Summary
- Chris Hemsworth’s Thor should continue in the MCU for a few more years.
- Thor is the only MCU hero with 4 solo films, with a potential Thor 5 looking likely.
- Thor’s MCU movies vary in tone and quality, with some appearances better than others.
Chris Hemsworth’s Thor should continue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a few more years at least, and the character can only get better by looking back at what worked or not across the God of Thunder’s MCU appearances. Hemsworth is one of the most important stars in the MCU, with the actor holding a unique franchise record. Thor is the only MCU hero to have four solo films, with the MCU’s Thor movies varying in tone and quality.
While Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will tie the God of Thunder with his in-development Spider-Man 4, Hemsworth’s Thor 5 could also become a reality, keeping the actor in the lead. Hemsworth has played the main version of Thor in several movies, including Thor entries, Avengers films, and more. Among Thor’s MCU appearances, some were better than others.
Related Chris Hemsworth’s MCU Return Comments Have Me Worried About Marvel’s Plans For Thor 5
Chris Hemsworth has shared new comments on whether he will return for Avengers: Doomsday and Thor 5, and his reveal makes me nervous for Thor.
10 Doctor Strange (2016)
A Brief Cameo
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Doctor Strange Where to Watch
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Enter the world of Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a world-famous neurosurgeon whose car accident left him unable to use his hands. As he desperately tries to find a cure to enable his hands to perform operations again, he comes across a world that leads to another dimension. After being taught about the different dimensions and learning about the constant threat that looms on Earth, he began to embrace his role as the humble protector. Taking after the responsibilities of the Ancient One who trained him before her demise, Strange goes on to become the Sorcerer Supreme himself.
Director Scott Derrickson Release Date October 25, 2016 Cast Tilda Swinton , Benedict Wong , Michael Stuhlbarg , Mads Mikkelsen , Scott Adkins , Benedict Cumberbatch , Rachel McAdams , Chiwetel Ejiofor Runtime 126 minutes
Thor’s first meeting with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange in the MCU came in the form of a brief appearance in Doctor Strange‘s mid-credits scene. The moment is quite funny, with Thor shocked as he sees the glass of beer he had just finished drinking fill itself up again. While short, the moment served as a sneak peek at Thor and Doctor Strange’s chemistry, as well as Cumberbatch’s character’s first voyage deeper into the MCU.
The reason it ranks last in the list is due to how long Thor’s appearance is. While exciting, Thor ultimately has better and longer appearances in the MCU. Still, the moment was good to tease what kind of rapport fans could expect from the duo when Thor: Ragnarok came around. All in all, it was a fun moment that showed a lighter Thor.
Related 10 Thor Deleted Scenes That Would Have Changed The MCU
There have been quite a few deleted scenes in Thor’s 4-movie MCU history, and some of them might have changed the MCU quite significantly.
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9 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
A Cameo With A Lasting Impact
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Deadpool & Wolverine
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Director Shawn Levy Release Date July 26, 2024 Cast Ryan Reynolds , Hugh Jackman , Emma Corrin , Morena Baccarin , Rob Delaney , Leslie Uggams , Karan Soni , Matthew Macfadyen , Brianna Hildebrand , Shioli Kutsuna , Stefan Kapicic , Lewis Tan , Randal Reeder , Jennifer Garner , Aaron Stanford , Billy Clements , Ollie Palmer , Chris Hemsworth , Rob McElhenney Runtime 127 Minutes Expand
Chris Hemsworth’s Thor had a cameo in the MCU’s only movie of 2024, Deadpool & Wolverine. However, Hemsworth did not shoot any new scenes for the film, with Thor appearing through the use of repurposed footage of him crying over Loki in Thor: The Dark World. Still, the moment was quite effective, as the cameo was hilarious, had a lasting impact on Deadpool & Wolverine, and teased future MCU events.
In the movie, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool sees Thor on a monitor at the TVA. Hemsworth’s Thor is holding a seemingly dying Deadpool and crying. The scene is said to take place in the distant future, with Deadpool constantly talking to the audience throughout the movie, trying to figure out why Thor was crying. With two Avengers movies on the horizon, the cameo could be teasing a future meeting between Thor and Deadpool.
Related Why Was Thor Crying Over Deadpool?
While visiting the TVA in Deadpool & Wolverine, Wade Wilson discovers a major moment between himself and Thor (that may be a major MCU tease).
