Robert Downey Jr. is best known for his role as Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, his role in the MCU is taking a villainous turn as he will now portray a new character in Avengers: Doomsday (2026): Doctor Doom. After playing an Avenger, Downey will now play the major antagonist in the next Avengers movie.
However, Downey isn’t the only Avenger to take on a villain role. Several Avengers in the MCU have tried their hand at playing villains, and some have done so to perfection. Before catching Downey’s villainous character in Avengers: Doomsday, use our guide to find the best villain performances from other Avengers actors, available to watch on Prime Video, Netflix, and more.
Paul Bettany - The Da Vinci Code (2006)
In the MCU, Paul Bettany portrays Vision, the very embodiment of purity and worthiness, which makes it quite surprising how well he plays the exact opposite in The Da Vinci Code. Bettany stars as Silas in The Da Vinci Code, a man who forgoes moral convictions to please the cult-like Opus Dei. He is willing to kill anyone who gets in the way of his mission to find the Holy Grail. Bettany delivers a truly chilling performance, capturing the dangers of religious fanaticism and making viewers cringe with intense scenes of self-flagellation.
He is a staple of The Da Vinci Code, which tells quite an intriguing story about religious conspiracy and piety. It’s an absurd and often thrilling take on religious fanaticism that remains largely true to its source material written by Dan Brown. Like Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025), it’s an excellent film for viewers seeking a mixture of religion and mystery.
Samuel L. Jackson - Django Unchained (2012)
Samuel L. Jackson shines as the foul-mouthed, brash, but lovable Nick Fury in the MCU. However, the same year he played Fury in The Avengers (2012), he also played the villainous Stephen in Quentin Tarantino’s spaghetti Western, Django Unchained. Stephen is a bit like The Da Vinci Code’s Silas in his fanatical loyalty to his captor, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). However, his actions seem to go beyond naive loyalty, as he’s desperate to maintain a level of power as Candie’s head slave, so much so that he betrays his own.
Jackson’s Stephen is intelligent and manipulative, and viewers recognize he’s truly the one in control at Candie’s plantation. His villainy adds a layer of complexity to the drama, more so than if the white supremacist Candie had been the sole villain. Between its history, Western vibes, high stakes, and twists and turns, Django Unchained is a must-see for both Jackson and Tarantino fans.
Scarlett Johansson - The Jungle Book (2016)
Scarlett Johansson plays the MCU’s Black Widow with the perfect balance of grit and vulnerability. In The Jungle Book, though, she gets a rare villainous turn as the snake Kaa. As the snake, she hypnotizes Mowgli (Neel Sethi) and attempts to consume him. Johansson has the perfect voice for this sly predator, speaking in a rich, seductive tone that truly feels trance-inducing.
Kaa is even more malicious in this iteration of The Jungle Book, using Mowgli’s traumatic past against him and caring for little else than her own satisfaction. She’s one of the aspects that The Jungle Book does better than the original movie, giving these predators a more mysterious, wild, and dark feel rather than the light, cartoonish depictions of the original. Like The Lion King (2019) and Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), The Jungle Book is an adaptation that adds realism and maturity to the original story it tackles.
Chris Evans - Knives Out (2019)
Chris Evans plays the patriotic and wholesome Captain America in the MCU, but he can also play the role of a sleazy guy quite well. In Knives Out, Evans stars as Ransom Drysdale, who attempts to present himself as a charming, easygoing man. In reality, though, he’s a backstabber and a blackmailer who tries to trick an innocent young woman into killing his grandfather due to his desire for an inheritance. Evans nails the role, playing Ransom to perfection, leaving him wholly despicable and irredeemable to audiences.
Evans is a major reason Knives Out works so well. Not only does he stand out among a cast of colorful characters, but his past role as Cap may make some viewers naturally trust him, making his betrayal feel all the more potent. With a wonderful sense of eccentricity and countless twists and turns, Knives Out is an excellent choice for mystery fans.
Benedict Cumberbatch - The Power of the Dog (2021)
Benedict Cumberbatch is excellent as the stern and intelligent Doctor Strange in the MCU, holding himself with sophistication. Hence, it’s all the more thrilling how much he transforms in The Power of the Dog into the volatile, brash, and toxic Phil. While his repressed sexuality could potentially garner him sympathy, it doesn’t because he’s just such a nasty, miserable person. He plays Phil so perfectly that you will grow to genuinely hate his character, no matter how much you like Cumberbatch.
The Power of the Dog is an excellent depiction of toxic masculinity and the psychological deterioration that can arise from one’s desire to conform to societal expectations. Jesse Plemons’ kindhearted George is the perfect contrast to Phil. Their opposing roles and the ambiguous ending make The Power of the Dog a movie you keep thinking about after it’s finished.
Chris Hemsworth - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
In addition to playing the God of Thunder in the MCU, Chris Hemsworth is known for playing a variety of action heroes. However, he finally gets the chance to be the villain in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Hemsworth portrays the warlord Dementus, playing the villain as a surprisingly complex man driven mad by his past, and who adheres to a violent, nonsensical ideology. Dementus is a character whose motivations and true nature invite many interpretations.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga makes the most of its villain and heroine. The complexity of its characters and the intensity of its story of a girl ripped from her home allow the movie to expand on the themes and emotions of Mad Max: Fury Road (2015); if you enjoyed that movie, then Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is just about as good a prequel as you could ask for.
Mark Ruffalo - Mickey 17 (2025)
Mark Ruffalo is well-known for playing the Hulk in the MCU, but in Mickey 17, he takes on a more villainous role. In the film, he stars as Kenneth Marshall, a failed politician and egomaniac who becomes a dictator over the small space expedition he leads. Ruffalo portrays Kenneth in a way that evokes dislike and amusement. While he’s an unsavory figure, his pettiness and sheer idiocy add humor to his dictatorial ambitions, making it an excellent parody of real-life authoritarian figures.
Ruffalo’s performance as Kenneth is just one of the many interesting aspects of Mickey 17. The film isn’t afraid to delve into big topics of authoritarianism, cloning, and identity. Additionally, it balances its heavy themes with just the right amount of satire, humor, and absurdity, making it reminiscent of sci-fi movies like They Cloned Tyrone (2023) and Okja (2017).
Jeremy Renner - Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
Jeremy Renner is known for playing the street-smart, grounded Hawkeye in the MCU, which makes his villain role in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery all the more surprising and amusing. In the film, Renner portrays Nat Sharp, a doctor who has fallen into alcoholism after his divorce. For much of the film, he’s just a pitiful, blubbering man. However, in the end, he also takes a more villainous turn, driven by greed to commit murder.
His performance is really quite pitiful and disdainful, capturing perfectly how sometimes villains aren’t masterminds but just weak little men. Renner’s Nat lends itself well to the overall theme of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery regarding religion, temptation, and greed. It delves into the corruptive nature of wealth and power and seems to go even deeper than its predecessor in exploring human nature and evil.
