Top 15 Worst Performances in the MCU

#15: Natalie Portman

“Thor” franchise (2011-22)

Natalie Portman was fresh off an Oscar win for “Black Swan” when she first appeared as the God of Thunder’s love interest, Jane Foster. But, as we’ll soon see on this list, not even a gold statuette is a guarantee that one’s abilities will be put to good use. The first two “Thor” films, especially, leave Portman out to dry by relegating Jane to damsel in distress status, often placing her in situations that rob her of her independence. The actress is more than capable of playing characters with enough agency to fend for themselves, so her role in the “Thor” franchise is practically counterintuitive to her strengths as a performer. At least Jane would eventually reclaim some of her worth in “Love and Thunder.”

#14: Tim Blake Nelson

Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

A number of things went wrong with the latest “Captain America” film, from its incoherent story to its shoddy CGI. Many of these criticisms are embodied by the underwhelming return of Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns, who we last saw all the way back in 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk.” Given the introduction of Red Hulk, having a mutated Sterns serve as the giant brain behind the central conspiracy makes sense on paper. And Nelson rolls with what he’s given. But the lackluster effects that aid in his grotesque appearance make him less of a cunning mastermind and more of a laughable Easter egg. Considering his long hiatus between appearances and poorly defined motivation, this is one character we wish had remained in Phase One.

#13: Lee Pace

“Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014)

Ronan the Accuser is proof that even the most over-the-top and energetic superheroes can suffer in the villain department. While the Guardians of the Galaxy quickly became fan favorites in the MCU, their first antagonist is memorable for many of the wrong reasons. Rather than the terrifying conqueror he’s supposed to be, Lee Pace’s take on Ronan makes him look more like a whiny lackey. His constantly switching loyalties could have made him a complex character worth exploring, but Pace’s overreliance on cheesy melodrama brings the movie’s sense of adventure to a grinding halt. With bigger threats like Thanos on the horizon, it’s possible that Ronan was meant to be one-dimensional on purpose. But Pace does little to make him a villain truly worth appreciating.

#12: Terence Howard

“Iron Man” (2008)

James “Rhodey” Rhodes is a beloved fixture of the MCU, but he may not have been so had Don Cheadle not assumed the role in “Iron Man 2.” The original Rhodey, as played by Terence Howard, simply lacks the confidence and resolve required to keep a friend as unpredictable as Tony Stark in check. Moreover, Howard also forgets to have fun in the role, delivering a performance that’s far too serious to be in step with the movie’s rebellious tone. In other words, this is not a Rhodey that could convincingly don the War Machine suit and match Robert Downey, Jr.’s charisma beat for beat. We were thankfully spared from such a scenario, but it’s not exactly enjoyable to consider another appearance from Howard.

#11: Emilia Clarke

“Secret Invasion” (2023)

As the embodiment of Daenerys Targaryen, Emilia Clarke has convinced more than enough “Game of Thrones” fans of her flare for playing characters with incomparable power. “Secret Invasion” tries to offer her the same opportunity as Skrull rebel G’iah, but the show’s confounding six episodes often downplay the best parts of her character. Despite her relationships to Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos and main antagonist Gravik, Clarke isn’t exactly able to wring much dramatic tension out of G’iah’s intricate morals. In fact, her performance is often at war with “Secret Invasion”’s chaotic writing, as she isn’t really given much to chew on until it's far too late. Even when the series finale haphazardly morphs her into Super Skrull, we still haven’t developed much of an attachment to her.

#10: Evan Peters

“WandaVision” (2021)

Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s performance in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” can't help but be perceived as a downgrade compared to Evan Peters’ Quicksilver in the “X-Men” movies. But fans’ dissatisfaction with the character was dialed up when Peters unexpectedly arrived in “WandaVision.” Playing a “recast” version of Pietro Maximoff, Peters maintains the cocky sarcasm that works for his Quicksilver, leading many to speculate the arrival of the X-Men into the MCU. However, when the finale reveals that he’s merely an actor hired to manipulate Wanda, Peters’ performance instantly loses its luster due to the stupid joke it amounts to. Not only is he completely useless to the story in hindsight, but his schtick feels tonally inconsistent with the show’s sincere approach to themes like grief and trauma.

#9: Russell Crowe

“Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022)

As he proves in “The Nice Guys,” Russell Crowe is a surprisingly gifted comedic actor, at least when he’s given excellent material. That’s not exactly what “Thor: Love and Thunder” provides for anyone involved, though Crowe arguably draws the shortest stick in his oddly calibrated version of Zeus. The Oscar winner reportedly convinced director Taika Waititi to let him use a Greek accent rather than an intended British one, but it may not have been worth the effort. Even though Crowe intentionally plays the Greek god as a campy womanizer, his hit-or-miss vocal work brings the character too close to parody for us to take any of it seriously. What’s meant to be comic relief instead has us wishing for relief from the comedy.

#8: Gemma Chan

“Eternals” (2021)

Introducing ten new characters all at once, “Eternals” struggles to balance an eternity’s worth of character development for its large ensemble. You would think we could have at least hoped for some committed performances, especially from Gemma Chan. Unfortunately, her work as matter manipulator Sersi is anything but. Along with her co-star, Richard Madden, Chan’s blank, uninterested facial expressions don’t change much across the movie’s runtime. Considering that Ikaris and Sersi’s complicated romance could have been the emotional fulcrum of the entire movie, their lack of chemistry doesn’t inspire a reason to return. Chan may possess the objectivity an Eternal requires to not interfere in human conflicts, but that also means she’s unmemorable as a character many audiences were meeting for the first time.

