The Top 10 Best Marvel Villains from the MCU

5. Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung)

Not many Marvel villains have a backstory as long and heartbreaking as Xu Wenwu. By the time Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings begins, he’s already over a thousand years old and has gone by many identities over the years. The one thing they had in common was that they were all warlords who left a mark on history. Warlording gets old though, and when Wenwu fell in love, he decided to hang up his otherworldly superpowered gauntlets to try his hand at living a peaceful life and raising a family. He could have done exactly that if enemies from his past didn’t show up on his doorstep and kill his wife. Wenwu got his vengeance and then returned to the life he knew as the leader of The Army of the Ten Rings. The heartbreaking part is that Wenwu is only a villain because he’s manipulated into thinking his actions will bring his wife back to him and his children.

4. Thanos (Josh Brolin) 

Ever since the first Avengers movie fans knew that Thanos has been coming. We actually got to meet the big purple baddie in Guardians of the Galaxy and he’s been popping up now and again ever since. However, in Avengers Infinity War we finally got to see what the Mad Titan was capable of once he got out of his floating chair. He and his team decimated not just the Avengers, but also the Guardians of the Galaxy and pretty much ever freelance hero we’ve met so far in the MCU. No one thinks they’re the villain and that seems to ring true for Thanos as well. His goal is to save the universe by eliminating half of all life in it in to counter resources growing more and more scarce. He knows it’s a terrible price, but for him it means the survival of the universe. My real question is, why didn’t he use the infinity gauntlet to make more resources instead?

3. Loki (Tom Hiddleston)

The internet has a huge crush on Loki, and why not? He’s probably the king of the Marvel Villains right now and has appeared in more movies than some of the Avengers. Loki is a selfish tool though with, you guessed it, daddy issues. Always in his brother’s shadow growing up, Loki developed deep-rooted anger issues. It certainly doesn’t help that Tom Hiddleston seems as though he was born to play the Asgardian villain and turns in one of the best big-screen comic performances of all time. As good as he is though, I’m starting to get a bit of Loki fatigue when it comes to the MCU. That’s why he’s only coming in at number 3 on our list of the best Marvel villains. Here’s hoping I don’t get mobbed by fangirls trying to defend Hiddleston’s honor.

2. Erik Kilmonger (Michael B. Jordan)

Initially, I wasn’t a big fan of Michael B. Jordan’s performance in Black Panther. After letting it stew in the back of my mind for awhile, I can totally get why the internet loves him so much. Like so many of the Marvel villains on this list, Kilmonger thought he was doing the right thing. To be honest, I’m a bit conflicted about his goals, which is what makes him a great villain. His cause was a noble one, but his methods were… Well, let’s just say he was a bit extreme. He proved to be as cunning as he was ruthless, making him one of the greatest threats that Blank Panther could face. In the end, Kilmonger might not have seen his plan come to fruition, but he managed to push Wakanda to take a stand and helping those in need around the world.

1. Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl)

I know that Zemo is a bit of an unorthodox choice when it comes to the best of the Marvel villains. Hear me out though. Of all the Marvel villains, Zemo came the closest to achieving his goal. He wasn’t a power-crazed maniac who wanted to take over the world. He was a father who wanted revenge against the people he held responsible for the death of his family. Best of all, he wasn’t even a superpowered villain, he was just a man with an unwavering will. Zemo knew that he didn’t stand a chance against the likes of Captain America or Iron Man. After all, those guys fought gods and won before. So, how could he possibly destroy the Avengers? Easy. He just has to get them to turn on each other and do it for him. Zemo manipulated the Avengers to the breaking point and saw the team scattered to the wind. In my book, that makes him the ultimate MCU villain.

Honorable Mention: Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen)

See what I mean about the Marvel villains just being dark versions of the heroes? What makes Kaecilius deserving of this list is that he honestly thought he was doing the right thing. A master sorcerer who doesn’t want to enslave the world, but wants to save it instead. He seeks a world without the constraints of time, where man is free to obtain his destiny without the ever-looming threat of death. A noble cause in theory, but as they say, “be careful what you wish for.” Of course, there’s also the fact that Mads Mikkelsen is an amazing actor that I just haven’t been able to get enough of since Hannibal. As Kaecilius there was such a calm air of arrogance that you can almost believe that it was well deserved, and that’s pretty intimidating. Let’s hope Baron Mordo proves to be a suitable replacement for him.

There have been a ton of Marvel movies over the years and even more in development. However, I want to hear what you think when it comes to the MCU. Do you think Marvel has a villain problem? Do you agree with the choices on this list? Who is your favorite baddie from the big screen? Make sure you leave your comments below and let me know what you think!