Spider-Man: every movie villain, ranked

Topher Grace is a genuinely funny guy. His work in That ’70s Show is proof enough, and later performances in the underrated Take Me Home Tonight and Home Economics confirmed it. However, it’s undeniable that he was miscast as Eddie Brock in 2007’s Spider-Man 3.

Grace lacks the imposing physique to portray Brock convincingly, especially considering director Sam Raimi went the bully route with his take on the character. Furthermore, Grace seems uncomfortable in the action scenes and, try as he might, he just can’t sell Brock’s transformation from regular jerk to superpowered one. Spider-Man 3 is already overflowing with characters and plot points; getting rid of Brock, a character who contributes nothing in the end, seems like a no-brainer.

Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx brought Max Dillon, aka Electro, to life in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He gives the best performance straight out of a 1985 movie; the only problem is his film was made in 2014. Foxx’s character is a combination of silly tropes and clichés that seem even more outdated in the actor’s hands.

Electro is a visually interesting villain whose powers translate well to the big screen. However, the film has no interest in developing his character, instead settling for using him as a mere plot device, and not a very good one. Foxx is clearly having fun with the role, but it’s not enough to elevate the character or his performance, especially considering the great villains the Web Crawler faced in the Raimi trilogy.

Not happy with having one villain, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 introduced another in the form of Dane DeHaan’s Harry Osborn. Driven mad by the serum that was supposed to cure him, DeHaan’s Harry goes from Peter’s friend to the Green Goblin in a matter of seconds.

The transformation is clumsy, rushed, and unnecessary; it feels unearned, especially in a film already struggling with multiple plotlines, many of which dangerously dangle on the edge of nonsense. DeHaan gives it his all, and the film has some intriguing ideas about the Goblin’s design and purpose. Alas, this version of the Green Goblin can’t help but pale compared to Willem Dafoe’s perfect portrayal of the iconic villain.

Tragic villains can be compelling when given enough attention and development. Spider-Man 3 tries too hard to sell Flint Marko as a victim of circumstance, delivering a message as subtle as a hammer to the head. Marko’s storyline comes with enough saccharine to provoke diabetes, but he’s still the best villain in the movie. Thomas Haden Church puts on his sad puppy face throughout the entire film, and the VFX are convincing enough to sell the overall performance.

Haden Church returned for Spider-Man: No Way Home. He has nothing to do except offer the occasional commentary and serve as another threat for the climax. Still, he makes enough of an impression to be memorable, which is a triumph in and of itself, considering who his scene partners are.

Give some respect to the Lizard. As one of Spider-Man’s most underrated villains, the Lizard hardly ever receives the attention he deserves. However, he is among the Web Crawler’s most complex and tragic enemies, a contradictory figure who serves as a dark contrast to the cheery Spider-Man.

The equally underrated Rhys Ifans portrays Curt Connors, aka the Lizard, in The Amazing Spider-Man, and he knocks it out of the park. His scenes with Andrew Garfield are perfect, with the two settling into the mentor-mentee relationship with quick ease. And while the film falls into tired monster tropes once Connor transforms into the Lizard, Ifans’ eccentricities as a performer still shine through, even when the plot is no longer interested in them. Lizard has nothing to do in No Way Home, but his short intervention there doesn’t take away from his previous performance.

After his richly deserved and long overdue Oscar nomination for Birdman, Michael Keaton played the villain in an MCU movie. The iconic actor brought his delightful brand of deranged charisma to his take on Adrian Toomes in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, the first Spidey film under the MCU umbrella.

Keaton’s Toomes is the ultimate working man, hustling his way to the top of the ladder. His role might seem small-scale, but it fits within the context of Peter’s journey at the time. Furthermore, Keaton’s Toomes shines a light on a segment of society that few MCU films worry about. The Vulture isn’t really a villain, but he’s very much an antagonist. Keaton walks a fine line between simple seriousness and genuine menace, enhanced by the creepy smile that’s become his calling card.

The MCU always chooses great actors for its villains, even if it doesn’t always know what to do with them. However, Jake Gyllenhaal was up to the task, playing Quentin Beck as the ultimate showman. The Oscar nominee delighted in playing an inventor whose pride got wounded, delivering a performance that was equal parts style and substance.

Alfred Molina gave the performance of a lifetime in Spider-Man 2. As Otto Octavius, Molina was heartbreaking and menacing, a tragic villain if ever there was one. Spider-Man 2 is all about identity and the struggle between duty and purpose, themes perfectly brought to life by Doctor Octopus. At the core of Octavius’ characterization is a heartfelt love story, the remains of a man trying to fill the void of a broken heart. Octavius’ journey mirrors Peter’s, with the two fighting for self-discovery and relying on one basic idea to try to bring order out of the chaos of their lives.