Each Marvel film villain, ranked

As soon as upon a time, Marvel had a villain downside, however these days could also be far behind us.

To be truthful, there are nonetheless a number of duds within the rising historical past of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however current additions like Namor, Wenwu, and the Mad Titan Thanos himself are virtually sufficient to make us neglect the darkish days of Justin Hammer.

Nearly.

We have put collectively a complete rating of all of the MCU’s main supervillains — that is “main” as within the actually huge bads, no low-level henchmen or youngsters of Thanos. We have additionally not noted villains from Marvel’s Disney+ reveals for now.

Learn on for our rating of supervillains within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

42. Malekith (Thor: The Darkish World)

Actually who?* — Angie Han, Deputy Leisure Editor

41. Dormammu (Physician Unusual)

I nonetheless do not completely perceive what Dormammu is, and I do not care. And should you’re about to launch into an evidence based mostly on the comics, my level is that the film does not do a superb job of explaining what he’s or why I ought to care.* — A.H.

40. Ivan Vanko (Iron Man 2)

Along with his gold tooth, thick Russian accent, and pet cockatoo, Vanko is principally a latter-day Johnny Depp character — and as with most latter-day Johnny Depp characters, there does not appear to be something like an precise individual beneath all these tiresome affectations.* — A.H.

39. The Dweller-in-Darkness (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

The Dweller-in-Darkness is the CGI manifestation of studio executives flipping by way of the screenplay of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and realizing that there’s nothing in there that might make a cool Lego set. It’s not on the very backside of the checklist as a result of all it desires to do is eat snacks (relatable), and everybody after this entry is in Marvel’s clown automobile of actually dangerous villain concepts. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Leisure Reporter

38. Aldrich Killian (Iron Man 3)

The reveal that the Mandarin was actually a job being performed by Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery was a jaw-dropper, however the reality about who was actually pulling the strings was much more disappointing. Not even Killian’s embittered-nerd backstory could make him a compelling foil to Tony Stark.* — A.H.

37. Ronan the Accuser (Guardians of the Galaxy)

Ronan will get extra laughs than a lot of the different villains on this checklist, which may push him up a pair slots. However that is largely as a result of he is simply in a funnier film than a lot of the different villains on this checklist, not as a result of he himself is all that humorous. So he strikes again down towards the underside.* — A.H.

36. Justin Hammer (Iron Man 2)

Justin Hammer is basically one other Tony Stark, solely inferior in each attainable means. Which should not be that attention-grabbing, besides that Sam Rockwell makes him form of an odious oddball. It is enjoyable to observe him attempt to take down Stark, and much more satisfying to observe him fail many times.* — A.H.

35. Abomination (The Unbelievable Hulk)

There’s the germ of one thing attention-grabbing in Emil Blonsky, an ageing soldier who agrees to endure a painful experimental process as a way to obtain Hulk-like energy. Sadly, The Unbelievable Hulk by no means will get there, and by the top has lowered him to a senseless CGI monster.* — A.H.

34. Ayesha (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)

Ayesha is basically only a superiority advanced dipped in gold, however a lot of the enjoyable of her character comes from seeing her haughty grandeur rub up in opposition to the goofy, dirty world of the Guardians. Here is hoping she’ll get extra to do as soon as Adam emerges.* — A.H.

33. Yon-Rogg (Captain Marvel)

Carol Danvers’ fragile masculine captor is not significantly attention-grabbing, however not for the primary time Marvel will get by on some impressed casting — and on this case, just a few well-placed twists. When Carol is about to blast him to Kree-Kingdom-Come throughout their ultimate showdown, Yon-Rogg encourages her to strike him, to defeat him. It is so hubristic and patronizing (what is the Kree phrase for “mansplain?”) that Carol decides she’d quite simply dip. — Proma Khosla, Leisure Reporter

32. Obadiah Stane (Iron Man)

Obadiah Stane matches so lots of the MCU villain tropes we have turn out to be aware of: He is a grasping businessman and a false father determine, and he is vastly much less attention-grabbing than the superhero he is out to get. What makes him first amongst equals is that he was actually the primary, setting the mildew for years to come back.* — A.H.

