9. Battle Of New York (The Avengers)
Walt Disney Studios Motion PicturesOver the years the silver-screen has treated us to some incredibly engrossing visions of a New York city in peril or totally destroyed which must surely unsettle the citys natives somewhat. An attack on the Big Apple which was particularly gripping was the recent battle fought over the city in The Avengers. The group of some of Marvels finest heroes rally in defense of the city after a wormhole opening overhead invites wave after wave of Chitauri to descend down upon the Earth. The extra-terrestrial beings attack on hovercraft-style ships and far more memorably large organic airborne troop carrier encased in mechanised armour known as Leviathans. It seems like humanity is doomed to be enslaved to the Chitauri before the next sunrise but the heroics of the Avengers help to even the odds. In an epic, CGI-heavy showdown which must surely be considered to be the finest in the Marvel film universe to-date, each of the Avengers are given their time under the spotlight to showcase themselves kicking some alien ass. Thor, Hulk and Iron Man are all shown to be able to destroy the gigantic Leviathans while the others slaughter the Chitauri by the dozen. The action comes to an abrupt stop when some superiors of Nick Fury think it would be strategically prudent to nuke their own city. Thankfully for the citys millions of inhabitants, Stark is able to intercept the missile and take it through the wormhole to hit the heart of the enemy fleet in a truly heroic act of self-sacrifice.