Death in theMarvel Cinematic Universeisn’t always permanent, with some characters finding themselves returning from the grave more than once. Whether through time travel, magic, or alternate realities, these repeated deaths serve to heighten emotional stakes while allowing beloved characters to remain inthe MCU timelinelonger than expected. The MCU has frequently played with resurrection, offering unique ways for characters to meet their end, only to return in some form or another. Whether through divine intervention, cosmic resets, or multiversal trickery, these characters have experienced multiple tragic demises.
Death in Marvel Comics is a notoriously temporary state, but for many years the MCU presented a far more permeant end for some characters. Quicksilver met an untimely end without any sign of revival, while villains like Obadiah Stane would appear once and be defeated for good by the end of the movie. However, asthe MCU continuedwith new storytelling mechanics like time travel, multiversal crossovers, and magic became prominent, death is becoming far less final.
11Loki Has Died Many Times
Thor, Avengers: Endgame, Loki
Loki, the God of Mischief, has perhaps the most extensive death record in the MCU. His first major “death” came inThor(2011) when he seemingly fell into the abyss of space after battling his brother. However, he returned inThe Avengers(2012), only to be killed by Thanos inAvengers: Infinity War(2018). While that version of Loki remained dead,an alternate Loki from 2012 escapedduringAvengers: Endgame(2019), leading to his adventures inLoki(2021).
Within that series, Lokiexperienced multiple deaths. These included being pruned in the TVA, vaporized by Alioth, and erased from existence entirely inLokiseason 2 before ultimately evolving into the god-like protector of the timeline. Loki’s many deaths solidify him as one of the MCU’s most enduring and resurrected characters.
10Vision Has Died 3 Times
Avengers: Infinity War, WandaVision
Vision has the unfortunate distinction of dying three times in the MCU. His first death occurred inAvengers: Infinity War(2018) when Scarlet Witch was forced to destroy the Mind Stone in his head to keep it from Thanos. However, Thanos simply reversed time using the Time Stone,resurrecting Vision momentarilybefore killing him again by tearing the Mind Stone from his forehead.
10 Totally Bizarre Marvel Movie Knock-Offs, Ranked By How Bizarre/Weird They Are
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its fair share of knock-offs and Mockbusters, but these might be the weirdest Marvel movie imitators.
Vision’s second resurrection came inWandaVision(2021), where Wanda unknowingly recreated him through her grief-fueled magic in Westview. But even that version of Vision ultimately died when the Hex collapsed. Although a white, memory-less version of Vision remains active, theoriginal Vision died twice inInfinity Warand once inWandaVision, making him one of the few MCU characters to suffer multiple definitive deaths.
9Elektra Has Died Twice
Daredevil, The Defenders
Daredeviland its related Netflix series were originally intended as part of the MCU timeline but were briefly removed. However, the return of Charlie Cox as Daredevil inSpider-Man: No Way Home(2021),She-Hulk(2022), andDaredevil: Born Again(2025) has retroactively pulled those stories into the MCU’s ecosystem. This means Elektra, played by Élodie Yung, isnow an official part of the timeline– and she has died twice.
Elektra’s first death came inDaredevilseason 2 when she was killed by Nobu. However, The Hand later resurrected her, turning her into the Black Sky. Her second death occurred inThe Defenders(2017), when she and Matt Murdock were buried beneath the collapsing Midland Circle. While Matt survived,Elektra’s fate remained ambiguous, though the assumption was that she died once more. Though withDaredevil: Born Again, there’s always a chance she could return yet again.
8Ultron Killed His Outdated Models
Avengers: Age Of Ultron
Ultron may have only lasted for one movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but his legacy of destruction was vast. A self-replicating artificial intelligence,Ultron constantly upgraded his body, discarding outdated versions of himself along the way. ThroughoutAvengers: Age of Ultron, the villain created numerous drones and alternate bodies, only to destroy or abandon them as he sought perfection.
I Still Can’t Believe These 10 Obscure Parts Of Marvel’s Comic Lore Made It Into The MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced a swathe of iconic events and characters from the comics, but I’m still surprised some made it in.
Some of these models were taken down by the Avengers, but many were eliminated by Ultron himself once he deemed them obsolete. His final form was ultimately destroyed by Vision, but before that,he had essentially “died” several times as he transitioned between different bodies. While Ultron never returned in the main MCU timeline, a version of him did make an appearance inWhat If…?, proving that his consciousness could persist across the multiverse.
7The Black Order Were Killed Twice
Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Thanos' elite enforcers, the Black Order, met their demise more than once in the MCU. Comprised of Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, Cull Obsidian, and Corvus Glaive, this deadly quartet first appeared inAvengers: Infinity Waras they hunted down the Infinity Stones. Each member wasmethodically eliminated by Earth’s mightiest heroesduring battles, from Ebony Maw being cast into space by Iron Man and Spider-Man to the brutal final fight in Wakanda.