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8 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Far From The Avenger’s Finest Hour
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Avengers: Age of Ultron Where to Watch
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In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Earth’s Mightiest must reunite and work with newcomers Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch to battle a new antagonist Ultron, who receives an all-new origin story while dealing with a new level of inner conflict amongst the team. Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch may not necessarily agree with The Avengers and initially blame Tony Stark for creating the new villain and the death of their parents. Avengers: Age of Ultron was directed and written by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige for Marvel Studios. The movie was released on April 13, 2015, followed by its eventual sequels, Avengers: Infinity War in 2018 and Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
Director Joss Whedon Release Date May 1, 2015 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Clark Gregg , Robert Downey Jr. , Cobie Smulders , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Jeremy Renner , Thomas Kretschmann , Chris Evans , Don Cheadle , Mark Ruffalo , Elizabeth Olsen , Scarlett Johansson , Paul Bettany , Samuel L. Jackson , James Spader Runtime 141 minutes Expand
Avengers: Age of Ultron is the MCU’s worst movie for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Still, that does not mean that the film is bad, but there were clearly too many moving parts that ended up making it one of the MCU’s most divisive entries. Due to how much it set up, Avengers: Age of Ultron is now looked at in a more positive light than when the movie was released, but as far as Thor appearances go, the film was not the best.
Thor had pretty much nothing to do in the movie. Aside from fun scenes at the start of the film in the Avengers Tower party sequence and his chemistry with the team’s members, Thor was sent into a weird side plot. It would later become clear that Marvel was teasing Thor: Ragnarok, but Thor’s mysterious cave quest ended up being dull and confusing.
Related The MCU Keeps Ignoring A Thor Plot Hole From Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron left a plot hole involving Thor and the Infinity Stones that Thor: Ragnarok made worse, and the MCU keeps ignoring it.
7 Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Very Little Worked In This MCU Movie
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Thor: The Dark World
Thor: The Dark World is the first sequel to Thor’s introductory MCU movie and the second release in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 2. Set after the events of The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World follows Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder as he tries to stop the villain Malekith with the help of his girlfriend Jane Foster, his brother Loki, and his father Odin.
Director Alan Taylor Release Date November 8, 2013 Cast Tom Hiddleston , Tadanobu Asano , Idris Elba , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje , Anthony Hopkins , Natalie Portman , Zachary Levi , Christopher Eccleston , Rene Russo , Chris Hemsworth , Ray Stevenson , Stellan Skarsgård , Jaimie Alexander , Kat Dennings Runtime 1h 52m Expand
Like Avengers: Age of Ultron sits at the bottom of the list of movies for the team, Thor: The Dark World occupies the same place among Chris Hemsworth’s Thor films. The movie tried to go for a darker and more mature direction for Thor, which would have been exciting if only the film had also been interesting. In the end, Thor: The Dark World was a bland affair that might be the MCU’s worst movie.
Despite the film’s bad status, Hemsworth’s Thor gets some better moments here and more screen time than in the movies that sit below it on the list. Thor evolved into a more understanding character who is not as immature as he was in 2011’s Thor. The movie also shows Thor’s deep love for his friends and family and brings a visceral acting performance out of Hemsworth in reaction to Frigga’s death.
Related Marvel Has Spent 10 Years Fixing Thor: The Dark World – But There’s Still 1 Thing Left
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6 Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
A Disappointment With Some Fun
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Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor: Love & Thunder is the fourth Thor film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and director Taika Waititi’s second outing with the character. The movie finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey to find inner piece. But when Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) goes on a killing rampage against the gods, Thor is thrown back into the action. Tessa Thompson returns as Valkyrie, as does Waititi’s Korg. Natalie Portman also returns to the franchise for the first time in nine years as Jane Foster, who transforms into the Mighty Thor to wield Mjolnir.
Director Taika Waititi Release Date July 8, 2022 Cast Christian Bale , Russell Crowe , Tessa Thompson , Chris Pratt2 , Natalie Portman , Karen Gillan , Chris Hemsworth Runtime 118 minutes
Thor: Ragnarok was the turning point for the God of Thunder in the MCU. Director Taika Waititi injected a new dose of adrenaline into the character, making audiences yearn for more Thor, and Chris Hemsworth, who later revealed he had been growing bored by what was being done with the character, have a renewed enthusiasm to play the hero. After the movie’s huge success, Thor: Love and Thunder was expected to be another Waititi-Hemsworth home run — until it was not.
Hemsworth has since revealed he has Thor: Love and Thunder regrets, saying, “I became a parody of myself.” The movie had a tonal issue, with many dark moments and emotional beats losing impact because of unnecessary comedy. While the film does not work, Thor meeting Jane Foster again and rekindling their relationship before a tragic ending raises this appearance above others. Amid some misses, Thor also had multiple hilarious moments.
