5 Best Spider-Man Movie Villains Not In The MCU

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Spider-Man has a rich history of memorable villains in his films, even those outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As one of Marvel’s most beloved heroes, he’s had many chances to star in blockbuster movies. Each film version of Spider-Man offers a unique take on his comic book origins, leading to a variety of different foes. Because Spider-Man is so popular, his movies need strong, threatening, and engaging villains – and for the most part, they deliver.

Now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has established itself as the best live-action version of Marvel stories, it’s important to get Spider-Man’s villains right. The MCU could take inspiration from previous movie adaptations when introducing these characters, as some villains have already appeared in other franchises. While the MCU has already featured many popular Spider-Man enemies, there are still several great antagonists who haven’t made an appearance yet.

5) Chameleon

While Kraven the Hunter wasn’t a critical success, the movie introduced some compelling villains. It focused on the character Kraven, but also included other figures from the Spider-Man universe, like the Chameleon. The Chameleon is Kraven’s half-brother and a skilled master of disguise, able to perfectly copy appearances and voices.

Though not a traditional villain in Kraven the Hunter, Chameleon was positioned as a possible future enemy. While the Kraven franchise is over, this take on Chameleon showed real potential, particularly in a showdown with Spider-Man. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has hinted at the character, but he hasn’t yet appeared as a Spider-Man villain, despite being a strong fit for the role.

4) Prowler

The Prowler hasn’t shown up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet, but he was a villain in the critically acclaimed animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. As Miles Morales’ uncle, Aaron Davis (the Prowler) is a particularly compelling character. Their family connection creates a complicated dynamic that forces Spider-Man to question his own sense of right and wrong.

The Prowler is a villain Marvel has hinted at in its movies, but he hasn’t made a full appearance yet. Donald Glover briefly played the character of Davis in Spider-Man: Homecoming, though he wasn’t identified as the Prowler or acting as a villain at that time. The Prowler is closely linked to the character Miles Morales, so his future as a major villain likely depends on when Miles—who will eventually succeed Peter Parker as Spider-Man—is introduced.

3) Rhino

Rhino is a powerful Spider-Man villain who hasn’t yet had a truly great on-screen portrayal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s appeared in live-action films before – Paul Giamatti played him in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Alessandro Nivola took on the role in Kraven the Hunter. Despite these appearances, neither version fully captured the character’s potential, and many fans believe Rhino deserves a proper showdown with Spider-Man in a future movie.

Rhino is a compelling Spider-Man villain because his brute strength contrasts with Spider-Man’s quickness, creating exciting possibilities for action. While they haven’t had a truly definitive on-screen battle yet, Rhino remains a strong choice for a Spider-Man movie opponent.

2) Kraven The Hunter

While Kraven the Hunter might not be Spider-Man’s most famous enemy, he’s consistently been one of his strongest foes on screen. Aaron Taylor-Johnson played the character in the 2024 film Kraven the Hunter. Despite the movie’s mixed reception, Taylor-Johnson’s portrayal was strong enough to carry his own film and would be a fantastic villain in a direct showdown with Spider-Man.

Taylor-Johnson’s performance brought a raw energy to the character, making him really come alive on screen. While this version of Kraven, portrayed as a more complex anti-hero, might not fit neatly into a Spider-Man film, a showdown with his classic comic book rival would be fantastic to see. He’s another strong villain who deserved a better movie, but Kraven remains a compelling character in the Spider-Man universe.

1) Carnage

While not many characters from Sony’s Spider-Verse need to cross over into the MCU, Carnage stands out as one who truly earned a spot. Woody Harrelson’s portrayal of Kletus Casady and his symbiote in 2021’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage was a fantastic villain. As Venom’s more extreme ‘offspring,’ Carnage is incredibly unstable and dangerous, making him a compelling character for a movie.

Carnage and Spider-Man have a history of epic battles in the comics, and those clashes would be exciting to see on the big screen. While Carnage recently appeared in Sony’s Spider-Man films, many fans feel the character wasn’t fully explored. Despite this, he remains a top-tier Spider-Man villain who hasn’t even made a brief appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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2025-11-01 20:12