However, due to time-traveling shenanigans inAvengers: Endgame, a past version of the Black Order was brought forward from 2014. These alternate versions participated in the climactic battle but were once again eradicated, this time by thecombined might of the Avengers and the snapperformed by Tony Stark. Their double demise cemented them as formidable yet ultimately doomed warriors.
6Thanos Has Died 4 Times
Avengers: Endgame, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, What If…?
Thanos, the Mad Titan, has met his end multiple times across different realities. His first major death occurred early inAvengers: Endgamewhen Thor decapitated him after discovering he had destroyed the Infinity Stones. However, another version of Thanos from 2014 wasbrought into the present during the movie’s climactic battle, where he was dusted by Iron Man’s Infinity Gauntlet snap.
The MCU’s Next Most Powerful Villain Is Accidentally The Avengers Fault According To Convincing Thunderbolts* Theory
Thunderbolts* is introducing a huge Marvel Comics character, and if a popular theory is correct, his turn to evil could be connected to the Avengers.
Outside of the main MCU timeline,What If…?introduced another demise for Thanos when he was swiftly bisected by Ultron, who had obtained the Infinity Stones. The Mad Titan faced yet another death inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where a variant of the Illuminati universe showed his lifeless bodyafter being defeated by the group. Thanos' multiple deaths reinforce his role as one of the MCU’s most enduring and feared villains.
5Agent Phil Coulson Has Faced Numerous Deaths
The Avengers, Agents Of SHIELD
Phil Coulson’s death inThe Avengerswas a turning point for the team, uniting them against Loki. However, he didn’t stay dead for long, asAgents of SHIELDrevealed thatNick Fury had resurrected himusing Kree-based technology. This, however, was only the beginning of Coulson’s repeated deaths.
Over the course ofAgents of SHIELD, he waskilled or presumed dead multiple times, only to return through different means. He succumbed to his Kree-induced health deterioration at the end of season 5, but a Life Model Decoy version of him resurfaced in later seasons. Eventually, even this version met his end before being revived once again in a new synthetic body. Coulson’s numerous deaths and resurrections make him one of the MCU’s most persistent characters, constantly straddling the line between life and death.
4Doctor Stephen Strange Died Infinite Times
Doctor Strange, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Doctor Strange has arguably experienced more deaths than any other MCU character. InDoctor Strange (2016), he devised a clever plan to defeat Dormammu bytrapping him in a time loopwhere he was repeatedly killed, only to reset the loop indefinitely. This effectively meant Strange died an uncountable number of times until Dormammu relented.
10 Iconic MCU Events That Already Happened Years Earlier In Marvel’s Animated Shows
Some of the most iconic moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been depicted years prior as part of Marvel’s shared animated universe.
However, this wasn’t the only time Strange faced death. InDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it was revealed that an alternate version of him had been executed by the Illuminati after they deemed him too dangerous due to his use of the Darkhold. Moreover,two further Strange variants are depicted dying inMultiverse of Madness, plus Strange was dusted during the Blip. With his frequent run-ins with reality-altering magic and the multiverse, it wouldn’t be surprising if Doctor Strange continues to face multiple deaths in the MCU’s future.
3Maria Rambeau Has Died Twice
WandaVision, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Maria Rambeau is best known as Captain Marvel’s best friend and Monica Rambeau’s mother. She has had two confirmed deaths in the MCU. Her first death was revealed inWandaVision, where it was stated that she hadsuccumbed to cancer during the five-year Blip, passing away in a hospital while her daughter Monica was dusted.
However,Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessintroduced a powerful variant of Maria who had become Captain Marvel in another reality. Unfortunately, this version of Maria met her end at the hands of the Scarlet Witch during the Illuminati battle, as Wanda used her immense chaos magic tocrush her beneath a statue. Despite her heroic strength, Maria Rambeau’s multiple deaths across different timelines underscore her importance in the MCU’s expanding multiverse narrative.
2Peggy Carter Has Died Twice
Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Peggy Carter, one of the most beloved characters in the MCU, has experienced two notable deaths. Her first came inCaptain America: Civil War, where it was revealed that she hadpassed away from old age after a long and heroic life. This moment was an emotional one for Steve Rogers, who had long cherished his memories with her.
Hulk’s 10 Most Iconic Scenes In The MCU, Ranked
Though frequently sideline in the MCU, the Hulk has delivered some of the most iconic and memorable moments in the franchise’s history.
However, Peggy met a much more violent fate inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesswhen her Captain Carter variant became a member of the Illuminati. During the battle against Wanda Maximoff, Captain Carter boldly declared, “I can do this all day,“only to begruesomely bisected by Scarlet Witch with her own shield. Peggy’s multiple deaths highlight both the natural passage of time and the brutal consequences of meddling in the multiverse.