31. Goliath and Ghost (Ant-Man and the Wasp)

Sharing a spot on the checklist as a result of they share so many villainous objectives, the foes of Ant-Man and the Wasp are fairly textbook. Goliath, aka Invoice Foster, has beef with Hank Pym (a person who focuses on beef) and desires revenge, whereas Ghost, aka Ava, simply desires to cease phasing and never die. They workforce as much as harness the vitality of the Quantum Realm, which interferes with Hank and Hope’s plan to rescue Janet, however by the top of the film everybody realizes what a viewer in all probability caught early on: There is a model of this plan the place everybody wins. — P.Ok.

30. Kaecilius (Physician Unusual)

Now we’re actually getting right down to the dregs. Kaecilius is one more MCU antagonist who lusts after some summary notion of energy. Nonetheless, he wins a pair factors for that flawless eye look(opens in a brand new tab) and hilarious who’s-on-first routine. — A.H.

29. Arishem the Decide (Eternals)

The Eternals’ Celestial space-robot daddy is among the strongest beings on this checklist, however fails to make a proportionate impression as a result of he’s the truth is a CGI house robotic with no face. Arishem is the rationale the Eternals even exist. He makes villains of them and their Deviant foes by principally utilizing everybody as chess items — if a recreation of chess ended with the Earth being destroyed to create a cosmic superbeing. Arishem is not evil in the way in which of somebody like Thanos; Celestials function on historic common legal guidelines, whereas Thanos acted out of hubris — however what all of them have in widespread is the view that the majority mortal life is unremarkable and subsequently unessential. Hopefully Sersi, Kingo, and Phastos can persuade him in any other case.

28. Thunderbolt Ross (The Unbelievable Hulk)

Basic Ross does not get the large showdown with Hulk (that doubtful honor goes to Abomination), however for the primary two-thirds of the film, he is a quite chilling portrayal of a person so obsessive about revenge that he is blind to the truth that he is turn out to be a monster in his personal proper. — A.H.

27. Adam Warlock (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3)

Do not get me fallacious, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) is a ton of enjoyable. This golden battle mage swoops into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 early on and principally kilos them into the dust. After that, although, we see he is extra of a childlike himbo than a supervillain. For the remainder of the film, he largely screams “Mom!” (which, truthful, once you’re speaking about Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha) and hangs out with furry cutie Blurp. Excellent news, although: By the top of the movie, he is turn out to be a brand new Guardian of the Galaxy, so we’re in for extra non-villainous Adam down the road. — Belen Edwards, Leisure Reporter

26. Dreykov (Black Widow)

Whereas removed from essentially the most charismatic or memorable villain on this checklist, Dreykov is fairly rattling sinister when you consider what he is achieved. He kidnapped orphans to show them into troopers, and he made a degree to select youngsters with uteruses so he may forcibly sterilize them. He turned his personal daughter right into a barely-sentient killing machine and appeared happy as punch — by the way, Natasha (and the remainder of us) actually need to punch him. Eff this man. — P.Ok.

25. Yellowjacket (Ant-Man)

He is primarily Obadiah Stane Redux, minus the shock of realizing that, holy shit, it is Jeff Bridges below that chrome dome. Yellowjacket was only one too many wounded male egos plotting in opposition to the MCU’s heroes, which maybe mercifully led to the brand new period that adopted. Sorry, Corey Stoll. We love you, simply not this position for you.* — A.H.

24. M.O.D.O.Ok. (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)

Darren Cross/Yellowjacket will get an improve after being banished to the Quantum Realm, the place he’s remade by Kang the Conqueror (extra on him later) to be a Mechanized Organism Designed Just for Killing. M.O.D.O.Ok. is generally a gag villain due to his teeny little legs and arms and admittedly huge head — apologies must be to ensure that nightmarishly stretching Corey Stoll’s face like this. However M.O.D.O.Ok additionally has among the funniest strains in an in any other case meh film, and Stoll is clearly having a blast. At the very least he died an Avenger, proper? Proper? — B.E.

