---
title: "Thor"
year: 2011
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/thor"
fi1m_score: 66
critics_score: 63
critics_reviews: 24
published: "2026-09-19T11:52:42.038055+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-19T11:52:54.528555+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Thor (2011)

Directed by Kenneth Branagh · 1h 55m · MPA PG-13 · Adventure, Fantasy, Action

**Fi1m score: 66** · Critics 63 from 24 reviews

*In a sentence:* Anthony Hopkins shouts at his two sons in a gold room and the camera keeps falling over

> Kenneth Branagh gives a Norse god’s family quarrel the seriousness he once gave Shakespeare’s kings, and the Asgard half works. The Earth half is thin, the romance thinner, and Tom Hiddleston walks off with the film.

## Synopsis

In Asgard, a golden city at the top of the nine worlds, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) is about to hand the throne to his elder son Thor (Chris Hemsworth) when Frost Giants from Jotunheim break into the vault beneath the palace. Thor takes his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his friends across the Rainbow Bridge to punish them, restarts a war his father ended long ago, and is stripped of his powers and banished to Earth. He lands in the New Mexico desert, where the astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), her mentor Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård) and her intern Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) are out chasing storms. His hammer lands nearby, and Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) arrives with a government team to fence it off. Thor wants it back.

## Review

Kenneth Branagh, who made his name filming Shakespeare, was hired to introduce a Norse god with a hammer to a series that had so far kept to a billionaire in a metal suit. His answer is to treat Asgard as a court: a king, two sons, a throne, and a war the old man ended that the young one wants to start again. The jokes are saved for Earth. *Thor* runs 115 minutes, split roughly in half between the gold city and a desert town in New Mexico, and the gold half is the better one.

Bo Welch builds Asgard as a city of gold organ pipes on a black sea, with a walkway of lit glass running out to the gate where Heimdall (Idris Elba) stands guard in gold armour. Jotunheim is blue-black ice, broken pillars and no daylight. Alexandra Byrne dresses Odin in gold, Thor in red and silver, and Loki in green under a horned helmet that ought to be absurd and is not, because Tom Hiddleston wears it as though he had been waiting for it. Patrick Doyle’s score is brass and choir, loud and unashamed, and it suits the palace far better than the desert.

Haris Zambarloukos lights the throne room in amber and then tilts the camera. The tilt is the film’s one visual habit: half the conversations in Asgard are shot with the horizon leaning, so the pillars lean and the actors stand at a slant, as if the palace were a ship. By the fortieth minute we had stopped being unsettled and started waiting for the next one. Paul Rubell cuts around it as neatly as anyone could.

What steadies Asgard is Anthony Hopkins. He plays Odin at full volume, and the banishment is the film’s best scene: he tears the discs from his son’s armour one by one, roaring that he is unworthy, and Chris Hemsworth, enormous, stands and takes it with the face of a boy who has never been told no. We were more moved than we expected to be by a scene about a fictional god being posted to New Mexico. It was Hopkins, playing a father’s rage at a son he knows he has spoiled. Hiddleston stands at the edge of the frame throughout, saying nothing, and we found we were watching him.

Loki is the second son, quieter and cleverer. Hiddleston plays him hurt rather than wicked; he whispers where everyone else shouts, and the screenplay by Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz and Don Payne gives him the only storyline with a turn in it, which we will not describe. Whenever the film cut from the desert back to the palace we were glad, mostly to see what he was up to.

The desert is where it thins. Thor is hit by a van driven by Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), an astrophysicist chasing storms with her mentor Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård) and her intern Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). Dennings gets the good lines and a taser. Hemsworth, it turns out, can do comedy: he drains a mug of coffee in a diner, smashes it on the floor and demands another, and we laughed out loud. But the town is three streets and a diner, Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) arrives to fence off the hammer and say little, and the romance is written in an afternoon. We did not believe Jane loved him. We believed she found him tall. The Warriors Three (Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano and Josh Dallas) turn up in the last third and get a scene each.

