The Marvel Cinematic Universe may have won fans' hearts through the heroism of their protagonists, but none of those courageous deeds would have been possible without the villains. Some of the MCU's antagonists have been superficial and poorly developed to the detriment of the movies they were in. Many fans still have trouble remembering the names of villains like Malekith or Kaecilius.
Other antagonists, however, have been so remarkable they've become more popular than the heroes. It speaks volumes about both the actors' performances and the complexity and depth of their characters.
10 Loki Has Gathered His Own Army Of Fans
The Asgardian God of Mischief, Loki, first appears in Thor, where he opposes his brother's rise to the throne of Asgard , resulting in devastating consequences for Loki himself. His pain after learning the truth about his Frost Giant ancestry and his dynamic with Odin elevates the movie greatly, placing it among the best origin stories in the MCU.
The character's popularity increased further with his appearance in Avengers, and Loki now truly has an army not of Chitauri but of fans. His death in Infinity War was heart-breaking, if not unexpected, but the return of the character in the Disney+ series makes it clear that the creators are not unaware of his popularity.
9 Erik Killmonger's Motivations Made Him Easy To Empathize With
More than a simple superhero movie, Black Panther delves deep into issues of race and oppression. While a villain with terrible plans, Erik Killmonger, also known by his Wakandan name, N'Jadaka, has understandable motivations. His father, N'Jobu, wished to share Wakandan weapons with oppressed peoples so that they could fight against their rulers and oppressors.
Wakanda's king, T'Chaka, kills N'Jobu in retaliation for his treachery, much to Erik's grief. He grows up into a highly skilled and ruthless soldier, determined to take over Wakanda and fulfill his father's dream. T'Challa thwarts his plans, and in their battle, Erik is severely injured. Erik's death scene and his last request to be buried in the ocean like his ancestors is easily one of the saddest moments in the MCU.
8 The Winter Soldier's Villainous Actions Are Born Out Of Torture
It is difficult to consider the Winter Soldier a true villain, considering the fact that most of his actions are born out of his horrifying Hydra programming. Still, the fact remains that he's one of the most terrifying enemies Captain America has to face, and not just because of his identity as Steve's old friend, Bucky Barnes.
Highly skilled in numerous forms of combat and just as strong as Steve, the Winter Soldier comes very close to killing Captain America. In the end, he doesn't. He even rescues Steve after their fall from the Insight Helicarrier. Bucky's suffering and inner struggle make it clear that he's a victim more than a villain and have earned him the affection of many fans.
7 Baron Zemo's Participation In The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Does A Lot For The Character
Ironically, the villain who does the most damage to the Avengers possesses no superpowers, only a serious grudge, and a highly tactical mind. After Baron Zemo's family dies in Sokovia, he vows revenge. During Captain America: Civil War, he figures out the truth about the assassination of Tony Stark's parents and uses it to divide the team.
While Civil War doesn't get the chance to develop Zemo too much, his return in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier changes that. His unlikely and tenuous alliance with Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes introduces fans to new sides of the character, and viewers loved seeing him take a break to dance.
6 Hela Reveals The Ugly Truth Behind The Golden Facade Of Asgard
Thor: Ragnarok is one of the quirkiest and most amusing movies in the MCU, but the stakes are just as high as they are in more serious releases. With Odin's death, his eldest child Hela is released from her imprisonment, and she is intent on taking over Asgard. Cate Blanchett's portrayal is impeccable, revealing a character whose resentment for her homeland is understandable.
Used as a weapon by her father, she is then discarded once she becomes too dangerous. The revelation of the ugly truths behind the golden facade of Asgard made viewers empathize with Hela. While it's assumed that she must have died during the destruction of Asgard, fans of the character still hope for her return.
5 The Vulture Protects Spider-Man's True Identity
With Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming, everyone's favorite web-slinger joined the MCU, much to the glee of his fans. But Peter Parker's first solo adventures in the MCU don't go smoothly, as he ends up clashing with the Vulture. The former owner of Bestman Salvage, Adrian Toomes loses his livelihood due to Damage Control, a cooperative venture between Tony Stark and the government. He turns to a life of crime, using his flying exo-suit to steal Chitauri tech.
An additional complication is that Adrian is the father of Peter's crush, Liz. When Adrian learns the truth, he threatens Peter's family and tries to kill him more than once. But during their final confrontation, Peter still saves his life. In his gratitude, Adrian doesn't reveal the truth about Peter's true identity. It's a courtesy that fans may appreciate even more now after Mysterio has finally given away Peter's secret.
4 Nebula Grows From An Assassin Into An Avenger
As Thanos' adoptive daughter, Nebula is raised to be an almost unstoppable assassin and killing machine. Thanos constantly pits her and her sister Gamora against each other, but Nebula always loses their confrontations. Whenever this happens, Thanos replaces another part of Nebula with extra cybernetic enhancements, leading Nebula to utterly loathe Gamora.
During Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1, and even in Vol. 2, she tries to kill Gamora on more than one occasion. But the two sisters eventually set aside their differences, and Nebula grows a lot as a character. Her post-Snap arc has made her very likable, her friendship with Tony Stark and her journey into the past increasing her popularity with fans.
3 Agatha Harkness May Be Evil, But She's Strangely Likable
The main villain in the Disney+ series WandaVision, Agatha Harkness is the one pulling all the strings in Westview. She manipulates her way into the Vision household, seeking to learn the secrets of Wanda's chaos magic. But while she may be a power-hungry and conniving witch, she remains strangely likable.
In part, it is because of her alter-ego, Agnes, who acts as Wanda's support for many episodes. But she also forces Wanda to confront some difficult truths and teaches her a hard lesson. She's a very interesting villain, and considering her fate at the end of WandaVision, she may make a comeback. Of course, if she hadn't killed Sparky, she may have been more popular than she already is.
2 Xu Wenwu Redeems Classic Iron Man Villain The Mandarin
After Iron Man 3, fans of classic Iron Man villain the Mandarin were outraged at the MCU's interpretation of the character. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings finally addresses that issue, bringing the Mandarin back in a far better way.
Xu Wenwu is not just a powerful ancient warlord wielding the Ten Rings as an almost unstoppable weapon, he's also a grieving man making all the wrong choices after having lost the wife he loved so much. A complex antagonist and a tragic character, Xu Wenwu has earned his place in the pantheon of best MCU villains.
1 MCU Thanos Has A More Relatable Motivation Than His Comics Counterpart
The first three Phases in the MCU all led up to one confrontation - the Avengers' battle with their worst-ever opponent, Thanos. Interestingly enough, the MCU version of the character is quite different from his comics equivalent. Comics Thanos is in love with Death and wishes to earn her affection by giving her more than any other being has. His goal is the obliteration of every living thing.
Meanwhile, MCU Thanos wishes to halve the universe's population due to the fate his own world, Titan, encountered. His argument, while flawed, is somewhat rooted in fact, as many countries struggle with overpopulation and a lack of resources. While genocide is obviously not the answer, his motives make Thanos relatable. He also genuinely cares about his adoptive daughter, Gamora. Between that and his amazing power, he has earned the appreciation of many fans.