Hollywood has created some of the most dangerous and powerful weapons ever seen. Thankfully, only one on this list is real. The rest are fictional – and the breadth of their power and devastation make us glad they don’t exist. Some of these weapons require multiple parts to maximize its power. Others don’t need anything; the weapon comes in one piece, already at its full potential. To compile this list, we tried to stay away from weapons that also serve as vehicles, like the Batmobile or the AT-AT walker fromStar Wars,or suits of armor. The ranking of these weapons is certainly up for debate. Real or not, here are some of the strongest weapons that have threatened, pulverized, or wreaked havoc in their respective movies' universes.
20Zorg ZF-1 Pod Weapon - The Fifth Element (1997)
The Fifth Elementisone of the best sci-fi movies of the last 25 yearsthat no one really talks about. Here,Gary Oldman gives one of his best villainous performancesas Jean-Baptiste Zorg, a futuristic arms dealer who invents one of the coolest and strongest firearms in cinema.
The Zorg ZF-1 has it all. Literally. It’s an energy-based blaster, rocker launcher, arrow launcher, flamer thrower, and freezing weapon (yes, it can freeze people) all in one. It also comes with a self-destruct button that proves disastrous to the Mangalore aliens that betray Zorg. It’s one of the most versatile weapons in movies, but its large size makes it clunky and impractical for frequent usage. Also, just because the Zorg ZF-1 is a jack of all trades doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a master of any of them.
19EM-1 Rail-Gun - Eraser (1996)
Arnold Schwarzenegger has shot many firearms during his action movie career. But arguably the strongest one is the EM-1 Rail-Gun fromEraser.This baby is a handheld electromagnetic pulse rifle that fires aluminum rounds at close to the speed of light. It shoots projectiles that go right through you, with an impact so powerful it launches your body through the ar. The EM-1 comes equipped with an X-Ray scope that lets you see through solid walls made from any material. It can also lock onto a person’s visible beating heart. While the rail gun is a real life weapon, the one in this movie is totally fictional…for now.
18Captain America’s Shield - MCU
Few objects in theMarvel Cinematic Universeare as powerful as Captain America’s (Chris Evans) shield (though you can find them on this list). In the comics, Cap’s shield is actually made from adamantium (more on that in a bit), but due to legal issues, the MCU had to alter this detail. In the films, the shield is made from another powerful, fictional metal called vibranium, which ismore versatile than its counterpart.
Designed by the father of Iron Man, Cap’s shield is indestructible, which makes it a strong defensive tool – but also a powerful weapon. It can be flung at great distances and create serious damage on impact. Put this in the hands of superhuman Captain America, and you’ve got one mighty weapon. But at the end of the day, it’s still just a shield, which limits its capabilities and prevents it reaching a higher spot.
17Lightsabers - Star Wars
One of the most powerful weapons in cinema is also one of its most famous. TheStar Warsfranchise introduced audiences to the iconic lightsaber. As Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) says inA New Hope,“This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.” Although, we have seen non-Force users like Finn wield these weapons before. Lightsabers are futuristic swords that can deflect blasts, slice through anything, and melt metal. For most fans, the best part of anyStar Warsmovies arethe epic lightsaber duels. Sure, they’re strong and cool-looking. But lightsabers aren’t as powerful as some of the other weapons on this list.
16Wolverine’s Claws - X-Men
Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is one of the most powerful superheroes in theX-Menfranchise,and that’s mainly because of his adamantium claws. Adamantium is a fictional metal in the Marvel universe that’s virtually indestructible. And it’s been surgically attached to Wolverine’s skeleton. His surgeons also added three adamantium claws to each of Wolverine’s hands – because why the hell not? Wolverine’s claws can withstand damage, cut through anything like Swiss cheese, and deflect bullets. Pair them with his fierce nature and deadly fighting skills, and Wolverine’s claws become one of the most deadly blades in cinema.