23. Trevor/The Mandarin (Iron Man 3)

To today, the reveal of the Mandarin’s true identification is among the most stunning twists that the MCU has ever pulled off — and Ben Kingsley performs either side fantastically. He is chilling because the Mandarin however delightfully daft as Trevor, the party-bro actor who has no thought what’s actually happening.* — A.H.

22. Taskmaster (Black Widow)

Taskmaster is Black Widow’s principal antagonist for a lot of the film, and whereas they don’t do a lot past exhibiting up and kicking ass, that ass-kicking is among the finest within the MCU. Tasky’s battle scenes are a spotlight reel of each Avenger’s coolest strikes, and half the enjoyable of watching Black Widow is seeing how Natasha would truly fare if she squared up in opposition to Captain America, Bucky (once more), Black Panther, and herself. Additionally, factors awarded for having a cool third act reveal. Greatest needs to you, Taskmaster. — A.N.

21. Alexander Pierce (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

Like Vulture and Zemo, Alexander Pierce is a comparatively understated villain. However he is bought gravitas, as a result of he is performed by Robert Freakin’ Redford, and he raises some genuinely difficult questions on safety versus freedom. Effectively, at the least till it is revealed that he is been a Hydra agent all alongside, and subsequently unambiguously evil. Oh, properly.* — A.H.

20. Crimson Cranium (Captain America: The First Avenger)

Crimson Cranium is a very good illustration of one other annoying MCU villain pattern: squandered promise. He is performed by Hugo Weaving and based mostly on a well-liked comedian e book character, so he looks like he ought to be wonderful. However onscreen, he comes throughout as simply one other generic nemesis.* — A.H.

19. Ulysses Klaue (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Panther)

Ulysses Klaue is a villain who died earlier than he actually bought to stay. Largely within the sense that it could’ve been wild to see Andy Serkis’s tackle the comics, however Klaue served his objective within the MCU’s ongoing story. It is Klaue who smuggled Vibranium out of Wakanda, a singular act that instantly results in Killmonger’s plot to ascertain Wakanda as a fearsome ruling superpower. With out that Vibranium, the place would Ultron’s consciousness find yourself after he escaped Tony’s pc system? It is inconceivable to know what the MCU would appear to be with out Klaue’s impression, and that is what makes him one of many saga’s important villains. — Adam Rosenberg, Senior Leisure Reporter & Weekend Editor

18. Ego (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)

Speak about villains grounded in painful actuality. Kurt Russell is ideal as Ego, the personification of each dashing deadbeat who’s ever refused to let minor particulars like “a toddler” stand in the way in which of his grand ambitions. It is simply that his grand ambitions contain remaking the whole galaxy.* — A.H.

17. Kang the Conqueror (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)

Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) is certainly one of Marvel Comics’ largest villains, and he is been puffed up as the large dangerous of Phases 5 and 6 of the MCU. So why was he such a letdown? Possibly it is the truth that his introductory film merely is not superb, or possibly it is that his energy set is not outlined properly past “taking pictures blue beams” and “blathering on and on about how he can see time.” Or possibly it is that you want to have watched Loki to have even the slightest understanding of who he’s. Regardless of the motive, he is simply not popping but — and that is a gargantuan downside. At the very least Majors appears to be having enjoyable, I suppose. — B.E.

16. Winter Soldier (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

Bucky is barely a real villain in Winter Soldier, after which simply because he is been brainwashed by Hydra. Possibly that is a disgrace, as a result of it seems he is fairly good at being dangerous. He is all ruthless effectivity and managed depth, however his actual secret weapon as a supervillain is his tragic backstory.* — A.H.

15. Ultron (Avengers: Age of Ultron)

A type of sentient robotic son to Tony Stark, Ultron sounds cooler in idea than he truly is in execution. However he is voiced by James Spader in mustache-twirling villain mode, and he is the form of unapologetic drama queen who insists on having his personal throne. That is not nothing.* — A.H.

14. Hela (Thor: Ragnarok)

Odin’s firstborn and the goddess of loss of life, Hela is a formidable foe for Thor. She breaks Mjolnir! She kills the Warriors Three together with her knife-y powers! She’s performed by Cate Blanchett! Despite the fact that Hela is sidelined for a lot of Thor: Ragnarok, Blanchett imbues her with delightfully chilling villainy. Additionally, her outfit is among the many finest villain outfits within the MCU — speak about being dressed to kill. — B.E.