Set against [*Iron Man*](https://film.one/film/iron-man) (2008), which began this run of films, *Thor* is stiffer and much stranger, and stranger counts in its favour. Set against Branagh’s own *Henry V* (1989), about a young royal learning what a crown weighs, it is the same story told with a hammer and more gold. The desert scenes keep reminding you that the man in charge would rather be back in the palace, and so would we.

Worth an evening if the genre is yours. The 12A is fair: the fighting is loud and bloodless and the jokes are for everyone. Watch it for Hopkins, for Hiddleston, and for a director who thought the whole thing was tremendous fun and made no attempt to hide it.

*Fi1m score 66, published 19 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean positive, though not by much. Most critics find Thor good fun and most credit Kenneth Branagh for it: he plays the myth straight, gives the Asgard scenes some Shakespearean father-and-son weight, and keeps the tone light enough that the pomp never becomes a chore. Chris Hemsworth is widely picked out as a find, especially once the story lands on Earth and he is allowed to be funny, and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki draws steady praise.

The disagreements are about balance. Several critics say the film lurches between the grandeur of Asgard and the small-town comedy on Earth, though they cannot agree which half works: Variety and the Los Angeles Times prefer Asgard, the Evening Standard the Earth scenes. The 3D conversion is a recurring complaint. The spread is wide, from warm approval to dismissal; The New York Times calls it an exercise in mediocrity and Film Comment finds it retrograde beside more recent superhero films.

