Scoring
We polled our entire team and ranked every MCU film across six categories. We weighted each category based on their overall value to the success of the movie.
Plot - 25%
Character Development - 20%
Villain - 20%
Action - 12.5%
Intangibles - 12.5%
Supporting Cast - 10%
Overview
Film: Thor
Release Date: May 6, 2011
Reception
IMDB: 7.0/10
Rotten Tomato - TOMATOMETER: 77%
Rotten Tomato - Audience: 76%
Box Office
Budget: $150,000,000
Opening Weekend: $65,723,338
Gross US: $181,030,624
Gross Worldwide: $449,326,618
Trailer:
Plot
Synopsis: The powerful, but arrogant god, Thor, is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.
Analysis: A powerful god being banished for a few days so he can learn to be humble isn't the most compelling origin story.
Grade: 5.5/10
Character Development
Analysis: Thor was too talented for his own good and assumed the throne of Asgard was simply waiting for him until he got a little older. He was clearly not emotionally ready and didn't understand that a good king doesn't go out looking for a fight. Take away his hammer and he's just another run-of-the-mill super hot, strong, tough guy. Thor learned his lesson by the end and got his favorite toy back. He still didn't open up a ton and reveal his comedic side until future installments of the MCU.
Grade: 5.5/10
Villain
Name: Loki
Bio: The antler-wearing god of mischief was raised as a son of Odin and brother of Thor even though we find out that Loki is really the biological son of the king of the Frost Giants. Growing up in Thor's shadow put a chip on Loki's shoulder which leads to his resentment and mischievous ways.
Evil Plan: Showed his true fam, the Frost Giants, a secret entrance into Asgard to crash Thor's coronation as the new king. Loki knew Thor would jump at the opportunity to attack the Frost Giants in retaliation. It was this action that led to Odin banishing Thor to Earth while removing his control over his hammer until he could prove himself worthy. It was Loki's hope to permanently keep Thor away from Asgard so he could rightfully rule.
Analysis: Loki was able to trick Thor into doing something stupid that led to their father putting him in time-out. It's a classic move that little brothers use to get revenge on their bigger, stronger older brothers. Tom Hiddleston nails the role of the charismatic trickster and is a huge reason why he is perhaps the most beloved and longest-tenured villain in the MCU.
Grade: 8/10
Supporting Cast
Odin, Son of Bor, King of Asgard, Conquerer of the Nine Realms
Heimlich
Jane's Research
Thor's Friend
One Broke Girl
Three Men and a Sif
Analysis: Grabbing Anthony Hopkins for Odin and Idris Elba for Heimdall were both huge victories for the MCU. Hopkins' Odin is a wise and majestic king who you know could still lay the smack down if he needs to, even in his advanced age. Odin provides a great example for Thor of what it means to be a great king. Heimdall is a powerful character whose loyalty to Odin and Thor in this film leads to him becoming an instant fan-favorite. While Jane is a brilliant astrophysicist, she and her intern don't exactly add much to the substance of the film. Selvig has a larger role to play going forward, but he did get Thor out of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s custody and bought him a "Boilermaker" at the bar. Lady Sif is the only memorable character among Thor's Asgardian friends.
Grade: 6.5/10
Action
Best Fight:
Analysis: A few reasons why the above scene is underrated:
1. It takes place in a giant set of hamster tubes.
2. Introduces us to Hawkeye.
3. Thor fights Me'Shell from Dodgeball.
4. Chris Hemsworth wet t-shirt contest.
5. Thor screaming helplessly at the sky to his father with no answer is a low point for the character that he needed to hit.
Other than that scene, we have a lot of Thor moping around New Mexico until he gets knocked out by the Destroyer to get his power back. With his hammer back, he takes out the Destroyer easily. The climax wasn't spectacular either, destroying Rainbow Road after a brief fight with Loki.
Grade: 6/10
Intangibles
Analysis: We only got brief glimpses of how great of a character Thor could be in this connected universe, such as the mug smashing and asking for a dog, cat, or bird that is large enough to ride at a pet store. Thor is obviously one of the MVPs of the MCU and we all love Loki and Heimdall, but this movie didn't give us many of their brighter moments.
Grade: 5.75/10
Best Moments
Male Testosterone
Final Score
Analysis: I always go into watching Thor thinking it's better than it actually is because of what we know about the character today. This was still before Marvel really hit their stride with their movie formula and their utilization of Hemsworth in the role.
Grade: 6.19/10
Image Credits: Disney
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