13. Gorr the God Butcher (Thor: Love and Thunder)

Say what you’ll about Thor: Love and Thunder, there is not any denying that Christian Bale makes for a tremendous villain. Drape that man in a sinister cloak, put the Necrosword in his hand, and provides him a tragic backstory, and also you’re MCU villain gold. Gorr’s grief-fueled quest to kill all gods within the universe is Love and Thunder‘s most compelling storyline. Whereas the movie does not study it fairly as a lot as I want it could, it nonetheless provides us Gorr being the world’s most terrifying babysitter. Completely immaculate villain vibes. — B.E.

12. Mysterio (Spider-Man: Far From Dwelling)

On paper, Mysterio seems to be like a pedestrian amalgam of Vulture, Justin Hammer, and Aldrich Killian — however the method does not account for Jake Gyllenhaal chewing absolutely the heck out of this position. In Mysterio, Gyllenhaal finds layers of sincerity (with Peter), egomania (together with his workforce), and outright unhinged insanity that’s nothing wanting pleasant to behold. How did Tony Stark ever overlook this man? — P.Ok.

11. The Grandmaster (Thor: Ragnarok)

Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) will not be Thor: Ragnarok’s principal villain, however the hedonistic chief of Sakaar greater than steals the present. All the things from his sparkly blue make-up to his funky piano jam classes oozes funky, offbeat charisma — even when he’s forcing unwilling fighters to battle his champion to the loss of life. Arguably essentially the most enjoyable Marvel villain, thanks in no small half to Goldblum doing what he does finest, Grandmaster is only a blast to observe. — B.E.

10. Helmut Zemo (Captain America: Civil Battle)

In distinction to the colourful, power-mad personalities we have come to anticipate from comedian e book motion pictures, Zemo is a quiet, unassuming man pushed by grief. Better of all, the man’s form of bought a degree when he notes that the Avengers are accountable for a lot of collateral harm.* — A.H.

9. The Excessive Evolutionary (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3)

Hoo boy, this man is evil. In his quest to develop the right utopian species — so, house eugenics? — The Excessive Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) tortures and mutilates candy, harmless animals like Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper). Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 does not pull its punches when depicting the horror of The Excessive Evolutionary’s experiments, a alternative that brings the MCU to its darkest locations but whereas solidifying simply how horrendous its villain is. The Excessive Evolutionary will get bonus factors on this villain rating for his horrifying face masks and Iwuji’s capital “D” Dramatic efficiency, which brings excessive Shakespearean theatrics to The Excessive Evolutionary. Actually an irredeemable monster of a villain. — B.E.

8. Vulture (Spider-Man: Homecoming)

Vulture is a principally regular dude grappling with the truth that he lives in a superpowered world — however in contrast to our heroes, Adrian Toomes is not impressed by instance to turn out to be one of many good guys. He channels that rage right into a profitable black-market enterprise promoting alien weaponry, however what’s fascinating about Adrian is there’s far more to him than supervillainy. He does not appear to be enjoying a job in the way in which that, say, Obadiah Stane was solely pretending to be Tony’s good friend so he may stab him within the again later. Adrian actually is a household man, and he actually is an unlawful arms vendor. He incorporates multitudes, and Homecoming does not shrink back from it.* — A.H.

7. Namor (Black Panther: Wakanda Endlessly)

Along with his winged ankles, inexperienced sizzling pants, and energy to rival the Hulk’s, Black Panther: Wakanda Endlessly’s Namor (Tenoch Huerta) bursts onto the scene with an amazing quantity of aptitude. However Namor is a lot greater than his look. A backstory involving his Yucatec-Mayan individuals fleeing from European colonizers units the stage for his compelling motivations: wanting to maintain his individuals and their residence of Talokan protected. Like Black Panther‘s Killmonger, his reasoning is sensible and initially positions him extra as an antihero. Additionally like Killmonger, his violent strategies shortly plunge him into villainy, making for a layered Marvel antagonist who can be a blast to observe. — B.E.