### Reviews we read (24)

- **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (B+): The review calls Thor a big, loud, relentlessly entertaining film that reminds viewers why they used to get excited about comic-book movies. It singles out Natalie Portman's charming performance and Hemsworth's embodiment of the character for praise while noting Branagh acquits himself well with the material. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/thor-1798168159)
- **Empire**, Chris Hewitt (80/100, inferred): The film is tremendous fun and proof that Marvel knows how to handle its back catalogue, with Branagh excelling at the Shakespearean father-son dynamics and Hemsworth emerging as a true star in the fish-out-of-water comedy. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/thor-review/)
- **Screen Daily** (80/100, inferred): The critic praises Branagh for delivering a stylish, action-packed adaptation that blends pomp, majesty, humour and humanity, satisfying both fans and newcomers. They single out the strong production design, costumes, and handling of both Asgardian drama and Earth-bound scenes. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/thor/5026294.article)
- **Total Film**, Neil Smith (75/100, inferred): Kenneth Branagh's approach punctures pomposity with genial fun while delivering the expected spectacle; once on Earth the initially wooden Hemsworth displays real comic chops amid the fish-out-of-water humour. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/thor-review/)
- **The Guardian**, Xan Brooks (70/100, inferred): The film is overlong and all over the place with tacky sets and a spasmodic script, but Branagh's direction brings a weirdly charming, freewheeling gusto and infectious tongue-in-cheek fun that keeps it from being a bore. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/apr/19/thor-film-review-kenneth-branagh)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Megan Lehmann (70/100, inferred): The critic praises Kenneth Branagh's good-humored direction for making the fantastical world accessible and highlights Chris Hemsworth's star-making performance as Thor. The review notes solid effects and respect for comic lore but finds some directorial choices like slanted angles distracting. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/thor-review-179647/)
- **The Independent**, Jonathan Romney (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film jolly, boisterous and honorably executed with a starry cast, though the exiled god does not crack many jokes. Branagh directs with swagger and good cheer, turning the material into something like a fancy RSC panto. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/thor-kenneth-branagh-114-mins-12a-2277248.html)
- **Vulture** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film an agreeable blend of trippy, tacky, and monumental elements that improves on aggressively realistic superhero movies. Branagh's relish for grandiose Shakespearean trappings is noted positively, along with strong work from Tom Hiddleston, though some CGI and Portman's performance draw mild criticism. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2011/05/movie_review_the_trippy_tacky.html)
- **Little White Lies**, James Smith (3/3/3): The critic finds it a solid if unremarkable superhero entry that succeeds on its own terms as entertaining fantasy with Shakespearean family drama undertones. They single out the Earth-bound humour and believable central romance for praise while noting the action sequences suffer in 3D and Asgard feels overblown. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/thor)
- **The Telegraph**, Jenny McCartney (3/5): Branagh brings soul and mythic swaggery to the material through strong work with actors like Hemsworth, Hopkins and especially Hiddleston as Loki, though visual control wobbles and it feels like a weird mead-and-Malibu cocktail. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/8480627/Thor-review.html)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3/5): The review calls it an endearing but anonymous throwback to 1980s fantasy fluff that works as mindless holiday entertainment. They praise the fun, knowing tone and some cast members while complaining about the lack of directorial personality from Branagh and thin character work. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/thor)
- **Variety**, Richard Kuipers (60/100, inferred): Thor is neither the best nor worst of the Marvel adaptations, delivering spectacle in its celestial action and family drama while faltering in its brief Earth-bound sections. Branagh brings a measured Shakespearean weight to the mythological characters without overdoing it. [Read](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/thor-1117945029/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (50/100, inferred): The movie ends in an aesthetic draw between Branagh's Shakespearean ambitions and Marvel's commercial demands, resulting in a mishmash that is stronger in its Asgard sections than on Earth. The Asgard father-son conflict and Hopkins' performance stand out as the most substantial elements. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-may-06-la-et-thor-20110506-story.html)
- **Slant Magazine** (50/100, inferred): The review describes Thor as an adequate but instantly forgettable origin story that feels like an impersonal assembly-line product despite a thoughtful script and good cast. It notes that all the right elements are present but nothing extraordinary results from them. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/thor/)
- **Evening Standard** (40/100, inferred): The reviewer notes that the film judders between styles and that the down-to-earth scenes are more entertaining than the dull Asgard sections, with some mildly funny fish-out-of-water moments. It is ultimately good fun for boys aged 10 to 12. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/a-thor-of-words-lets-down-this-norse-movie-7424597.html)
- **Film Comment**, Scott Foundas (30/100, inferred): The film feels comically retrograde compared to more complex recent superhero movies. Branagh alternates between strained self-seriousness in Asgard and awkward fish-out-of-water comedy on Earth. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/foundas-on-film-thor-something-borrowed/)
- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (30/100, inferred): The film is an unbroken exercise in mediocrity that succeeds precisely because it aims low and delivers exactly what is expected. Branagh's direction and the cast fail to elevate the material beyond its generic superhero formula. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/movies/thor-with-chris-hemsworth-review.html)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B+): The critic praises director Kenneth Branagh for playing the character straight yet keeping the film fun and light, anchored by strong performances from Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. Supporting characters are underdeveloped and the 3D post-conversion is a major flaw that ruins the visuals, but the film succeeds overall as enjoyable entertainment in 2D. [Read](https://collider.com/thor-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, James Hunt (4/5): Branagh realises Thor’s potential without getting bogged down in comic history. Fantastic effects, strong characters and a story worth revisiting make it a strong summer kick-off despite minor stumbles. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/thor-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, David Graham (80/100, inferred): The critic views it as a worthy kick-off to blockbuster season, an amiable mash-up that is hard not to get caught up in due to its shamelessly out-there ideas. They single out for praise Branagh's flair for spectacle and character establishment, particularly Hemsworth's likable lead performance. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/thor-film-review-by-david-graham)
- **Paste**, Jonathan Hickman (75/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a surprisingly well-executed and literate summer superhero movie that maintains a tongue-in-cheek tone suitable for a wide audience. It singles out the 3D conversion as a major disappointment that dims the images and hurts the experience, along with excessive loudness. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/thor/thor-review)
- **Digital Spy** (3/5): A mischievous, light-hearted tone works better than expected and allows Thor to evolve as a character through his Earth relationships. Action lags in the middle section. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/thor/)
- **HeyUGuys**, Ben Mortimer (3/5): The critic finds Thor remarkably good fun and a worthy popcorn movie, praising the excellent performances especially from Hemsworth and Dennings along with the humor and energy. However, it complains about the film's struggle to balance tones with Marvel continuity, ropey dialogue, silly setup, and poor 3D. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/thor-review/)
- **The Skinny**, Thom Atkinson (★★★): Branagh’s theatrical handling of the Asgard mythos and ensemble cast is a saving grace. Taken lightly it is a marvellous adventure fit for a sequel. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/thor)

