Best Villain Portrayals in Marvel films

[Victarion]

The Mandarin by Guy Pearce - A clever adaption of the character that fit well with Tony's story arc. By far the strongest villain in the MCU in that he actually presented a threat that felt more tangible than the other villains.

Ronan gets an honorable mention...I didn't like him as much on a re-watch. Whiplash had the most potential, but it was wasted in IM2.

 

[CaptainWagner]

The Mandarin by Guy Pearce - A clever adaption of the character that fit well with Tony's story arc. By far the strongest villain in the MCU in that he actually presented a threat that felt more tangible than the other villains.

Ronan gets an honorable mention...I didn't like him as much on a re-watch. Whiplash had the most potential, but it was wasted in IM2.

Ronan was great, but was undercut by his anti-climatic death. And like you said, Whiplash should have gone down as one of the greatest villains of all time, but wound up getting the short end of the stick.

 

[TX85]

Magneto(McKellan)
Loki
Magneto(Fassbender)
Green Goblin
Doc Ock
Shaw
Winter Soldier
Pierce
King Pin
Mystique
X2's Styker
Mandarin
Saberetooth(Origins)

 

[Joeyjojo72]

RR's Mystique was basically perfect.

 

[Guard82]

RR's Mystique was basically perfect.

Definitely. RR's Mystique was totally awesome, deadly, badass, and charismatic. Every time she appeared onscreen, you knew things were gonna be fun. And she managed to be very emotionally layered and complex as well. Wickedly awesome.

 

[Guard82]

As others have mentioned already, most Marvel movie villains have been good, some have been bad, and a few of them have achieved greatness. Based on reactions I've seen from mainstream critics and general-audience viewers, the four Marvel movie villains who seem to have made the biggest impression/impact on the silver screen so far have been Magneto (both McKellan and Fassbender), Loki, Doc Ock, and the Mandarin/Trevor Slattery/Killian. An argument could be made for Mystique and the Winter Soldier as well.

And I'm betting that Ultron will soon make his way onto that elite list of Marvel villains who achieve a measure of film greatness.

 

[Spiderine]

Ronan was great, but was undercut by his anti-climatic death. And like you said, Whiplash should have gone down as one of the greatest villains of all time, but wound up getting the short end of the stick.

I agree. That was a massive waste of potential they had with Whiplash.

 

[ctriis]

"Main Villains"
1. McKellen's Magneto
2. Hiddleston's Loki
3. Molina's Doc Ock
4. Fassbender's Magneto
5. Weaving's Red Skull
6. Cox's William Stryker
7. Dafoe's Green Goblin
8. Bacon's Sebastian Shaw
9. Dinklage's Bolivar Trask
10. Redfords' Alexander Pierce


"Henchmen"
1. Romijn's Mystique
2. Stan's Winter Soldier
3. Flemyng's Azazel
4. Jones' Armin Zola
5. Grillo's Brock Rumlow
6. Jones' Emma Frost
7. Roth's Emil Blonsky
8. Gillan's Nebula
9. Trask's Sentinels
10. Schreiber's Sabretooth


Special mention to Rooker's Yondu who I would characterize as more of an Anti-Hero than a pure villain. He'd be in the top 3 henchmen list if I'd find him eligible.