2026 promises to be a huge year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Everyone’s excited about the heroes – the Avengers are reuniting for the first time in years, and Spider-Man is returning. But the villains will be just as important. Leading the charge is Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. in Avengers: Doomsday. He’s got a big job ahead of him, but the villain who challenges Spider-Man will actually be the first to make a major move in 2026.
Superheroes are always planning for the future, but it’s good to take a moment to appreciate what’s happening now. 2025 brought some strong new Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, and each one had a memorable villain. Here’s a ranking of all the major bad guys from the MCU in 2025.
10) Sidewinder
Because Sam Wilson, as Captain America, doesn’t have the same enhanced abilities as previous Captains, Captain America: Brave New World introduces a villain he’s better equipped to fight. Sidewinder takes on some work for The Leader and manages a few decent blows in his two battles with Cap. Despite this, his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t particularly impactful, leaving him as one of the weaker villains.
9) Muse
In the new Daredevil: Born Again series, Matt Murdock is focusing on legal battles, but he soon discovers a disturbing serial killer known as Muse. Muse murders people and uses their blood to create art. Although Muse had the potential to be a compelling villain, his crime spree is cut short when he’s killed before the end of the first season. It’s possible he could reappear later, but currently, he’s a disappointing antagonist.
8) The Leader
Following the events of The Incredible Hulk, Samuel Sterns spends over a decade in prison, secretly aiding Thaddeus Ross’s career advancement in the military. Upon escaping, he gets his revenge in Brave New World by sparking a conflict between the United States and Japan. The Leader’s scheme is quite complicated, and he doesn’t prove as formidable as other villains before ultimately being recaptured and imprisoned in The Raft.
7) The Hood
In Ironheart, Riri Williams teams up with The Hood, who initially presents himself as a modern-day Robin Hood, stealing from the wealthy to help those in need. However, it quickly becomes clear that The Hood is primarily motivated by a desire for power and revenge against his enemies. While he demonstrates some impressive abilities, like using magic to defeat opponents, he’s ultimately a flawed and incomplete character.
6) Red Hulk
In Brave New World, Ross genuinely wants to bring the Avengers back together and contacts Captain America to do so. Unfortunately, The Leader has been secretly influencing him, leading to a terrifying transformation. Ross becomes the Red Hulk and rampages through Washington, DC. While it’s exciting to see another Hulk unleashed in the MCU, Red Hulk’s first appearance feels a bit rushed and doesn’t give the character enough time to develop.
5) Mephisto
Similar to Red Hulk, Mephisto doesn’t have much screen time in Ironheart, but he still makes an impact. He traps Riri in a pizza shop and offers her a deal she can’t refuse: bringing her friend Natalie back to life. What truly makes Mephisto stand out is Sacha Baron Cohen’s performance; he plays the character with such charm that it’s easy to see how people fall for his schemes.
4) Silver Surfer
In the world of Earth-828, as depicted in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Reed Richards and his team dedicate themselves to protecting people. Their peaceful existence is disrupted by the arrival of the Silver Surfer, who brings a dire warning: her master, Galactus, is coming. Despite initially posing a challenge as one of the fastest beings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Silver Surfer eventually joins the Fantastic Four in their battle against the world-consuming Galactus.
3) Kingpin
It’s easy for supervillains to become stale, but Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin, consistently manages to stay compelling. The upcoming series Born Again shows him becoming the mayor of New York City, and he uses this position to strengthen his criminal organization. Instead of relying on direct confrontation, he torments Daredevil by turning a law enforcement task force into his own private army.
2) Galactus
The Silver Surfer warns Earth’s inhabitants that fighting Galactus is futile, and she’s right to do so. Throughout the ‘First Steps’ storyline, Galactus proves to be a terrifying threat, even demanding a baby as a price for sparing the planet. He would be the most dangerous villain on this list if he hadn’t been tricked and sent far away.
1) The Void
The movie Thunderbolts features a new hero named Sentry, who Valentina Allegra de Fontaine thinks is as strong as the entire Avengers team. However, she doesn’t know that Sentry harbors a dangerous inner darkness called the Void. The Void doesn’t fight with physical force; instead, it forces people to confront their most painful memories, making it a unique villain in a world of heroes who usually rely on brute strength.
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2025-12-26 21:14