Thor's MCU Appearances: A Look Back at The God of Thunder
You've got Chris Hemsworth's Thor, an iconic Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) hero with four solo Movies under his belt and an abundance of iconic MCU moments. As the God of Thunder, he's gone on a wild adventure in this shared universe, experiencing highs and lows throughout his journey, from hilarious battles in space to tear-jerking losses, like we see with his first solo film "Thor." There have been some seriously bad and seriously good moments.
But how do his MCU appearances rank, and will his epic saga continue with "Thor 5" and the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday" movie? That's the question fans are buzzing about!
Thor's MCU Best and Worst Appearances
Chris Hemsworth had a blast being Thor for those first few Movies, but he said in a 2020 interview that the direction of the character had started to feel repetitive. Things got really crazy with director Taika Waititi on board with “Thor: Ragnarok,” breathing new life into the story, and now Chris says that he's enjoying playing the character even more. Those early Thor Movies still have special value, but those newer entries are a big step up.
So, before we start talking about Hemsworth's return, we’ll look at his appearances from the beginning: ranking every single appearance of The God of Thunder, so get your cosmic hammer ready.
A Quick Note: "The Doctor Strange" Movie and Deadpool & Wolverine's Cameo
“Thor” makes a hilarious, brief appearance in "Doctor Strange", but it’s almost just a funny tease, leaving us wondering, “Well, is this what happens to the Asgardian God when he hits Earth?” As for the "Deadpool & Wolverine" cameo, that was kind of a shock. They used a snippet from the “Thor: Dark World,” where Thor is just crying! Super dramatic!
If you ask me, both these moments are great fun, especially if you’re looking for more of The God of Thunder’s weird adventures. And with both movies kind of being a launching pad for Thor to have more MCU roles, we gotta give them credit for being pretty entertaining moments!
How Does Thor Rate In "Avengers: Age of Ultron"?
"Avengers: Age of Ultron", was almost like an extended scene. You have that iconic opening party sequence with the Avengers, but then Thor gets sidelined into this mission of seeking answers about the Infinity Stones - in a mysterious, super confusing way. I'm not really sure what happened to Thor during that time! Honestly, he could’ve gone for an afternoon swim for all it mattered.
I don’t think we all disliked this Thor movie but we had so many expectations after the original “Avengers,” and it kind of lost its direction. Thor really isn’t doing a whole lot until it sets up those things for "Thor: Ragnarok,” and we’re not gonna get a “Best movie” rating from this. The saving grace? Some iconic, really heartwarming, scenes with the team. We do have to hand it to the creators for making “Age of Ultron" an important link between these movies, so even with a not-so-great Thor role, it plays an important role.
Is Thor: The Dark World One of the MCU’s Biggest Misses?
“Thor: The Dark World” came after that big “Avengers” movie and aimed for a much darker take on Thor and his story. We wanted to see a darker side, a little drama, but the problem is the whole movie felt pretty dark and, I’m not going to lie, kinda boring! It just wasn't a movie everyone wanted.
Despite that, Hemsworth's portrayal in “Dark World” was a step up from the original “Thor.” Thor shows he has more maturity in “Dark World”, we even see him being supportive of those around him (his love for Jane Foster was on display). Thor's heartbreaking scene after the loss of Frigga is incredible and totally a Hemsworth performance we're never gonna forget.
Thor's Heartbreak and Triumph in "Love and Thunder"
You remember how wild “Thor: Ragnarok” was? Director Taika Waititi was such a force of nature and changed the whole perception of Thor. Thor: Love and Thunder,” which also had Waititi behind it, was kind of a misstep. Fans really didn't love the heavy dose of humor sprinkled through some dark storylines - it kind of turned the movie into a comedy parody of itself, not a good thing for any major superhero.
But hold on, this isn’t a total loss. “Thor: Love and Thunder” really goes through all those Thor emotional journeys with Jane, who was such a big part of the earlier movies and she does actually wield the hammer. The ending is so dramatic - a good dose of real-life heartbreak thrown in for fans to savor. There’s also that moment between Thor and the Guardians - and let’s not forget, Thor even throws in a few hilarious jokes that just land.
Ranking The "God of Thunder" - From Humble Beginnings to the Peak
As we look back on Thor’s journey, the very first “Thor” movie was like the classic hero’s origin story, and a very cool, if a bit dramatic, take on the story. It had this classic Shakespearian vibe thanks to director Kenneth Branagh.
But Thor's appearance in “Avengers: Endgame" was so crazy - a bit dark and heavy-handed with those sad and comedic scenes about how the mighty Thor was now kinda lost and overweight! The great thing, though, was Hemsworth’s stellar portrayal. Thor is not just about power. We saw his emotional journey unfold.
"Thor: Ragnarok" - The Best of Chris Hemsworth's MCU Thor
Here's where Thor got a really good run - the "Thor: Ragnarok” was a total game changer for the entire Thor story. That cosmic and action-packed adventure brought out so much personality, humor, and heart from the "God of Thunder"! It felt like he was ready to fight, and those battles had more than just force. We were seeing the “God of Thunder,” ready to show everyone just who he was and he never had to rely on the mighty Mjolnir!
The relationship with Loki also stood out in this one. They are always giving each other a hard time, and there’s that big brother dynamic, showing us why this rivalry was just such an amazing element of these movies! Thor's arc, losing his eye, the destruction of Asgard, but ultimately the hero of his people - these were just the kind of twists we wanted in a movie.
Is There More Thor in the Future?
Will Chris Hemsworth bring back Thor in "Thor 5," and how will he look after all that action? Well, we have no official word on the future. It does seem like, at least in “Avengers: Doomsday,” he's making an appearance, so it looks like his adventures may continue! With “Thor 5” in the works (at least, according to some whispers in the fan community), Thor could go through so many changes - more comedic, more dramatic, even maybe just more badass.
As for us fans? We're ready to dive back in with more “God of Thunder” moments. What will it be? A new villain, an awesome journey across the galaxy, or another amazing brawl in a new and surprising place? No matter what, it’s gonna be a wild ride!
