9 Years Later, Chris Hemsworth’s Action Film is Still One of the Best Marvel Movies Ever Made

Published Nov 11, 2026, 11:54 PM EST

Abby Jackam is a contributer for Collider and ShowSnob, a media journalist for Trill Mag, and an aspiring novelist. She graduated Washington State University Vancouver in 2025 with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities. 

Whenever she can, Abby is writing. From research papers to book reviews, Abby's passion lies in storytelling and literary pursuits. 

Marvel has released a lot of movies in the past 20 years. Heroes big and small have been given their chance to come into their power, make sassy quips, and save the day from evil forces. Iconic heroes like Captain America, Spider-Man, and Scarlet Witch have dominated Marvel's franchise, all to varying success. But when it comes to individual film series, Thor has had the most tumultuous experience.

Thor's solo series has been complicated, to say the least. With a mediocre start, a lackluster sequel, and a nearly unwatchable fourth film, Thor has had bad luck with his movies. When his third film, Thor: Ragnarok released in 2017, audiences were shocked that the film was not only funny and enjoyable, but one of the best Marvel films ever released. Nine years later, Thor: Ragnarok, directed by Taika Waititi, still holds up as a phenomenal film that transformed a struggling series and gave Thor a much-needed restart.

'Thor: Ragnarok' Exceeded All Expectations

Image via Marvel Studios

When the fire demon Surtur kidnaps Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and threatens to begin the apocalypse known as Ragnarök, Thor finds out that his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) is no longer in Asgard. After defeating Surtur and supposedly stopping Ragnarök from beginning, Thor travels back to his home, only to find his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) posing as Odin. Together, the brothers search for their father, who has fled to Norway. Odin reveals that he is dying, and when he is gone, their long-lost sister Hela (Cate Blanchett) will be released from her prison to conquer Asgard. As Odin dies, Hela appears and destroys Thor's hammer, knocking him and Loki onto a garbage planet called Sakaar. Thor is thrown into a gladiatorial competition, overseen by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), where the Hulk is also a competitor. To return to his endangered home, Thor has to build an alliance between Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Loki, and a former Asgardian warrior called Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) to escape Sakaar and defeat Hela.

Thor: Ragnarok is tonally different from the first two films. The movie plays into the humor usually associated with Marvel movies, but it balances with the emotional beats the film carries as well. Thor's arc centers around relying on his own strength, not the tools and powers that he utilizes. His relationship with Loki is a central part of the film and serves as a final recompense between the complicated duo. With colorful visuals, an engaging story, and revitalized characters, Thor: Ragnarok takes everything that didn't work about Thor and proves that Marvel can finally get the Norse god right.

Marvel Finally Understood What To Do With Thor

It took three movies for Marvel to finally understand how to handle Thor. After two mediocre films, Thor was in desperate need of a third chance and finally, Marvel figured it out. In a symbolic fashion, Marvel literally and figuratively killed what didn't work with Thor. By removing Thor's companions and killing off his father, dismantling his hammer Mjolnir, and even cutting off his hair, Thor experienced a full rebirth. Suddenly, everything that Thor could depend on was stripped from him, forcing the character to undertake huge development that proved his relevance to audiences. He was no longer naturally worthy— now he had to demonstrate why.

This change was the smartest move Marvel could have made. Thor could no longer rely on his power or his status as the hammer-wielding prince of Asgard. On a strange planet, surrounded by enemies and possible allies, Thor had to build connections and think strategically about how to return to Asgard and defeat Hela. He was given new obstacles to overcome that couldn't be defeated through brute force alone. For such a strong character, it was fascinating to see him knocked down a few pegs and forced to fight for what he wanted.

With so many Marvel movies released, it can be hard to differentiate them from each other. But Thor: Raganrok demonstrates a significant pivot for the Norse god that makes his third film stand out amongst the rest. For a film series that has such a hard time finding its footing, Marvel truly mastered what made Thor worthy. He found himself, and audiences found a whole new reason to care about him. When looking back at all the movies released in the franchise, Thor: Ragnarok stands out as one that defied expectations and delivered an impactful story for Marvel's iconic hero.