Top 20 Best Supervillain Introductions

“Zack Snyder’s Justice League” (2021)
He might not speak much, but from the get go, Darkseid means business. As he attempts to conquer Earth, he’s met with a huge amount of resistance. An alliance of men, Atlantians, gods, Amazons, and others square off against the Apokoliptian and his army. As an extremely powerful being, he’s able to cut through the attacking forces and even manages to kill a Green Lantern. He’s pretty seriously wounded by Ares and is forced to retreat, suffering his only defeat when attempting to conquer a planet. His power is immense, so you’re gonna have to pull out all the stops to beat him.

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (2023)
It’s common for heroes and villains to have a symbiotic relationship with one another. However, their shared connection isn’t always obvious and that’s the case here. When the Spot attempts to rob an ATM, Spider-Man naturally shows up to stop him. Their fight is awkward and humorous as Miles doesn’t take his nemesis seriously. But the seemingly benign interaction masks the rising tension felt by the Spot as he tries to explain their connection. Miles’ failure to acknowledge his role in his foe’s plight has dire consequences once the Spot learns how to travel to different dimensions.

“X-Men: Apocalypse” (2016)
Some mutants are really old, a lot older than you might think. Apocalypse has been around since at least 3600 BC. Although he’s seen briefly in the film’s opening, we aren’t really introduced to him. That won’t happen until he’s revived thousands of years later. Even though he’s been in stasis for a long while, he wastes no time demonstrating his immense power. He causes a worldwide tremor and Jean Grey is plagued with a nightmarish vision of the future death and destruction that Apocalypse will bring.

“The Incredibles” (2004)
Sometimes things come back to bite you in the butt, at least that’s what happens to Mr. Incredible when he finds out the true identity of his employer. Waiting to receive his mission, Bob is suddenly attacked by the Omnidroid. We soon find out that Syndrome is responsible for controlling the robot. Not only that, but Mr. Incredible comes to realize that Syndrome is little Buddy Pine from way back in the day. Buddy idolized Bob and wanted to partner with him but was rejected. He’s come a long way from being a starry-eyed boy and now is a force to be reckoned with.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1990)
There’s a crime wave hitting New York City and it seems like no one’s valuables are safe. It looks like the group responsible is the Foot Clan, who’s been rounding teens and putting them on a path towards crime. We’re introduced to the clan’s lair where we finally meet their leader, the Shredder. A long shadow stretches across the frame as the camera swings down from above. Shredder slowly turns around to observe the crowd that has gathered. The slow music and use of shadow really make him an imposing figure.

“The Suicide Squad” (2021)
This alien starfish is definitely a threat but it wasn’t by its own design. Starro was captured by American astronauts and subsequently held captive in the small island nation of Corto Maltese where, unfortunately, it’s been experimented on for decades. When Flag and Ratcatcher 2 enter the facility where Starro is held, not only is the alien captive but tons of people have been taken over by miniature versions of the starfish. The reveal certainly alters our understanding of the creature from the beginning of the film and makes him a tragic figure.

“Wonder Woman” (2017)
Diana suspects that Ares is the driving force behind World War I and to bring about peace, she must kill him. Pursuant to her mission, she tracks down General Ludendorff, who she believes is the God of War. Armed with her god killer sword, she ends him. She quickly learns that she was wrong and that Sir Charles is Ares. His calm, diplomatic demeanor highlights his insidious ability to influence the world of man towards destruction. He tries to persuade Diana to join him but his tricks don’t work on her.

“Spider-Man 3” (2007)
Flint Marko had to resort to a life of crime in order to take care of his ailing daughter. After escaping from prison, he falls into a particle accelerator and it looks like he’s done for as he seemingly disintegrates. Turns out that Marko had turned into sand. We see individual grains start to come together and they slowly begin to take shape. It’s sad in a way, since he struggles to be whole again as he falls apart only to reform and try again. It highlights the precarious situation he’s in, not just in taking a corporeal form but also in his quest to save his daughter.

“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
Even though he had appearances in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Age of Ultron”, we didn’t get a sense of Thanos, not in any comprehensive sense. That changes with the opening of “Infinity War” where the Asgardian refugee vessel is attacked by Thanos’ forces. Searching for the Tesseract, he slaughtered half the occupants of the ship and we see his calm, calculating demeanor in the aftermath. Even when fighting the Hulk, he’s so precise with his attacks that he easily defeats the green monster. It’s one thing to hear others talk about how fierce the Titan is, but it’s a completely different thing to see him in action.

“Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)
She’s the sister Thor and Loki never knew they had. Seriously, the pair learn of her existence from their dying father mere moments before she appears on the screen. Even though she’s technically in a weakened state, she’s still pretty strong. She commands Thor and Loki to kneel before her and when Thor responds by tossing Mjolnir at her, she destroys it. Loki, realizing they’re in way over their heads, attempts to return to Asgard which has the consequence of Hela returning to her homeworld and becoming even more powerful. She quickly dispatches two of the Warriors Three and sets about her conquest of other realms.

“Spider-Man” (2002)
What better way to introduce your villainous alter ego than before a crowd of thousands at a New York fair? Rocketing through the skies on his trademark glider, Norman Osborn reveals his Green Goblin persona, commencing his swath of destruction with a few deadly pumpkin bombs. But soon, he has his first epic clash with Spider-Man. After manhandling a couple of policemen, the Green Goblin gets the upper hand on his web-slinging nemesis by using his glider’s extensive weaponry and his own newly acquired super strength. Although Spider-Man ends the fight after disabling the Goblin’s glider, the cackling emerald maniac certainly made a splash in his public debut.

“Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011)
Making his grand reveal amidst a sea of flames as his Hydra base begins to explode; Red Skull’s initial meeting with Captain America is a spectacular sight to behold. As the two arch-rivals square off astride a balcony above a widening inferno, Johann Schmidt proves he’s far more than your average Nazi thug. He withstands a brutal right hook from Cap and makes a sizable dent in his shield with a single blow. After Dr. Zola separates the two, Schmidt tears off his prosthetic face and displays his true one, in all its macabre glory. With a gruesome unmasking befitting a horror movie villain, Red Skull steals the show with this dramatic introduction.

“Man of Steel” (2013)
Emerging from a cloud of smoke after his men slaughter the guards of Krypton’s council, General Zod makes an entrance suitable for a hardened military commander. It’s clear from the beginning that he’s not a fan of civilized debate, because he murders a council elder in cold blood to make sure everyone knows who’s in charge now. Having already accepted that Krypton is doomed, Zod asks Jor-El to help him rebuild their race elsewhere with only the bloodlines that Zod deems fit to survive. When Jor-El refuses, Zod has him taken away, demonstrating his unwillingness to compromise, which in turn is indicative of his despotic mindset.

“The Avengers” (2012)
A massive step up from his first appearance in “Thor,” Loki blazes into “The Avengers” through a Tesseract portal. And from the moment we see his malevolent sneer; we know he’s got some bad things in mind for the people of Earth. Declining Nick Fury’s request to put down his weapon, Loki instead opts to massacre several S.H.I.E.L.D agents, brainwash both Hawkeye and Professor Selvig, and leave with the Tesseract so he can commence his plans of world domination. This is a simple, but effective, scene that captures the danger, charm, and mischievous wit of Thor’s adopted brother.

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015)
Heralded by an ear-splitting noise, Ultron’s first appearance in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is perhaps the most frightening villain entrance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Stumbling into the Avengers’ get-together in the body of a decrepit drone, Ultron’s terrifying accusations against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are made all the more unsettling when one realizes there’s plenty of truth behind them. Bolstered by the haunting voice of James Spader, Ultron’s initial challenge to the Avengers is a wicked combination of foreboding and dark humor, setting the stage for the carnage that ensues.

“X-Men: First Class” (2011)
Although Magneto is often portrayed as a villain in the “X-Men” franchise, few can deny he’s nowhere near as evil as the Nazis that murdered his family during the Holocaust. While searching for Sebastian Shaw in Argentina, Magneto comes across a bar that happens to be owned by a pair of Nazis and realizes they’re friends of his childhood tormentor. Upon revealing the number tattooed on his forearm in Auschwitz, Magneto decides to exact some sweet revenge on the war criminals before introducing himself in a suitably terrifying way, showing them and us how the Nazis’ cruelty transformed him.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014)
After Nick Fury narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Hydra operatives disguised as cops, he finds himself headed straight towards an ominous figure in black who doesn’t seem all too concerned about the rapidly approaching vehicle. Effortlessly neutralizing Fury’s escape, the Winter Soldier calmly saunters towards his wounded prey like an emotionless murder machine and rips the door off of his reinforced SUV before discovering Fury has escaped. Despite the close call, this grim scene immediately tells the audience that the Winter Soldier is a force to be reckoned with and is more than a match for his old friend Captain America.

“The Dark Knight Rises” (2012)
Getting captured on purpose can be risky, but Bane has the brains and brawn to pull it off. At the mercy of CIA agents, Bane maintains an eerie coolness during the tense situation as he candidly reveals his plan to crash the plane and escape with a nuclear physicist. As a second plane arrives to retrieve Bane and his associates, the masked psychopath displays his alarming strength by breaking his handcuffs with ease and holding on for dear life with one arm as his surroundings become vertical. Despite the exhilarating nature of the aircraft action, it’s the subtle hints to Bane’s madness and skill that immediately alert the audience to the threat he poses for Batman.

“Spider-Man 2” (2004)
What begins as a presumably light-hearted surgery scene rapidly devolves into sheer horror, as Otto Octavius is reborn as Doctor Octopus. As a team of doctors attempts to remove Doc Ock’s new mechanical limbs via power tools, it becomes terrifyingly clear that the arms have a mind of their own and are not willing to be separated from their creator. They work together like a quartet of horror movie monsters as they murder the doctors one by one. This scene is our first indication that whatever humor was to be found in the Doctor Octopus of the comics is not to be found in Alfred Molina’s tragic take on the iconic supervillain.

“The Dark Knight” (2008)
Beginning as a fairly standard bank robbery scene, the Joker’s introduction in Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece is a slow burn that has one tremendous payoff. As the thieves’ greed gets the better of them and they begin to kill each other off, one remains silent as the heist goes off according to plan. After the timely intervention of a school bus and the elimination of its driver, a wounded bank manager asks the lone remaining thief what he believes in and gets an instantly classic answer. Lent incredible weight by Hans Zimmer’s score, the Joker’s introduction is a taste of the insanity and chaos that is to follow in “The Dark Knight.”