ahead . Steve try out to conk out through to Bucky beneath the Winter Soldier ’s programming , yet ostensibly break down . However , Bucky is shown remembering his line about being with Steve till the end of the line , later pulling him out of the river and economize his life .

In a way , this scene ranks first as a defining MCU present moment for Bucky as it capsulise everything about his character . For one , it is what truly commence his journey to healing himself and being free of HYDRA , despite moments like Ayo ’s scene finalize this . Also , it represent his character ’s decency make that he saved Steve ’s life . Finally , it moved Bucky beyond the ten of torture and mind control condition and extend him tothe reclaimed future he is continue to experience as a hero in theMarvel Cinematic Universemovies of the Multiverse Saga .

Summary

The massive franchise that kick off with Iron Man , the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) , is one of the industry ’s longest - running and largest cinematic franchises . Based on the hero sandwich from Marvel Comics , the MCU is a new agency for fans and newcomers alike to enjoy the ever - expanding world of some of the world ’s most famous superheroes . Releasing as " stage , " Marvel Studio ’s first three phase came to be known as " The Infinity Saga , " which palisade the organisation of Earth ’s Mightiest Heroes and their showdown with the Mad Titan known as Thanos as he seek to gather up the Infinity Stones . With his ultimate end of at random wiping out half of all life in the universe , this plot of land at long last reveals itself over ten eld of films , ending in a two - part finale that changed the world ’s fate - and the core honk forever and a day . Currently , the MCU is preparing to enter the fifth phase , focusing on Kang the Conquerer as the new essence serial publication villain .