Among the comic book movies of 2025, these bad guys were the best to root against. From the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the DC Universe, comic book movies remained a big part of Hollywood this year. Iconic heroes like Captain America, the Fantastic Four, and Superman graced the big screens, but in some cases, it was the villains who stole the show.
Comic book movie villains can take many different shapes, including those who are terrifying, those who are entertaining, and those we sympathize with. This year offered baddies that covered all these fields and elevated their movies by being formidable threats. While we may have been cheering for the heroes to save the day, we certainly enjoyed the mayhem these comic book movie villains created in 2025.
Red Hulk
There is no denying that Captain America: Brave New World was a letdown for the MCU. Not only has it become one of the cinematic universe's worst-reviewed movies, but it also failed to give Sam Wilson's Captain America a strong solo debut. However, one highlight of the movie was finally seeing Red Hulk appear.
Thaddeus Ross had been a part of the MCU since Phase 1, with the late William Hurt originating the role. However, Harrison Ford took over the character for Brave New World and fulfilled the long promise of his monstrous transformation. Like Bruce Banner's Hulk, Red Hulk is a villain who simply needs to be controlled. However, seeing Ford hulk out and destroy the MCU's White House was a wild highlight of this disappointing movie.
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
With the Thunderbolts team being made up of the MCU's best anti-heroes, they needed a significant villain to be pulling the strings. Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has been a shadowy operator in the franchise for a while now, but this is the first time she truly had a chance to shine in her role. She proves to be a cunning politician, a ruthless operative, and smarter than your average MCU villain.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is one of the greatest comedic actors of all time, and the humor she brings to the role adds layers without ever diminishing Val's power. We also get a brief insight into her tragic background, which only serves to motivate her dark ambitions.
Galactus
Galactus is one of the most powerful and imposing villains in the Marvel universe, so getting him right for the MCU was a big deal. Luckily, after the immense disappointment of his big screen debut in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps nailed the character and completely understood what fans love so much about this "Devourer of Worlds".
As soon as Galactus appears on screen, he fulfills the need of being a commanding and terrifying creation. The casting of Ralph Ineson was also a brilliant idea, as his booming voice matched the otherworldly nature of the character. Galactus' motivations were also interesting and added considerable personal stakes to the movie that elevated this Fantastic Four adventure.
The Void
Some of the best villains are the tragic ones, and Bob, a.k.a. The Void, certainly fits into that category. The only new character among the Thunderbolts team, there is a great mystery surrounding the apparent stranger. He initially seems like a weak and scared young man who offers some comedic relief, only for viewers to learn that he is actually a powerful superhuman known as Sentry.
What is even more interesting is that Sentry has a darker side, known as The Void. This all-powerful force is terrifying, but it also speaks to the mental struggles Bob himself is dealing with. When the darkness takes him over, he is unable to stop it, and the whole world is put at risk. He is an unsettling threat, yet also a vulnerable victim.
Lex Luthor
The DCU had a big year in 2025, kicking off the film arm of the franchise, with Superman serving the first movie in James Gunn's new take on these legendary characters. Getting the Man of Steel right was essential to the future of the DCU, but Lex Luthor was another key character on whom a lot was riding. However, Gunn and his team clearly have a lot of love for this character, and their take was sensational.
Nicholas Hoult delivers a complex and fun performance in the role, mixing the super intelligence of Luthor, his capacity for evil, and his pathetic pettiness. Adding in a little bit of humor, and Luthor has instantly become a character who we are excited to see explored in the DCU for many years to come.