Let’s be real—every fantastic superhero narrative requires an equally fantastic villain. And in the case of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we’ve been blessed with some truly unforgettable villains. Some were frightening, some were wickedly charming, and some even left us questioning if they weren’t right. Whether you’re a Thanos apologist or you find yourself rooting for Loki, these characters have been pivotal in crafting the MCU into the behemoth it is today.
So grab your seatbelts as we count down the top 10 villains of the MCU—beginning at number 10, because naturally, we’re ending with the best.
10. Hela
Cate Blanchett’s Hela didn’t only make an appearance in Thor: Ragnarok—she possessed it. When she slammed Thor’s powerful hammer like it was glass, she made clear she was playing on a different level. As the Goddess of Death, she wasn’t merely another villain; she challenged Thor and Loki to their limits and brought about sweeping change in Asgard. Her takeover of the screen and the kingdom itself put her in a class by herself as a threat.
9. Adrian Toomes (Vulture)
Michael Keaton gave us something rare in Spider-Man: Homecoming: a villain who felt real. Toomes isn’t interested in ruling the cosmos—he’s a working man who got screwed over and decided to fight back. His motivations are grounded, and that makes him all the more compelling. The dinner scene with Peter Parker? Still gives us chills. It’s a masterclass in quiet menace.
8. Johann Schmidt (Red Skull)
Before Thanos, there was Red Skull—the classic MCU villain with a sense of theatricality and penchant for world conquest. Portrayed with glacial intensity by Hugo Weaving, Schmidt was the epitome of fanatical ambition and vintage comic book badness. He established the villain template in Captain America: The First Avenger, and his unsettling comeback in Infinity War did nothing to dispel the mystique.
7. Helmut Zemo
What is scary about Zemo isn’t his power—it’s his brain. No powers, no troops—just a very personal grudge and a scheme that broke the Avengers up in Civil War. Daniel Brühl’s understated acting job as the quietly mourning mastermind turns Zemo into one of the most effective villains in the MCU. He didn’t kill the Avengers. He wanted them to kill each other—and they did.
6. Kilgrave
Jessica Jones introduced us to one of the most unsettling villains in the MCU. David Tennant’s Kilgrave, who can control people’s minds, isn’t only creepy—he’s downright terrifying. His fixations on Jessica and utter disregard for consent or ethics make him deeply unnerving. What’s more frightening than a villain who doesn’t think he’s doing anything bad?
5. Xu Wenwu (The Mandarin)
In Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Tony Leung adds gravitas to a character who is half warrior, half sorrowful husband, half power grabber. Wenwu is not a threat simply due to his near-immortal power or the ten rings—his heartache and misplaced love propel him. His inner life and steely menace render him one of the MCU’s most complex villains.
4. Wilson Fisk (Kingpin)
Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin towers over every frame—literally and figuratively. Half-brutal, half-genius, Fisk is the dark puppet master behind a lot of the mayhem in Daredevil. His brutality is juxtaposed with flashes of vulnerability, making him a rich and indelible villain. He doesn’t merely shatter bones—he shatters spirits.
3. Erik Killmonger
Few villains strike so hard—emotionally and physically—as Killmonger. Michael B. Jordan infused passion, pain, and purpose into a character who challenged T’Challa, but also Wakanda. His vision was extreme, yet not unreasoned, and that moral nuance made Black Panther more than a superhero film. Killmonger wasn’t evil—he was angry, and he had good reason to be.
2. Loki
Is he an evildoer? An antihero? A misinterpreted god with a theatrical bent? Loki is all the above. Tom Hiddleston’s favorite fan character has developed more than any other MCU villain, from aspirational conqueror to intergalactic hero. He’s wise, witty, and ceaselessly entertaining, and his story is as engrossing as any Avenger’s.
1. Thanos
The Infinity Saga’s final big bad, Thanos, shifted the playing field. Josh Brolin’s interpretation of the Mad Titan introduced us to an unflappable, methodical, and gruesome force of nature who truly thought his cause was noble. His snap in Infinity War wasn’t merely a twist of plot—it was a cinematic earthquake. He was the winning villain, and he set the bar high for all subsequent MCU villains.
These ten villains didn’t only face off against the heroes—they redefined what it means to be a villain. Whether vengeance, bereavement, ideology, or lunacy motivated them, every one of them made their mark on the Marvel universe. Without them, the MCU would be far less engaging.