It would be easy to presume that since the MCU focuses on superheroes taking down bad guys and literally saving the entire universe, there'd be no space for romance. However, superheroes are people too (usually), and they need love and companionship in their lives. The cinematic universe has established many couples since its birth in 2008.
Some of those couples played an important part in the canon, while others barely appeared before vanishing completely. On the same token, some of them got their happy ending, while some were doomed from the start. Whatever the case, not every MCU romance is as amazing as the next, and some of them simply didn't work as much as the MCU's creators might have wanted— or maybe it was all part of the plan to break fans' hearts with some of these failed relationships.
Best: Peter And MJ
The MCU has many romantic couples, but few that include teenagers. That's why it's so rare to see Peter and MJ get together. Many viewers were unhappy that Spider-Man: Homecoming's MJ was so different from the one in the comics, but her and Peter are sweet together and behave around each in the endearingly awkward way that teenage lovebirds act.
Worst: Natasha And Bruce
The main problem fans had with this couple is that came seemingly out of nowhere. Natasha and Bruce didn't interact that much in the movies until Avengers: Age of Ultron— and suddenly, people were supposed to buy that they were in love. Considering how unrealistic this romance seemed, it's a good thing the creators later let it go and only made subtle hints about it.
Best: Tony And Pepper
The main reason why Tony and Pepper deserve a spot on this list is that they were one of the rare couples who managed to make it work long term in the MCU. And that's no easy task, what with all the invasions, super villains, and other threats looming on the horizon. Tony and Pepper have been through their fair share of relationship difficulties but they made it work in the end, got married, and had their daughter Morgan.
Worst: Steve And Sharon
Not all romantic pairings in the MCU can necessarily be qualified as "couples," but they're all eligible for the topic at hand. And with Steve and Sharon in particular, there is a connection between their pairing and one of the MCU's most iconic, real couples that makes it worth exploring.
Besides it being too soon after Peggy died for Steve to be trying to move on anyway, that he mourned her death by kissing her niece felt like a rather crude move from the otherwise honorable Captain America. Luckily, this "romance" soon fizzled out.
Best: Steve And Peggy
While Steve didn't score with Peggy's niece, he and Peggy were a match made in heaven. Not only were they both strong personalities, but Peggy loved Steve even before he became Captain America. Steve also considered her his greatest love.
So when he finally got the chance, he went back in time and it's safe to presume he and Peggy lived happily ever after. If anybody deserved a happy ending, it's these two— considering how much loss and trauma they've been through.
Worst: Stephen And Christine
This forgettable couple only appeared in a single film— Doctor Strange in 2016— and was given limited space. The film focused on Stephen Strange's path to magic, and Christine, played by Rachel McAdams, was as far from a fully fleshed-out character as they come.
Plus, Doctor Strange wasn't at his best behavior while they were together, as he could be arrogant and even a bit of a jerk. He only grew wiser after he started learning magic, and even that took some time.
Best: Daredevil And Elektra
Daredevil's Matt and Elektra are examples of people standing on opposite lines who still are drawn to the other. Their relationship was ionate and full of charge, and though it was not always happy or even functional, the chemistry between them raged on.
The romance between Matt and Karen on the same series felt blend in comparison to these two, which isn't entirely fair to that endearing couple, but that's how it goes.
Worst: Jessica And Kilgrave
The reason why this Jessica Jones "couple" never worked is obvious— because it wasn't consensual. Kilgrave had the ability to control other people's minds and he used it against Jessica, controlling her actions and making her be with him even though that was the last thing she wanted.
As a result, Jessica draws herself away from other people and she has nightmares about it. This is a really twisted example of how people can harm others.
Best: T'Challa And Nakia
Ex partners can often have a complicated relationship after they had broken up. That was at least the case for T'Challa and Nakia, but they made it work, even though not without difficulties.
They were well-matched, though, both being confident, intelligent, and caring deeply about their country and their people. It'd be interesting to see how their relationship would've progress in the MCU, though the tragic ing of Chadwick Boseman makes that unlikely.
Worst: Tony And Christine
Long before Tony Stark became the hero he was when he sacrificed his life in Avengers: Endgame, he was a selfish billionaire and womanizer. In the first Iron Man, he and the reporter Christine Everhart had a one-night fling in the MCU's first-ever romantic entanglement.
In the morning, Pepper had to come and throw Christine out of Tony's house. Although, with Everhart knowing of Tony's reputation, it seems like there was no love lost on her side.
