Who the Collector is
Taneleer Tivan is one of the Elders of the Universe, an ancient being who has spent an unthinkable stretch of time gathering rare creatures and objects. He keeps them in a sprawling museum on Knowhere, a mining colony built inside the severed head of a giant celestial being. Visitors who make it past his front door see glass cases full of aliens, artifacts and oddities, many of them still alive.
He is not a fighter. The Collector's power is money, patience and an eye for things nobody else can find. That makes him a broker in the race for the Infinity Stones: everyone who wants a stone eventually ends up asking what the Collector knows, or what he will pay.
The Collector's appearances in order
- Thor: The Dark World (recommended): the mid-credits scene, where Sif and Volstagg leave the Aether in his care.
- Guardians of the Galaxy (essential): the Guardians bring him a mysterious orb, hoping for a big payday.
- Avengers: Infinity War (essential): a short scene on Knowhere where things are not quite what they seem.
- What If...? (optional): an alternate-universe animated appearance.
He has fairly little screen time in total, but each film scene moves the Infinity Stones story forward in a big way.
Scenes worth paying attention to
His key moment in Guardians is the first real explanation of what the Infinity Stones are. He plays a holographic history lesson for the Guardians, showing how the stones came to be and what they can do in the right or wrong hands. Much of what Infinity War takes for granted is set up right there in his gallery. The visit ends in chaos, which is how most business with the Collector seems to end.
The film's post-credits scene also checks in on him and his ruined collection, with a cameo from a familiar animal fans had not expected to see.
In Infinity War, the Guardians return to Knowhere looking for Thanos, and the Collector is part of a scene built around deception. Saying more would spoil one of the film's sharper surprises.
People who cross his path
Gamora is the reason the Guardians end up in his museum, since she arranges the sale of the orb. Star-Lord (Peter Quill) is the one holding the merchandise and haggling for a better price. Rocket is not shy about saying what he thinks of the Collector's caged specimens, and Groot gets an unsettling offer from a man who clearly wants him for the shelves. Carina, his abused assistant, is a small but memorable part of the Guardians scene.
Benicio del Toro as Tivan
Del Toro is known for picking odd, specific choices, and he goes all in here: bleached hair, layered fur coat, eyeliner and a whispery voice that sounds amused by everything. It is a small role played with full commitment. Outside the MCU, he is best known as the cop Javier Rodriguez in Traffic, the mysterious Alejandro in Sicario and the mumbling Fenster in The Usual Suspects. Star Wars fans also know him as the codebreaker DJ in The Last Jedi.
How to watch his story
Watch Guardians of the Galaxy first, with the Dark World mid-credits scene as an optional prelude. It introduces him properly, explains the Infinity Stones and is essential for anyone following the saga. Then watch Avengers: Infinity War, ideally after the Guardians sequel and the other films leading up to it, so the Knowhere scene has its full effect. Browse the MCU character index to follow the Guardians beyond these two films.