How To Watch The Thor Movies In Order

As one of the original MCU Avengers, Thor has made many appearances in the franchise, and here is how to watch them all in order. Marvel’s very own God of Thunder was once considered something of a niche figure within their comics universe, but his introduction into the MCU elevated him to new heights of popularity. Having featured in multiple movies in the MCU, both as a solo protagonist and as part of a team, Thor has become one of the most beloved and recognizable figures from the Marvel Comics pantheon to grace the big screen in modern times.

Considering Thor was introduced relatively early into the MCU in the string of movies labeled the franchise’s Phase 1, he proved to be a formative figure for the cinematic universe. Thor’s role as a leading Avenger and a literal god has been a key part of expanding the MCU’s story beyond Earth and humanity, adding a more fantastical element to the franchise’s core team. The God of Thunder’s own story has helped shape the MCU’s movie timeline in a number of ways, and here is how to watch all of his movies in order.

Related

Every Superpower Thor Used In The MCU

Thor has been one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most powerful heroes, with a whole host of impressive powers.

1 Thor Movies In Order Of Release

As they follow characters directly inspired by the gods of Norse mythology, the Thor movies combine elements of fantasy with sci-fi in order to best fit into the tone and scope of the MCU. As they follow such a high-concept premise, they each naturally required relatively large budgets, despite intially appearing to be something of a risk for Marvel Studios. After 2011’s Thor and the character’s subsequent appearance in The Avengers cemented his success, he quickly became one of the MCU’s most loved heroes and secured a place as a central figure in the franchise.

Every Thor MCU Appearance In Order

Thor (2011)

Thor serves as the eponymous hero’s introduction into the MCU. It establishes his character and introduces a number of key figures from his mythology, including his brother Loki, who acts as the film’s antagonist. Thor also chronicles the hero establishing himself on Earth, setting up his continued role within the MCU.

• Production Budget: $150 million
• Total Box Office: $449.3 million

Thor

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.

The Avengers (2012)

In 2012, Thor played a major role in the MCU’s first team-up movie, The Avengers. The movie sees Loki return and attempt to enslave the Earth, with Thor becoming a founding member of the Avengers in his efforts to stop his brother. The Avengers establishes Thor as one of the MCU’s most powerful heroes in its early stages, giving him an important role within its continuity.

• Production Budget: $220-225 million
• Total Box Office: $1.519 billion

The Avengers

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.

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Thor: The Dark World introduced the villain Malekith, and followed the Dark Elf’s attempts to secure the Aether, one of the Infinity Stones. Many major Thor characters returned, continuing their story, and The Dark World also further explored Asgard’s culture and Thor’s family. After Jane Foster’s absence in The Avengers, The Dark World also reunited Thor with his MCU love interest.

• Production Budget: $150-272.1 million
• Total Box Office: $644.8 million

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.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Avengers: Age of Ultron saw Thor once again return as part of the eponymous superhero team. Thor fights alongside the Avengers against Hydra forces, and plays a major part in creating Vision using the Mind Stone. He later fights in the Battle of Sokovia against Ultron alongside his fellow heroes.

• Production Budget: $444-495.2 million
• Total Box Office: $1.403 billion

Avengers: Age of Ultron

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. 

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Thor: Ragnarok plays an important role in Thor’s MCU story, as it introduces him to his evil sister, Hela, and sees the death of his father, Odin. It explores the interesting pairing of Thor and Hulk, and introduces Valkyrie and the planet of Sakaar. Importantly, Thor: Ragnarok’s ending sees the destruction of Asgard, which is a major event in the MCU’s wider continuity.

• Production Budget: $180 million
• Total Box Office: $865 million

Thor: Ragnarok

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.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

In terms of Thor’s personal MCU story, Avengers: Infinity War is a crucial point for the hero. As well as featuring the death of Loki, his last surviving family member, Infinity War sees Thor face becoming one of the few survivors of Thanos’ attack on Asgard’s refugees, and the God of Thunder also comes close to killing the Mad Titan before he commits his fateful snap. The ways in which Infinity War shapes Thor’s story cannot be understated, even though he’s just one of the film’s impressive cast of Marvel heroes.

• Production Budget: $325-400 million
• Total Box Office: $2.052 billion

Avengers: Infinity War

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.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Thor was also featured in Avengers: Endgame as one of the few Marvel heroes to survive Thanos’ snap. After executing the Mad Titan, Thor later joins his fellow Avengers on the time heist to amass the Infinity Stones and bring back all the people Thanos killed. Endgame depicts Thor’s guilt at previously being unable to stop Thanos, and forms a key part of his character arc as a result.

• Production Budget: $356-400 million
• Total Box Office: $2.799 billion

Avengers: Endgame

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.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Thor’s fourth solo movie, Thor: Love and Thunder brings back Jane Foster in the form of The Mighty Thor. The rekindling of their romantic relationship amid a story of Thor working to stop Gorr the God Butcher from reaching Eternity is a touching one, and carries a powerful emotional weight for the hero himself. Love and Thunder also introduces many new gods to the MCU, opening the doors for future Thor stories in upcoming Marvel movies and beyond.

• Production Budget: $250 million
• Total Box Office: $760.9 million

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.