If you’re intrigued by the hype and the allure of Taika Waititi’s directing and the character of Thor, but find the scope of the MCU intimidating, then watching just the Thor movies in order may be the answer to your plight.
In this guide, there are two ways we will explain that you can go about watching the Thor movies in order. It all depends on how much time you want to commit to the franchise. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become enormous in scale, but these lists will par back the monolith to the Thor subfranchise and the movies he appears in.
About the Thor Movie Franchise
The character arc of Thor within his subfranchise of the MCU really is fascinating. As well, with the 2022 release of Thor: Love and Thunder, he is now the original Avenger with the most movies of his own, edging out Iron Man and Captain America who each have three apiece.
But if you want to watch all the MCU movies in order, that would set you up to view nearly 30 films, which is a little bit intimidating to say the least. So in this guide we’ll tell you the two ways you can watch the Thor movies in order depending on just how many movies you feel like watching.
The four main Thor films begin as the aggressive Asgardian prince is sent to Earth as punishment where he must learn humility to prove his worth. However, the four Thor movies do have a very different feel from one another. This is especially apparent in the third film when Taiki Waititi became the director and ramps up in the latest installment.
The God of Thunder has been iconically played by Chris Hemsworth throughout all the movies. Joining Hemsworth in an equally iconic role is Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Thor’s brother. Loki has acquired devote fans and has another fascinating character arc, which does feature slightly in the Thor movies.
These movies also star Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba, Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, and many more familiar faces.
Collectively, the four main Thor films alone have grossed more than $2.6 billion at box offices worldwide. The latest movie is still playing in some theaters and yet to release on streaming services.
#1 Main Thor Movies in Order
The first way to watch the Thor movies in order is the most straight-forward and simplest order. That is, of course, by just watching the main four films that feature the God of Thunder in the leading role.
If you only want to watch the storyline of Thor, then this might be the best option for you. In watching only the four Thor movies you may miss out on some of the Easter eggs and further explanation from other MCU movies. But this will not impact your understanding of the Thor movies.
In this viewing order you will get to watch Thor change from violent brute to a more caring, thoughtful god; and from primarily offering impressive smack-downs to offering up a plethora of comedic relief, alongside more impressive smack-downs. Without spoiling anything, the character journey of Thor is a touching one as he encounters and must process the very human emotions of grief, despair, and loss.
- Thor (2011)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) (Streaming expected: August/September 2022)
#2 All Movies That Include Thor
But if you’ve watched the four main Thor movies in order and want to know more the Norse powerhouse, there is a handful of more movies featuring him that you can watch during your next movie night. Below are all the MCU films in which Thor features.
So, if you’re put off by the scope and scale of the entire MCU, but love the character of Thor, this is a good middle ground. Watching these movies in order of release will provide you with more backstory than you can get in the above mere four films. But it is still a reasonable amount to set out and watch in a stretch of time.
Thor does have pivotal moments in the below Avengers movies. As well, the movies contain supplemental backstory moments to bigger instances that impact the rest of the films.
You will absolutely not find yourself missing Thor in the singular leading role if you choose to watch the below eight films in order. As a bonus, you will also get to enjoy Thor’s dynamic within the Avengers team.
- Thor (2011)
- Avengers (2012)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) (Streaming expected: August/September 2022)
Other Thor Additions
Then, if all of that still isn’t enough to satiate your desire for more Thor content, there are a selection of shorts and TV shows that pertain to the Thor subfranchise available on Disney+.
The first offering on this list is an excerpt featuring Agent Coulson on his way to retrieve Mjolnir in New Mexico. It doesn’t feature Thor, but it is incredibly good fun.
The next three titles are shorts from director Taiki Waititi that show the shift in direction he took Thor. These aren’t officially canon, but are Waititi’s take on what Thor was up to while the rest of the gang was fighting in Civil War: Living with a roommate, Darryl, in Australia.
Finally, the last three titles are TV shows. While Thor doesn’t really feature in Loki, the two subfranchises orbit in near proximity to one another, so you may want to find out more about Thor’s trickster brother. Then, the last two shows feature snippets and alternate versions of some of Marvel’s most popular characters.
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (2011)
- Team Thor: Part 1 (2016)
- Team Thor: Part 2 (2017)
- Team Darryl (2018)
- Loki (2021- )
- What If…? (2021- )
- Marvel Studios LEGENDS (2022-)
Summary of the Thor Movies in Order
Before we get any further into the summaries of the Thor movies in order, this section comes with a spoiler warning. While the spoilers have been kept to a minimum, there will inevitably be some for the previous films as these movies do build upon the last in a linear fashion.
