Every MCU Villain Plot Ranked From Worst To Best
They can't all be Thanos hunting down the infinity stones.
There is a lot that goes into making a compelling villain. While a great portrayal from a strong actor is a must, this can only take an antagonist so far. An interesting backstory, a strong motivation and reason for doing what they're doing is vital, and they must give the audience a reason to care.
If we can't feel something for an antagonist, whether it is empathy, fear, or both, or if said bad guy doesn't pose a real threat to the hero, what is the point of investing in the story?
The plot surrounding any villain is vital, and the MCU is no different. There have been some great portrayals of villains throughout the franchise's ten plus years that have been let down by a poor plot. On the other hand, there have been some strong plots and stories that have made up for less than brilliant performances.
While phase three saw a rapid increase in the quality of villains facing Earth's Mightiest Heroes, that doesn't necessarily mean that there is a similar correlation with the story telling element. Not all villain plots are created equal, and some are simply far better than others.
23. Plunging The Universe Into Darkness - Malekith (Thor: The Dark World)
The Dark World is strongly considered to be the worst movie in the history of the MCU’s ten plus years, and with that also comes the title of worst villain. It’s not even close really.
Christopher Ecclestone’s acting talents were wasted behind a mask of make-up, lack of any emotion whatsoever, and frankly boring dialogue. The movie missed on every level with its antagonist, including the story.
The leader of the Dark Elves wanted to defeat Thor and plunge the Nine Realms into darkness because of reasons. It was a forgettable motive without any logic or any reason to feel empathy towards him. He wanted to wage war for the sake of waging war, and it couldn’t have been more boring.
Somehow, Marvel Studios managed to take one of the six infinity stones and put it in the centre of a story line that nobody cared about. Though there are some poor villains throughout the franchise, none come even close to Malekith in terms of lack of excitement or intrigue.