Related:All X-Men Movies, Ranked
15Excalibur - King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
Although evidence indicates that he wasn’t a real historical figure, King Arthur is known throughout the world.His story is legendary, especially when it comes to Excalibur, the mythical blade that Arthur pulled from a stone to become the King of England. Fictional or not, Excalibur is the most famous sword of all time. And also one of the most powerful. Excalibur’s abilities range from tale to tale, movie to movie.
Guy Ritchie’sKing Arthur: Legend of the Swordfeatures one of the most powerful iterations of the mythical blade. Forged by Merlin the wizard himself, Excalibur transforms its wielder into the strongest warrior on earth. It enhances the wielder’s speed and strength to superhuman levels and can slice through just about anything. It also grants premonitory visions. Excalibur’s immense power, though, can only be accessed by the King Uther or his true-born son. In this case, Arthur.
14Lasso of Hestia - DCEU
The Lasso of Hestia, better known as the Lasso of Truth, from theDC Extended Universe(RIP) is the signature weapon of Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot). It’s a magical, indestructible ripe that was owned by a Greek goddess. Although it’s twenty feet long, the lasso is capable of magically extending itself if needed. Its main ability is to compel anyone in its grip to tell the truth, even someone as intelligent and strategic as Batman. Like Cap’s shield, it can be used for both defensive and offensive purposes. The Lasso of Truth is one of the most powerful weapons in cinema and also one of its most unique. Sorry Indiana Jones, but your little whip has nothing on Wonder Woman’s.
13Goldeneye - Goldeneye (1995)
Goldeneyeis regarded asone of the best films in the James Bond franchise. It also features one of cinema’s strongest weapons. Goldeneye is the codename for a Soviet-era space-based weapon, a satellite that’s armed with a nuclear electromagnetic pulse. Once activated, Goldeneye can fire a powerful electromagnetic pulse on any target on Earth. This weapon can’t destroy a civilization like other entries on this list, but it can wipe out a society’s infrastructure and technology. One blast and an entire country is sent back into the Stone Age, which makes this a bad customer for modern society. I mean, what would any of us do without the internet and social media? The one drawback, however, is that Goldeneye depends on three keys that need to be turned with precise synchronization in order to activate the weapon.
12Atomic Bomb - Oppenheimer (2023)
Unless you live under a rock, then you’ve probably heard ofOppenheimer, one of 2023’s biggest movies anda favorite at the upcoming Academy Awards. It follows the life and work of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), who’s credited with building the first atomic bomb. And unlike other entries on this list, this one is terrifyingly real. The atomic bomb is a device that uses nuclear reactions to generate an explosion equaling approximately 20,000 tons of TNT. It can instantly reduce cities to ash while wiping out tens of thousands of people. And it’s actually happened.
Nuclear weapons have been used only twice in history, both times by the United States against Japan during World War II. Its deployment led to Japan’s immediate surrender, though the ethics behind this decision has been a hotly debated topic. While these weapons haven’t been used since, many countries now possess the technology – which means the possibility of nuclear war is always looming.
11Elder Wand - Harry Potter
In the world ofHarry Potter, a wizard or witch’s wand is more than just an everyday tool; it can also be a mighty weapon. And no wand is more powerful than the Elder Wand. It makes up one third of the legendary Deathly Hallows. According to legend, the Elder Wand was constructed by Death himself and contains the tail hair of a Thestral, a very difficult substance to master.
The Elder Wand can perform impossible feats of magic, enchantments that even the most skilled wizard and witch couldn’t pull off. For most people, this wand is merely a myth – until its location is uncovered in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows duology. As it turns out, Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) had possessed the Elder Wand all along. Is this why he was so powerful? Most likely. In the wrong hands, such as Lord Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes), the Elder Wand could be devastating. But in the right hands, like Harry Potter’s (Daniel Radcliffe)…well then, it can just get snapped like a twig and tossed away.
