Updated June 23, 2023 10.3K votes 1.6K voters 91.9K views
Over 1.6K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 20 Best Quotes From Villains In The Marvel Cinematic Universe
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Vote up the villainous quotes that still stick with you.
What makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe so popular is more than just Earth’s Mightiest Heroes; it's also the truly amazing villains. The villains of the MCU are as complex and diverse as their superhero counterparts. These villains have inspired fear, fights, and even the occasional funny moments that have defined a decade. Villains like Nebula and Loki have even swapped sides to become fan favorites.
This rogue's gallery of murderers, extremists, and supervillains have delivered some of the best lines in Marvel's cinematic history, quotes that sum up their sinister plans and philosophical truths. It’s fair to say some of these villains might have even mustered up a few words to live by. Whether teasing their foes or talking trash before a fight, these villains have shown that even evil people can have a way with words.
“An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one that crumbles from within, that's dead. Forever.”
Helmut Zemo managed to pit the Avengers against each other. His beef with the Avengers stems from losing his family in the Battle of Sokovia in Avengers: Age of Ultron. But the amount of planning and work it takes to create the events of Captain America: Civil War is no small task.
From abducting the Winter Soldier to bringing down Tony Stark, Zemo proves he is a villain worthy of the Avengers. But when you factor in all of the moving parts and that Zemo is a mere mortal with no powers or special suit, it is extra impressive. This quote shows the depth of Zemo's commitment to his cause. And to his point, the Avengers are never quite the same after Civil War.
This line is the perfect clap back to Nick Fury, who up to this point, had been the king of one-liners. Loki is both undermining humanity and also making it abundantly clear how ahead of the game he is. After all, he’s working with Marvel mastermind Thanos. But this line is not just the perfect catty comeback, it is also pretty telling of Loki's assessment of himself and his foes. An ant has no quarrel with a boot, AKA one cannot fight against the inevitable.
"You want to protect the world, but you don't want it to change. How is humanity saved if it is not allowed to evolve? Look at these, these puppets. There is only one path to peace... the Avengers' extinction."
Ultron is created to maintain peace. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner develop him using technology they do not fully comprehend in an attempt to achieve the impossible. When Ultron develops his own consciousness, he sees the perils of letting the Avengers exist and how their presence has brought bigger threats and more powerful villains to Earth.
"If you can make God bleed, the people will cease to believe in him. And there will be blood in the water. And the sharks will come. The truth, all I have to do is sit here and watch as the world will consume you."
Ivan Vanko is much like his adversary, Tony Stark. Like Tony, he was a noted scientist and weapon designer like his father, Anton Vanko. But unlike Tony, he was not raised in wealth and security. And like many on this list, his mind is on vengeance and he proves to be an even match for Iron Man. His quote is diabolically evil. It’s clear he is aware not only of what he is doing, but that it is part of a larger scheme to take down the tower Stark built.
Thanos is the mega villain of the MCU. And he is a pretty complex character. While he does horrible things, he ultimately wants to bring balance to the universe, believing planets would do better with smaller populations. That doesn’t, however, mean they should be eradicated.
"People think in terms of good and evil, but really, time is the true enemy of us all. Time kills everything."
Talk about profound. Time really is one of the few things we can't escape. But Kaecilius might be going a bit too far. There is an extra layer of depth to this quote since Doctor Strange becomes the guardian of the Time Stone. Kaecilius tries to defeat death and time after losing his wife and child, but summoning Dormammu was not only a bit excessive, it ultimately defeats him.
