The internet is full of heroic thirst for the delightful selection of handsome and babely Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and other brave fighters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although we salute the hotties who fight for good, we’d like to turn our focus elsewhere: upon the MCU’s roster of villains.
Spoiler alert: many of them are hot. It’s actually kind of unfair to be staring at someone like Chadwick Boseman’s gorgeous T’Challa, but then finding yourself rooting for Michael B. Jordan’s cascading wall of abs, a.k.a. Killmonger, instead. This is a ranking of the hottest villains in the MCU. Also, minor spoilers for Spider-Man: Far from Home.
— MINOR SPOILERS FOR SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME —
18. Yellow Jacket (Corey Stoll, Ant-Man)
Corey Stoll in Ant-Man isn’t necessarily the coolest or most threatening MCU villain. But he is Corey Stoll, and he is handsome.
17. Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace, Guardians of the Galaxy)
Even through layers upon layers of blue paint and a heavy hood, we can still tell that this is Lee Pace’s face. His bone structure really shines through as Ronan, and the scene of him suiting up is pretty hot.
16. Thanos (Josh Brolin, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame)
Perhaps my hottest take (pun intended) is that I don’t really think Thanos is hot. I was never into his whole “thicc daddy boss” vibe, and if I’m being honest, I was unsettled by his facial expressions and his overall largeness. But, to each their own. I cannot deny that people want to bone the Mad Titan.
15. Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen, Ant-Man and the Wasp)
Ghost is misunderstood and suffering intense pain throughout Ant-Man and the Wasp, which would motivate any of us to kick everyone’s asses. She’s scary, vulnerable, sympathetic, and very powerful—all things we look for in a hot villain!
14. Vulture (Michael Keaton, Spider-Man: Homecoming)
An MCU dad I can get on board with (and in bed with) is Michael Keaton’s Adrian Tooms. He’s menacing, overprotective, and really good with technology. Swipe right.
13. Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins, Ant-Man and the Wasp)
Walton Goggins has one of the greatest faces, and one of the greatest voices, in the history of television and film. Look at that thing! It’s so big! There’s so much character! Goggins doesn’t get a ton to do as Sonny Burch (an amazing name for a character who could only be played by Walton Goggins) but he does get to wear a few nice, light suits, and generally emote frustration. (For a truly delicious Goggins villain performance, might I direct you to the Alicia Vikander Tomb Raider?)
12. Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen, Doctor Strange)
Full disclosure: I strongly disliked Doctor Strange overall. However, Mads Mikkelsen makes everything better. His Kaecilius is otherworldly, hypnotic (thanks in part to that terrific eye shadow), and intense. Hot!
11. Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford, Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
It’s Robert Redford. In a Marvel movie! Do I really need to explain?
10. Zemo (Daniel Brühl, Captain America: Civil War)
Zemo has the dubious honor of breaking up the Avengers. How can somehow have that amount of power and influence yet be basically no one of importance in the greater context of the MCU? And how can he be so hot? Daniel Brühl is breathtaking.
9. Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell, Iron Man 2)
Sam Rockwell’s dance moves are a powerful aphrodisiac.
8. The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan, Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
Bucky has now earned the rank of hero, but in Winter Soldier (as the titular Winter Soldier), he is firmly in the hottie villain category. The Winter Soldier’s intensity, ruthlessness, and loyalty, plus Sebastian Stan’s greasy, floppy mane, make him one of Marvel’s most intimidating and sexiest villains for three quarters of a movie.
7. Yon-Rogg (Jude Law, Captain Marvel)
I almost couldn’t focus on anything else in Captain Marvel other than Jude Law’s arms. Also, I know we’re not supposed to ‘ship Yon-Rogg and Carol, but it’s not my fault that “couples training and knowing each other’s intricate weaknesses” is a fantastic trope.
6. Ego (Kurt Russell, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2)
The pinnacle of “Marvel daddy” is Kurt Russell’s Ego, a horny planet who f***s. Bonus points for the fact that he beats up Chris Pratt a couple of times. You love to see it.
5. Hela (Cate Blanchett, Thor: Ragnarok)
Step on my neck, Hela.
4. Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal, Spider-Man: Far from Home)
Jake Gyllenhaal is having the time of his life in Far from Home. The way he plays every emotion as Quentin Beck is enrapturing. When he’s being nice and giving life advice to Peter Parker, I swooned. But then, when he casts aside the whole “nice guy” hero act and just started bragging about how bad he was, I YELLED. This turn is one of the best acted moments in the MCU, and it is extremely hot. Mysterio is a total babe and he can trap me in an illusion prison me any time.
3. Loki (Tom Hiddleston, The Avengers)
Loki has been the subject of much fan adoration and attraction ever since he was introduced back in Thor. He’s creative, he’s mischievous, and to borrow a phrase from my favorite podcast, Blank Check with Griffin and David, he’s a little stinker! Loki has the most fun out of any villain the MCU, and that kind of passion is attractive. He’s a greasy bad boy who suffers from little brother syndrome who also eventually comes around to the heroic cause! Loki is good.
2. Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce, Iron Man 3)
Look, I know what you’re thinking. “Wow, Erin just loves Iron Man 3 so much, she just put Aldrich Killian in the top three because she loves Iron Man 3,” or “Erin is just being contrarian on purpose.” Well, I do love Iron Man 3, but I’m not being contrarian on purpose. First of all, Guy Pearce is underrated as an actor, and also incredibly handsome. Thanks to AIM’s questionably ethical tech, Killian gets the biggest glow up of all time, both metaphorically and literally. He wears impeccable suits, has very muscular arms, and wears loafers with no socks—a confident dresser, if there ever was one.
Further, he becomes an evil genius all because Tony Stark didn’t talk to him at a party once. This is a level of pettiness I aspire to operate from. I will say, if there is a negative to Aldrich Killian (besides the whole “being evil” thing), it’s that he has a Ben Affleck-esque dragon tattoo on his chest. It’s not a deal-breaker, though. Killian is super menacing, has a hot voice, and his hair is perfectly feathered. I rest my case.
1. Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther)
Those glistening, rock-hard abs. The jean-jacket-and-glasses look. The general “f*** it” attitude. The confidence to walk into Wakanda like you own the place because you have a somewhat legitimate claim to the throne. Killmonger is at the top of the list because he is determined, arrogant, fit, rebellious, and gorgeous. He’s got everything. I could write a poem about the perfection of Michael B. Jordan’s body and the gloriousness of his smile—a smile put to excellent, evil use as Killmonger. One more shout-out to his abs and face. Killmonger is a man with a plan who almost completely succeeds in executing a military coup!
Honorable Mention: The Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum, Thor: Ragnarok)
I think that Jeff Goldblum transcends the label of “villain,” but he does radiate sexual energy, so he gets the honorable mention as the antagonistic Grandmaster.
So there you have it. A completely subjective list of the hottest villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of course, everyone’s tastes are different, so like who you like! As the MCU progresses, who are your picks for the next villain hottie? Doctor Doom? Norman Osborn? We are never not thinking about this.
Images: Marvel Studios, Sony
