Published May 9, 2026, 8:55 AM EDT
Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content
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It's almost impossible to think about characters who have only shown up in a single Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. The franchise is so intertwined that seemingly everyone shows up for at least a handful of films. The main characters like Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Peter Parker, T'Challa, and others have popped up in a bunch of different movies, from solo projects to team up installments like The Avengers series.
There are also characters like the Fantastic Four, Shang-Chi, and Namor, who were great introductions in their lone films to date, but are confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, so a second appearance is on the horizon. Due to that, they aren't in consideration for this list. Still, there are certainly a handful of characters who have only appeared in one MCU movie, yet have managed to make a lasting impact.
Characters with only one confirmed film role could range from villains to people who have shown up in Marvel TV shows to special appearances and more. Each of these characters made a lasting impact in their lone appearance, though, as audiences were captivated by them and, in some cases, are hoping to see more of them in the future.
10 Makkari (Eternals)
Makkari is a prime example of a character who stole the scenes she was in, yet wasn't given nearly enough to work with. It was hard for anyone in Eternals to stand out because, with so many characters, some weren't given enough time to shine.
Makkari managed to do it despite not having proper screen time. Her superspeed is one of the coolest-looking powers in the MCU, she provides representation for people who are deaf, and her relationship with Druig deserved to get fleshed out. Alas, it doesn't seem like that'll ever happen.
9 Justin Hammer (Iron Man 2)
Justin Hammer is one of the most fun antagonists in the MCU. He's basically a far less successful version of Tony Stark and that's why he works so well. You can tell that Hammer is insecure and tries to make up for his shortcomings through nefarious means.
Sam Rockwell is having a blast with the role, making it his own as he's quite different from his comic book counterpart. Hammer was never going to be a true threat to Iron Man, so having him play into some lighthearted aspects worked. Rockwell got to be charismatic and add some comic relief to the film.
8 Gorr The God Butcher (Thor: Love And Thunder)
Few characters have felt more underutilized in the MCU than Gorr the God Butcher. He's one of the most impressive villains in Marvel Comics and with Christian Bale cast as the character, there was potential for something truly great.
Unfortunately, Thor: Love and Thunder struggled with a consistent tone, so each scene where Gorr is menacing is followed by something too lighthearted for it to really stick. Bale's performance is great, though, and Gorr's turn into a villain is well done in a fantastic opening scene. Even with a disappointing project, Gorr was good enough to stand out.
7 Hela (Thor: Ragnarok)
Not many characters have had a more memorable first appearance than Hela. Thor's sister shows up early in Thor: Ragnarok and catches Mjolnir when it's thrown at her with relative ease before crushing it into pieces. That let everyone know about her power level.
Indeed, Hela proves to be too much for even Thor to handle and she destroys warriors in Asgard like it's nothing. Cate Blanchett's performance is full of charisma and she has gone down as one of the better villains to ever grace the MCU.
6 Silver Surfer/Shalla Bal (The Fantastic Four: First Steps)
The main characters of The Fantastic Four: First Steps all made an impact with their debut film, yet they're all set to return in Avengers: Doomsday. That's not the case with Shalla Bal, better known as the Silver Surfer, brought to life by the very talented Julia Garner.
This take on the character was well done, from the visual style to the tragic backstory. Garner's performance, and how she plays off Joseph Quinn's Johnny Storm, is also a highlight. It helps that she's part of the film's best scene as she chases the Fantastic Four through space.
5 The Grandmaster (Thor: Ragnarok)
There's so much to love about Thor: Ragnarok and its secondary antagonist is among them. The Grandmaster was never anywhere near as imposing as Hela and that's exactly why he worked. His side story was a lighter aspect of the film and it still played an important role in getting Thor, Hulk, Valkyrie, and Loki together.
Jeff Goldblum brings his eccentric and charming personality to the role, making sure we laugh along with his antics even when he does something as barbaric as killing his cousin. Each scene featuring the Grandmaster is a delight and makes for great cinema.
4 Adrian Toomes/The Vulture (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
When Spider-Man: Homecoming was announced, people weren't sure about the Vulture being the villain. In the comics, he's not all that imposing and he's often depicted as an elderly man. However, the MCU went a different route and made the Vulture menacing.
Michael Keaton delivers a tremendous performance as Adrian Toomes, a man driven to a life of crime by the unjust world around him. You don't root for him but you understand his motivations. He's also part of one of the best twists in the franchise. Toomes appeared in Morbius but that film isn't officially in the MCU.
3 America Chavez (Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness)
It's mind-boggling that we haven't gotten more of America Chavez. The character has the ability to jump to different universes, which is an ideal power to showcase in the Multiverse Saga, yet the MCU has relegated her to one film appearance.
In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, America gets help from Doctor Strange as Wanda Maximoff wants to utilize her power to reunite with her children. America gets fleshed out as a character with a dark backstory and she's very charismatic. We'll likely see her in the Young Avengers, though nothing is confirmed.
2 Peter Parker #3 (Spider-Man: No Way Home)
Like the Vulture, Peter Parker #3 has appeared in multiple movies but only one that's officially in the MCU. Spider-Man: No Way Home brought back both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's versions of the wall crawler and Garfield's new take just edges him out.
Garfield gets to appear first, leading to some fun back-and-forth banter with MJ and Ned. He also gets some of the film's funniest lines regarding his fight with the Rhino and how he loves the other Peters. He also gets the big emotional bit where he saves MJ in a way that he couldn't do for Gwen in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
1 Ms. Marvel (The Marvels)
The Marvels may have been the lowest-grossing film in the MCU, but even its harshest critics have admitted that Iman Vellani is the high point of the movie. As good as Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris are, Vellani's Ms. Marvel just brings a new level of excitement to every scene.
The actor's own admiration for the franchise comes through the character and makes her relatable. The best scenes in The Marvels see the three lead characters just working together and hanging out and Ms. Marvel is why it clicks so well. Iman Vellani is just such a joy to watch in this role.
TV Show(s) Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, Inhumans, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If...?, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Secret Invasion, Marvel's Echo, Agatha All Along, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
First Film Iron Man
First TV Show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Cast Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors
Created by Kevin Feige
Upcoming Films Blade, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
English (US) ·