## Details

- **Director:** Kenneth Branagh
- **Director:** Kenneth Branagh
- **Screenplay:** Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne
- **Story:** J. Michael Straczynski, Mark Protosevich
- **Cinematography:** Haris Zambarloukos
- **Editor:** Paul Rubell
- **Music:** Patrick Doyle
- **Production design:** Bo Welch
- **Costume design:** Alexandra Byrne
- **Producer:** Kevin Feige
- **Cast:** Chris Hemsworth as Thor; Natalie Portman as Jane Foster; Tom Hiddleston as Loki; Anthony Hopkins as Odin; Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig; Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis; Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson; Colm Feore as King Laufey
- **Runtime:** 1h 55m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13
- **Release (the US):** 6 May 2011
- **Genres:** Adventure, Fantasy, Action
- **Budget:** $150 million
- **Box office:** $449 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHBnrJowBZE

## Where to watch in the US

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Hulu: streaming, hd, leaving 2026-10-01
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy $14.99, sd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, sd

*Checked 2026-09-19.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Fantasy Costume Design for Film 2012: Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Fantasy Costume Design for Film (nominated)
- Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer 2012: Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer (won)
- Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2012: Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy (won)
- Empire Award for The Art of 3D 2012: Empire Award for The Art of 3D (nominated)
- Film and Television Music Award for Top Box Office Films 2012: Film and Television Music Award for Top Box Office Films (won)
- Film & TV Theme Awards – Film Awards 2012: Film & TV Theme Awards – Film Awards (won)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Hero 2012: MTV Movie Award for Best Hero (nominated)
- People's Choice Award for Favorite Action Movie 2012: People's Choice Award for Favorite Action Movie (nominated)
- People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Superhero 2012: People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Superhero (nominated)
- Saturn Awards 2012: Best Fantasy Film (nominated); Best Production Design (nominated); Best Supporting Actor (nominated); Best Costume (won)
- SFX Award for Best Director 2012: SFX Award for Best Director (nominated)
- SFX Award for Best Film 2012: SFX Award for Best Film (nominated)
- Taurus World Stunt Award for Best Overall Stunt by a Stunt Woman 2012: Taurus World Stunt Award for Best Overall Stunt by a Stunt Woman (won)
- VES Award for Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture 2012: VES Award for Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture (nominated)
- VES Award for Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture 2012: VES Award for Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture (nominated)
- Scream Award for Best Comic Book Movie 2011: Scream Award for Best Comic Book Movie (nominated)
- Scream Award for Best Fantasy Movie 2011: Scream Award for Best Fantasy Movie (nominated)
- Scream Award for Best F/X 2011: Scream Award for Best F/X (nominated)
- Scream Award for Best Superhero 2011: Scream Award for Best Superhero (nominated)
- Scream Award for Best Supporting Actress 2011: Scream Award for Best Supporting Actress (nominated)
- Scream Award for Breakout Performance - Female 2011: Scream Award for Breakout Performance - Female (nominated)
- Scream Award for Breakout Performance - Male 2011: Scream Award for Breakout Performance - Male (nominated)
- Scream Award for the Ultimate Scream 2011: Scream Award for the Ultimate Scream (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout: Male 2011: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout: Male (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Henry V* (1989): Branagh’s first film and the same story: a young royal learning what a crown weighs.
- *Ran* (1985), Fi1m 92: Kurosawa’s old king divides his kingdom among his sons; it goes worse than Odin’s. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ran.md)
- *The Thief of Bagdad* (1940): A deposed prince, palaces and flying horses, in colour that still looks freshly mixed.
- *Starman* (1984): Jeff Bridges as a visitor learning Earth manners, with the romance Thor forgot to write.
- *Thor: Ragnarok* (2017), Fi1m 74: The sequel that decided the joke was the point, and was mostly right. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/thor-ragnarok.md)

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/thor