#7: Bill Murray

“Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023)

The third “Ant-Man” adventure is rife with missed opportunities, especially as far as its cast is concerned. The recasting of Emma Fuhrmann’s Cassie Lang with Kathryn Newton rubbed many fans the wrong way, but the true head scratcher is the inclusion of Bill Murray. While the legendary comedian was a major selling point for “Quantumania,” the final result makes his knack for playing apathetic smart-alecks feel entirely out-of-place. Despite his notoriety in the Quantum Realm, Lord Krylar feels like such an off-putting weirdo that it’s hard not to think that Murray’s merely phoning it in. Granted, many of his scenes were ultimately removed from the theatrical cut of “Quantumania,” but that only makes what’s left feel like a superfluous addition to an already confusing movie.

#6: Mickey Rourke

“Iron Man 2” (2010)

A performance like this makes us grateful that Whiplash wasn’t in the first “Iron Man” film, as the MCU would’ve taken off in much rougher fashion. Following his Oscar-nominated comeback in “The Wrestler,” Mickey Rourke embraced his second chance by portraying scientist Ivan Vanko. And let’s just say this performance didn’t have the same level of gravitas. Between his cartoonish accent and Vanko’s strange affinity for his pet bird, Rourke is neither formidable nor well-rounded enough to make Whiplash a solid enough villain. It’s a frustrating waste of a character with a potentially interesting relationship to Tony Stark, as Rourke ends his time in the movie as merely a set piece in the movie’s action. A sophomore slump if ever there was one.

#5: Ray Winstone

“Black Widow” (2021)

Ray Winstone is known for a few distinct characteristics: his gruff demeanor, brooding physicality, and unmistakable British accent. Those first two qualities only appear sporadically throughout “Black Widow,” while the third is an unintentional bug in the system. In fact, it’s Winstone’s erratic attempt at maintaining a Russian accent that wipes away any notion of intimidation in his time as Red Room leader Dreykov. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to challenge yourself, but the actor seems so determined to rely on gangster mannerisms that he’s more like a Guy Ritchie character who wandered into the MCU. Heading up a Soviet assassin syndicate isn’t the kind of criminal activity Winstone is cut out for, and it’s for the best that Dreykov likely won’t be seen again.

#4: Jude Law

“Captain Marvel” (2019)

Jude Law is one of the most charismatic actors of his generation, commanding a unique ability to blur the line between hero and villain. “Captain Marvel” would have us believe he’s doing just that as Carol Danvers’ mentor Yon-Rogg, but his performance is consistently undermined by the obviousness of his evil. Law’s screen time with Brie Larson doesn’t do much to convince us of their friendship, with the former lacking enough charm to mask his sinister intentions. Yon-Rogg is uniquely situated to counter Nick Fury’s more heroic brand of mentorship, but Law is given so little room to flex his chops that he merely comes across as disinterested. That he ultimately poses no threat to the title character only makes the performance that much weaker.

#3: Ben Kingsley

“Iron Man 3” (2013)

This respected British actor knows a lot about playing large-than-life figures with theatricality and nuance. So when he first shows up as Tony Stark’s archnemesis, the Mandarin, in “Iron Man 3,” it’s like we’re witnessing Phase Two’s first great villain be born. That is, until it’s revealed that this alleged terrorist is merely an actor named Trevor Slattery, who was hired to throw Tony off the real villain’s scent. The infamous moment has set a standard for unnecessary villain reveals that have plagued otherwise decent MCU projects, and Kingsley’s shift into oafish buffoonery feels completely beneath him. Trevor may have some defenders, but Kingsley's subsequent appearances have served little purpose other than to remind us of how “Iron Man 3” took his talent for granted.

#2: Liv Tyler

“The Incredible Hulk” (2008)

Despite not being thought of in high regard, the fact that we’ve seen all the major characters in “The Incredible Hulk” return at least once should signify a degree of memorability. Nevertheless, there’s probably a good reason it’s taken Liv Tyler over a decade-and-a-half to be brought back into the fold. The part itself is admittedly thin, but Tyler’s performance doesn’t do much to further enhance Betty’s intelligence, self-sufficiency, or her emotional attachment to Bruce Banner. Her chemistry with Edward Norton is questionable at best, with their relationship based more on obligation rather than genuine love. Tyler is a proven romantic force, but here, she looks like she’d rather be anywhere other than caught in the fray with a giant green monster.

#1: Christopher Eccleston

“Thor: The Dark World” (2013)

We’re not sure which of Christopher Eccleston's performances as Malekith is more painful: the one we saw in “Thor: The Dark World” or the one he put on to get through filming it. The “Doctor Who” alum has been extremely critical about his experience on the film, citing the poor characterization and overuse of prosthetics as points of contention. Perhaps Eccleston recognized the wasted potential early on, as he frequently replaces magnetism with complete and utter boredom. Just as there’s no rhyme or reason to Malekith’s plan, there’s not much holding this performance together, as it’s merely a mishmash of one villain trope after another. Capping off one of the least enjoyable MCU movies, it’s arguably the most forgettable performance of the entire franchise.

Which MCU performance do you have a hard time sitting through? Is there one you think is unfairly criticized? Be sure to assemble down in the comments to let us know!