With the release of Thor: Love and Thunder, Chris Hemsworth's Thor Odinson is now the MCU hero with the most solo films. When you add to that the four Avengers movies he appears in, this mighty God of thunder has really put in the work.
Thor has transformed from a boastful, banished heir to a grieving brother and son. More recently he reeled in the aftermath of The Blip, burying himself inside a reclusive life of carbs and video games before emerging as a wandering space pirate, trying to find his ultimate place in the cosmos. He's loved, he's lost, he's lost an eye, and he's risen up from the ashes to save the universe once more. What's next for Thor? Well, if it's not a fifth solo film there are plenty of spots in upcoming Marvel movies for him to appear despite Chris Hemsworth stating he's taking a break from acting.
Looking to watch Thor's entire journey from beginning to end (for now)? We've sorted that all out for you, charting Thor's path and timeline through the entire MCU so far. Check out Thor's full arc in chronological order below...
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How Many Thor Movies Are There?
There are currently a total of four feature-length Thor movies and four Avengers films which Thor appears in. The end of Thor: Love and Thunder said that Thor would return, but in what capacity? A mid-credit sequence gave us a glimpse of a future adversary but nothing's been confirmed yet. Plus, with the Multiverse Saga about to kick off, who even knows if it will be Chris Hemsworth's version of Thor?
Thor Movies in Chronological Order
1. Thor (2011)
One of the first major Chris Hemsworth movies, he made his MCU debut as the iconic Thor, God of Thunder in the MCU biggest early gamble, which was the full introduction of space and magic (well, cosmic "science") to the saga. Kenneth Branagh directed this Shakespearean family squabble about an arrogant, untested God prince, who finds redemption after falling in love with a scientist on Earth, Natalie Portman's Jane Foster. Betrayed by his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston making a big splash in the role), Thor learns the true meaning of heroism and sacrifice.
Read our review of Thor.
2. The Avengers (2012)
In The Avengers, Thor joined Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye in a massive team-up effort to stop Loki from leading an alien invasion of Earth. Due to its ensemble nature, Thor himself wasn't the focus here as his story was mostly relegated to feeling responsible for his family's diabolical nature but the movie was a smash hit and gave fans their first glimpse of what the MCU was truly capable of when it came to merging powerful characters and stories.
Read our review of The Avengers.
3. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
In the aftermath of The Avengers, Thor clashed with Dark Elves and suffered a huge loss in the process. Jane found herself in Asgard for the first time after getting infected by a space substance known as the Aether (aka the "Reality Stone") and a defeated Loki started his first steps toward (his first) redemptive arc. Thor: The Dark World isn't exactly the most praised film in the MCU but it contains some very important character moments.
Read our review of Thor: The Dark World.
4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Thor, character-wise, found himself floundering greatly in the stuffed-to-the-gills Avengers: Age of Ultron. With the most characters to service yet, Thor's story, much of which wound up cut from the final film, involved seeing a vision of the Infinity Stones and learning that he was a "destroyer." Naturally, he still helps save the day during the third-act action, aiding in the defeat of apocalypse-obsessed A.I. Ultron, but this was the least effective Thor outing.
Read our review of Avengers: Age of Ultron.
5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Taika Waititi took the helm for the third Thor film, creating the zaniest and funniest MCU movie to date at the time with Thor: Ragnarok. So much chaos and calamity is crammed into (what is essentially) a laugh-fest, including big deaths, fun MCU reveals, the destruction of major realms, and a direct lead into Avengers: Infinity War that it's hard to fathom how it all worked. But it did, and pushing Thor out of dour melodrama and into silly escapades was a boon for the character.
Read our review of Thor: Ragnarok.
6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Infinity War allowed Thor to keep his comic edge from Ragnarok while still putting him into a hugely serious story with major ramifications. Seeking a weapon to defeat Thanos, Thor cosmically crafts an axe called Stormbreaker. But did he arrive in time? And did he go for the head? Thor's actions in this film would send him spiraling in future movies, making him unsure of his destiny as a whole.
Read our review of Avengers: Infinity War.
7. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Endgame gave us a Thor like we'd never seen before. Everyone grieved the loss of half of all life in their own way, but Thor wallowed and turtled and truly blamed himself for everything that happened. A trip back in time and a visit with his late mother helped reignite his fire for a final showdown with Thanos, this time with the entire universe on the line. This was a hugely crowded movie, but Thor made a big impact.
Read our review of Avengers: Endgame.
8. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Thor's fourth solo film brought director Taika Waititi, and the Natalie Portman's Jane, back to the fold for a story of two Thors and rekindled (yet tragic) love. Christian Bale filled the villain role as Gor the God Butcher, a grieving alien determined to massacre all deities while Portman packed on muscle for her new gig as The Mighty Thor. Wild action, riotous humor, touching moments, and Guns N' Roses prevailed.
Read our review of Thor: Love and Thunder.
How to Watch the Thor Movies by Release Date
If you're looking to watch all the movies in theatrical release order, the correct list is below:
- 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)
Matt Fowler is a freelance entertainment writer/critic, covering TV news, reviews, interviews and features on IGN for 13+ years.