However, if you’re gearing up to watch Thor: Love and Thunder and want a recap, or are preparing for a rewatch of the subfranchise, then keep reading to find out more about each of the main four Thor films. These summaries will recount what takes place in the movie, its cast and crew, and its box office performance.
1. Thor
The first Thor movie begins what will develop into an impressive character arc. This film introduces the son of Odin, king of the Norse gods, as he stands ready and eager to inherit the throne of Asgard from his aging father. But perhaps too eager.
On the day that Thor is to be crowned, he reacts with brutality when the gods’ enemies, the Frost Giants, enter the palace in violation of their treaty. His inclination to violence, arrogance, and inability to obey his father’s orders leads to Odin banishing Thor to Earth.
While Loki, Thor’s brother, plots mischief in Asgard, Thor, now lacking his godly powers, faces his biggest threat.
Chris Hemsworth brings the role of Thor to life alongside Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Joining them are Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba, and more.
The writers for the screenplay were Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, and Don Payne. It was directed by Kenneth Branagh.
Thor was estimated to have a budget of $150 million and grossed more than $449 million at box offices worldwide. It has a run time of one hour and 55 minutes.
2. Thor: The Dark World
While the second Thor movie is seen as the weakest by many, this is the next film chronologically. It introduces a new foe and villain into the mix.
In ancient times, the gods of Asgard fought and won a war against an evil race known as the Dark Elves. The survivors were neutralized, and their ultimate weapon — the Aether — was buried in a secret location.
Hundreds of years later, Jane Foster finds the Aether and becomes its host. This forces Thor to bring her to Asgard before the Dark Elf Malekith captures her and uses the weapon to destroy the Nine Realms — including Earth. Despite their conflict in the first film, the second installment finds Thor reluctantly turning to his brother Loki for help.
Of course, Hemsworth returns as Thor, Natalie Portman returns as Jane, and Hiddleston as Loki. Also returning are Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings, Idris Elba, and other. Starring as the Dark Elf Malekith is Christopher Eccleston.
The writers of the screenplay were Christopher L. Yost, Christopher Markus, and Stephen McFeely. The director for this installment was Alan Taylor.
Despite its lukewarm reaction from critics and fans, the anticipation from the first film clearly drove fans to theaters. Thor: A Dark World made nearly $645 million at box offices worldwide against an estimated budget of $170 million. It has a runtime of one hour and 52 minutes.
3. Thor: Ragnarok
The third Thor movie sees the titular character get a rebrand from the previous iterations with, once again, a new director at the helm.
At the beginning of Ragnarok, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe on the planet Sakaar. Here, the mighty Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk, his former ally and fellow Avenger.
Thor’s quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.
Once more, Chris Hemsworth stars as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. It also features Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, and Cate Blanchett as Hela. Jeff Goldblum and Karl Urban also star in the film alongside many returning faces.
The director for this installment, and credited for its different tone from the first two movies, is Taika Waititi. He also plays the role of Korg in the film. The writers were Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle, and Christopher L. Yost.
Against an estimated budget of $180 million, Thor: Ragnarok made nearly $854 million at box offices worldwide. It has a run time of two hours and ten minutes.
4. Thor: Love and Thunder
The final film to finish off your Thor movies in order marathon is the recent release Thor: Love and Thunder. This continued the evolution of Thor’s character which began in the last theatrical installment.
In this movie Thor embarks on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced — a quest for inner peace. However, his retirement gets interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods.
To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who — to his surprise — inexplicably wields his magical hammer. Together, they set out on a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance.
Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman reunite in this film as Thor and Jane Foster. As well, Tessa Thompson stars as King Valkyrie and Taika Waititi voices Korg. Christian Bale stars as the antagonist Gorr the God Butcher. This film also features familiar faces from Guardians of the Galaxy.
In addition to lending his voice to the production, Taika Waititi was once more the director and also a writer. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson was the other writer on the project based on the Marvel comics by Stan Lee.
Love and Thunder has made $723 million at box offices worldwide so far since its July 10, 2022 release. It has an estimated budget of $250 million. It also has a run time of one hour and 58 minutes.
Final thoughts
While the Thor movies in order take place within the broader MCU, it is possible to watch just the Thor films and understand the character development of the God of Thunder.
If you’ve already done so and found yourself wanting more, then you can watch all the MCU films that feature Thor in the main storyline. Either option you choose will have you laughing out loud at his comedic relief, enjoying the action of his fight scenes, and maybe wiping away a tear at his more human moments
Looking for more movies in order?
Click here to read about how to watch the Underworld movies in order.