Related Natalie Portman’s MCU Return Is Already Possible Without Ruining Her Thor 4 Ending
With Natalie Portman’s recent comments about continuing in the MCU, Jane Foster’s potential return must follow one rule to maintain her Thor 4 legacy.
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5 Thor (2011)
The God Of Thunder’s Unique MCU Adventure
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Thor Where to Watch
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Chris Hemsworth’s MCU debut as the Asgardian God of Thunder saw him navigating the ultimare sibling rivalry and parental expectations. Kenneth Branagh’s theatrical adaptation of the long-running Marvel Comics deals with Thor’s quest to prove himself worthy. Banished to Earth for his impulsiveness and tendency to violence, Thor must earn his destiny, while Tom Hiddleston’s Loki tries to destroy him.
Director Kenneth Branagh Release Date May 6, 2011 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Natalie Portman , Tom Hiddleston , Kat Dennings , Stellan Skarsgård , Idris Elba , Clark Gregg , Colm Feore Runtime 115 minutes
The original Thor movie is a unique entry in not only Hemsworth’s franchise but the MCU as a whole. Director Kenneth Branagh brought his Shakespearean knowledge and flair to his only MCU directorial effort, making Thor stand out. The movie’s tone, dialogues, and visual language contribute to a poetic origin story for the God of Thunder in the MCU, serving as a nice starting point for the character.
That is the reason Hemsworth’s appearance in 2011’s Thor does not rank higher. The character is still very simple in the sense that Thor is immature, thinking of himself as an all-powerful force who deserves to be looked up to at all times. The movie teaches him some real lessons, with Thor’s time on Earth changing the hero for the better. Later movies would continue to build upon this solid foundation.
Related Thor (2011) Cast – Where Are They Now?
Thor (2011) boasted an impressive ensemble cast, including acting royalty and burgeoning stars with an impressive career ahead of them.
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4 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Thor’s Most Controversial Appearance
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Avengers: Endgame Where to Watch
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The penultimate chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame, marks the finale of the first three phases of the MCU and acts as part two of Avengers: Infinity War. With Earth’s Mightiest Heroes failing to stop Thanos from wiping out half of all existence, the heroes discover one final chance to make things right. Journeying back through space and time, the surviving Avengers attempt to stop Thanos before all is lost.
Director Joe Russo , Anthony Russo Release Date April 26, 2019 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Anthony Mackie , Paul Rudd , Robert Downey Jr. , Scarlett Johansson , Mark Ruffalo , Evangeline Lilly , Sebastian Stan , Josh Brolin , Elizabeth Olsen , Tom Holland , Don Cheadle , Samuel L. Jackson , Bradley Cooper , Karen Gillan , Brie Larson , Paul Bettany , Chris Evans , Jeremy Renner , Chadwick Boseman Runtime 182 Minutes Expand
Some might put Thor’s Avengers: Endgame appearance at the very bottom of the list, as it is surely the hero’s most controversial MCU outing. Coming off a universally beloved role in Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame took Thor on a completely unexpected path. Not having killed Thanos when he had the chance, the hero had a lot of guilt for failing to save the universe and seeing Loki die without being able to do a thing.
Avengers: Endgame explored Thor’s depression over the previous movie’s events in a divisive way. Thor gained a lot of weight and shut himself off from the world. The movie makes many fat jokes at Thor’s expense, which do not really land. However, there is some genuine great character work being done behind that comedic facade. Thor going back to Thor: The Dark World‘s events alongside Rocket Raccoon and talking to his mom provided a cathartic moment for Thor that led to the hero finding himself again. Hemsworth does some of his best MCU work in the film.
Related How Chris Hemsworth’s Fat Thor Transformation Was Pulled Off In Endgame
One of the most surprising aspects of Avengers: Endgame is the debut of Fat Thor. Here’s how Chris Hemsworth’s transformation was pulled off.
3 The Avengers (2012)
A Direct Connection To The First Thor Movie
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The Avengers Where to Watch
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The sixth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers is an action superhero film that sees the heroes assembled across the franchise face off with a deadly galactic threat. With the arrival of Thor’s brother, Loki, heroes such as Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, and Black Widow are brought together to stop him from unleashing an alien race upon earth.
