Top 25 performances from a comic book movie or TV show

12. Tom Hiddleston as Loki

Appears in: Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Avengers, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame

Hiddleston is so perfect in this role that even after killing him off, Marvel couldn’t let him go. Loki is so deliciously evil and fun that we don’t even hate him when he decides to try and conquer the Earth in the first Avengers movie.

Hiddleston does a great job presenting us with a complicated character driven by his unfortunate upbringing and need to outshine his favored older brother. Hiddleston manages to be as scary as he is funny and as lovable as he is dangerous. We know we can’t trust anything he says, but we also know that he’s not completely evil through and through. He’s a damaged person who puts his faith in tricks and games, always digging himself in deeper. He knows no other way.

Loki’s death in Infinity War is a perfect example of how far (that version of the character) had come. Just when we think he’s gone back to being the bad guy, he makes one last effort to play a trick and save the universe…and it costs him his life. I’m very excited that we’re going to see more of Hiddleson in this iconic role in the Loki series on Disney+.

11. Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool

Appears in: Deadpool, Deadpool 2

The numbers speak for themselves on this one. The two Deadpool movies each outgrossed every X-Men film Fox ever made, and Ryan Reynolds is at the center of their success.

Reynolds made these movies happen. After being cast as a horribly conceived mute version of Deadpool in the much maligned X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Reynolds took it upon himself to accurately bring the Merc With a Mouth to the big screen. His Deadpool is witty, goofy, and speaks directly to the audience in a way that sets these movies apart from standard superhero fare. With its violence and profanity, many were skeptical that this R-rated superhero series would succeed, but it ends up this is just what fans were looking for, particularly with Reynolds at the helm reminding us to not take any of it too seriously.

That said, both Deadpool movies have their somber notes, as we find out how this superhero got his powers, lost his looks, and found himself unable to confront the love of his life. Reynolds clearly understands some of the darker and most tragic elements hidden behind the character’s joking facade. Put those two elements together and you have the performance of Reynolds’ career.