6. Wanda Maximoff (Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity)

We will talk about at size how Wanda Maximoff deserved higher all through her time within the MCU, however we are able to additionally give her main props for being an distinctive villain in Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity. Elizabeth Olsen is clearly having the time of her life because the movie’s huge dangerous, channeling horror movie legends like Samara from The Ring and Carrie White from Carrie. She additionally annihilates years’ price of fan service within the movie’s most diabolical sequence. On high of all that, Wanda’s villainy comes after a number of motion pictures and a whole TV present’s price of character improvement. So, our attachment makes her flip to the darkish facet each engrossing and painful to observe. Hats off to Olsen for a killer efficiency, and here is hoping Wanda is having a greater time some place else within the multiverse. — B.E.

5. Inexperienced Goblin (Spider-Man: No Manner Dwelling)

No Manner Dwelling might have introduced again each notable Spider-Man villain since 2002 (sorry, Hobgoblin), however Willem Dafoe’s Inexperienced Goblin is a powerful standout as he urges all of them to go rogue. This character as soon as laid the groundwork for the misguided-scientist-who-turns-into-a-bad-experiment that each Spidey villain adopted till Vulture, and his efficiency is as unhinged and spectacular because it was 20 years in the past. Sliding again into Goblin’s armor, insanity, and signature cackle, Dafoe reminds us that he all however invented the fashionable comedian e book film villain, that everybody else right here is in the home that Goblin constructed. It’s a hell of a legacy to depart behind within the first place, and even mightier to stay as much as it your self.

4. Loki (Thor, The Avengers)

There is a motive Loki is the uncommon baddie to stay round for a couple of film (and a complete TV present). He is the one MCU supervillain who’s as absolutely developed because the MCU superheroes — and together with his unhappy story of familial angst, he is virtually as sympathetic. Plus, Tom Hiddleston provides Loki a slippery, smirky charisma that is laborious to withstand. You take heed to certainly one of his faux-Shakespearean monologues and inform me you are not tempted to cross over to the darkish facet.* — A.H.

3. Wenwu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

Go away it to Hong Kong cinema icon Tony Leung to point out up 25 motion pictures into the MCU and proceed to wipe the ground with virtually each different villain the franchise has provide you with. Wenwu is an enchanting villain as a result of he’s a foul man who isn’t all the time a foul individual, and the true tragedy of Shang-Chi is realizing Wenwu is mourning greater than the lack of his spouse — he’s mourning the misplaced chance of his personal redemption. Additionally, he’s a Marvel villain who retains one other Marvel villain as a human pet. That’s god-tier villainy proper there. — A.N.

2. Eric Killmonger (Black Panther)

Scorching off the heels of Vulture revolutionizing MCU villainy got here Michael B. Jordan’s legendary flip in Black Panther. Eric is all the pieces T’Challa is not: vengeful, embittered, and deeply remoted. His strategies may be villainous, however his message is compelling. Rising up in Oakland, removed from the promise of Wakanda, he mourns generations of injustice that Black individuals have skilled world wide, seething with envy at T’Challa and his supposedly charmed life. Killmonger’s ache stays with us lengthy after the credit roll on Black Panther, as does his chilling ultimate line. — P.Ok.

1. Thanos (Avengers: Infinity Battle, Avengers: Endgame)

Right here we go. The massive dangerous. The largest dangerous. In a single *snap,* Thanos erased half of the identified universe from existence — but it surely’s greater than that. The build-up to Thanos just about outlined the whole tempo of the MCU’s first actually sprawling story arc, from Iron Man to Endgame. Marvel spent 10 complete years teasing and establishing this huge villain earlier than 2018’s Avengers: Infinity Battle gave him an outwardly vital position to play. It was a hell of a trick, and it would not have labored with out the last decade of buildup making it clear {that a} bigger, extra malevolent puppet-master was all the time pulling the strings simply out of view. There are extra thrilling villains within the MCU, however Thanos is, as ever, inevitable. — A.R.

*This blurb appeared on a earlier checklist.

UPDATE: Might. 5, 2023, 10:11 a.m. EDT This checklist has been up to date to incorporate “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”