15 Best Performances In MCU Movies (So Far)
7. Josh Brolin - Thanos
The MCU is not short on villains, to say the least, so standing out as one of its best is a tall order. With his towering, terrifying, detailed performance as Thanos, Josh Brolin created not just a great comic book villain, but a true crossover hit, memorable to Marvel aficionados and those who have no interest in the medium alike.
The design of Thanos is a big part of his success, as well as his finger clicking destruction, but it’s Brolin (who performed motion capture as well as Thanos’ voice) who makes the warlord a truly iconic character. He exudes an easy confidence, an indestructibility as he lays waste to the galaxy.
The Russo brothers intended Infinity Wars as a journey built primarily around Thanos, something of a twisted hero’s tale, and Brolin grabs at this challenge with gusto. Thanos is a terror, of course, but Brolin portrays him as a man of twisted principle, with endless self belief in his cause, and the righteousness of his actions.
Thanos is less prominent in Endgame, but nonetheless impactful. He has a true presence, able to haunt scenes even when he’s not in them. The next phase of the MCU will have to go some way to top him.