Director Joss Whedon Release Date May 4, 2012 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Mark Ruffalo , Robert Downey Jr. , Scarlett Johansson , Samuel L. Jackson , Stellan Skarsgård , Clark Gregg , Paul Bettany , Cobie Smulders , Tom Hiddleston , Jeremy Renner , Gwyneth Paltrow , Chris Evans Runtime 143 Minutes Expand
The Avengers had Thor in a very interesting role. Tom Hiddleston’s Loki returned after 2011’s Thor to be the first major villain Earth’s Mightiest Heroes faced in the MCU. With his brother as the threat the Avengers had to handle, Thor had quite a few moments to shine throughout the movie. Early on, the hero took responsibility for Loki’s attempt to take over the Earth, which showed immense growth from where the God of Thunder started in the MCU.
Seeing Thor try to fit in with Earth’s heroes was a blast. That led to some moments where characters butted heads, with Thor fighting Iron Man and the Hulk at different times, but ultimately the team worked well together. Thor had many action-packed moments in the film, with his chemistry with the Avengers elevating this appearance to one of his best in the MCU.
Related The Avengers (2012) Cast – Where Are They Now?
2012’s The Avengers is one of the most important films in MCU history, and its star-studded cast has gone on to do great things in and out of the MCU.
2 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Thor Was In Peak Form
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Avengers: Infinity War Where to Watch
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Avengers: Infinity War is the third Avengers movie in the game-changing Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film is positioned as the beginning of the culmination of everything that has transpired in the franchise to date. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who previously helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War, have assembled the largest ensemble in a superhero film to date. Nearly every living character in the MCU is included as the Avengers join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy to take down Thanos in a battle that has massive repercussions for the future of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. A sequel, Avengers: Endgame, was released in 2019 and marked the end of the Infinity Saga.
Director Joe Russo , Anthony Russo Release Date April 27, 2018 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Anthony Mackie , Elizabeth Olsen , Robert Downey Jr. , Scarlett Johansson , Mark Ruffalo , Sebastian Stan , Paul Rudd , Chadwick Boseman , Don Cheadle , Samuel L. Jackson , Josh Brolin , Tom Holland , Evangeline Lilly , Paul Bettany , Chris Evans , Jeremy Renner Runtime 149 minutes Expand
The top two spots are very even, but given one is a Thor movie and the other is not, Avengers: Infinity War ends up in second place. Thor was firing on all cylinders throughout the movie, with his entrance during the Battle of Wakanda being one of the coolest moments and having some of the most impactful visuals in the entire MCU.
Thor was at full power, mowing down enemies, taking the full might of a neutron star, and taking the fight straight to Thanos. The hero was fighting viciously, as he suffered a major loss at the start of the film. Thor’s actions were a way of making up for thinking he failed the Asgardians and his brother, Loki. Thor has a brief but moving conversation about loss with Rocket that also stands out. On that note, Thor’s interactions with the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers are deeply entertaining.
Related Infinity War’s Cut Stormbreaker Scene Explained 1 Thor 4 Scene Way Better Than The Real Thing
If an abandoned storyline had been kept in Avengers: Infinity War, one confusing plot point in Thor: Love and Thunder would have made much more sense.
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1 Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor’s Best Solo Movie & MCU Appearance
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Thor: Ragnarok Where to Watch
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Thor: Ragnarok is the third Thor solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first directed by Taika Waititi. In the sequel, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself stranded on Sakaar, ruled by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Soon he teams with Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to return to Asgard and defeat his sister Hela.
Director Taika Waititi Release Date November 3, 2017 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Tessa Thompson , Tom Hiddleston , Mark Ruffalo , Jeff Goldblum , Cate Blanchett , Idris Elba , Karl Urban Runtime 130 Minutes
Thor: Ragnarok reignited Hemsworth’s desire to play the character and the audience’s love for Thor. The movie is easily the best out of the Thor franchise, exploring a cosmic adventure that is vibrant, action-packed, emotional, and hilarious. Hemsworth’s Thor is at the perfect balance of comedic and dramatic in the movie, leading to the actor’s most impactful performance in the MCU. Thor gets sent to a planet he knows nothing about, battles the Hulk, and ultimately makes his way home to save the Asgardians from his sister, Hela.
Thor’s relationship with Loki was at its best in the movie, with the duo still keeping their sibling rivalry while also presenting the closest bond they had in the MCU. Thor loses an eye and Asgard, showing the stakes he was up against, but ends the movie as the savior of his people and the true God of Thunder, escaping a need to rely on Mjolnir. Thor’s growth and journey make Ragnarok his best MCU appearance.
Upcoming MCU Movies
- Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025
- Thunderbolts*
Release Date May 2, 2025
- The Fantastic Four (2025)
Release Date July 25, 2025
- Blade (2025)
Release Date November 7, 2025
- Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date May 1, 2026
- Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date May 7, 2027