How to Watch the Thor Movies in Chronological Order: The God of Thunder has been a mainstay in the MCU since his debut in 2011’s “Thor.” Played by Chris Hemsworth, the character has since appeared in numerous films and crossovers, including his own series of movies and team-up movies like ‘The Avengers.’ But with so many appearances, keeping track of the order can be tough. In this article, we’ll break down all Thor movies and appearances chronologically so you can follow the mighty Asgardian’s journey from start to finish.

Movies featuring Thor in order by release date

As we’ve mentioned, Thor’s MCU journey began with the release of ‘Thor’ in 2011. His character was so popular he managed to secure four other solo movies and appeared in other crossovers. The last solo movie in the Thor series was released in 2022, titled ‘Love & Thunder.’ The following is the release date order of all Thor movies as well as his other MCU appearances.

Are Thor’s movies and appearances connected? What’s the best way to watch them?

All MCU movies featuring Thor are connected, and it’s best to watch them in release date order. All Thor movies are set in a shared continuity like the other MCU projects. In addition to the solo movies, Thor has also appeared in several team-up movies with the rest of the Avengers. Those narratives will only make sense if you watch all movies and appearances in a specific order.

Thor’s movies & appearances in chronological order

When it comes to movies featuring Thor, the release date order is exactly the same as chronological order. The first ‘Thor’ movie establishes the character and his world, while ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ show him as part of a larger team. ‘Thor: The Dark World’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ further explore the character’s relationships and their role in the larger story.

Where should I start with the Thor movies? Thor, Prince of Asgard and God of Thunder is among the greatest names in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having stood alongside the Avengers versus Ultron, Thanos, and even his brother Loki.

Thor, though, was not always so valiant. The first time we met him, he was a savage thug eager to prove himself in combat. He was willing to go to war with the Frost Giants if it would win him points with his dad. Thor, however, matured and refined over time, becoming a much more modest man (or deity, for that matter) at the end.

What changed Thor from a raging godling to a mature old deity? The only way to find out is to see all Thor movies in sequence, but how should one even start? Have no fear, devoted reader. By watching all of the MCU films (including the shorts), you can see how Thor has changed throughout time.

How to Watch the Thor Movies in Order

1. Thor (2011)
2. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
3. Marvel Studios’ Thor: The Dark World (2013)
4. Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
6. Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War
7. Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame
8. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

For more details on the released films and how to watch them, see below.

1. Thor (2011)

Watching the post-credits scene in Iron Man 2 will give you your first taste of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor narrative, when Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) discovers Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, in New Mexico. However, the first Thor film should give you a good idea of what we’re talking about.

Kenneth Branagh helmed Thor, the character’s origin narrative, in which the egotistical prince of Asgard is exiled to Earth after nearly sparking a war with the Frost Giants.

Thor meets Jane (Natalie Portman), gains humility, and proves himself worthy of his hammer while on Earth, and then journeys to Asgard to stop his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) from usurping Odin (Anthony Hopkins). The Shakespearean material may be dull, but the film is entertaining and effectively foreshadows the plot.

2. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

Thor returns to Earth to prevent Loki from gathering Thanos’ army and claiming power. When Loki proves too much for Thor to bear, the thunder god joins Earth’s mightiest heroes after squaring off against Chris Evans Captain America and Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man.

While Thor’s primary function in the movie is to provide brawn for the Avengers, he does establish chemistry with the rest of the squad, especially his tense friendship with the Hulk, which will be addressed in later films.

3. Marvel Studios’ Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Many fans and critics agree that Thor: The Dark World is the worst film in the MCU. But if you’re into Thor, you’ll find that the film has some supremely satisfying moments.

After stopping the chaos from spreading over the Nine Realms, Thor is summoned back to Earth to look into the Aether, a formidable weapon used by the Dark Elves. This mysterious red mist has contaminated Jane, making her the target of Malekith, a dictatorial Dark Elf who desires the Aether for himself.

In the end, Thor declines the Throne of Asgard, Odin is exiled to Earth, and Loki dies (spoiler alert: not really) in a battle at Greenwich. Dark World is a wreck and a bore, although it does have the benefit of introducing one of the Infinity Stones.

4. Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

In the years after turning down the Asgardian throne, Thor devoted his time to helping the Avengers destroy Hydra’s global network. After destroying the last remaining stronghold, Thor was about to depart to Asgard when the evil mechanical villain Ultron launched an assault.

Although he is responsible for the divine spark that brings Ultron to life, Thor spends most of the film fretting over the Infinity Stones and does not get much screen time to do anything besides smash robots with his hammer.

The first scene of the second Avengers film, in which Thor’s teammates try to raise his unliftable hammer, is widely regarded as one of the best (and, in retrospect, most crucial) Thor moments in the franchise’s history.

5. MCU – Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

In Ragnarok, audiences watched Thor’s transformation from a boring Viking warrior to an alien Viking oddball. The film’s premise necessitates a complete reimagining of Thor as a comic, slightly clownish, but fundamentally well-meaning superhero, and it delivers well.

Thor spends the first part of the comedic superhero film attempting to stop Ragnarok. The second part has him destroying Asgard to kill his long-lost sister Hela, the Goddess of Death, with the aid of the non-dead Loki, Valkyrie, and the Hulk.

Vibrant, cheeky, and full of humor — every MCU fan will measure every following Thor film against the excellence of Ragnarok. Major narrative points in Ragnarok include the destruction of Mjolnir and Thor’s realization that his strength comes from inside, the destruction of Asgard, and Loki’s acceptance that he belongs by his brother’s side.

6. Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War

In Infinity War, which begins immediately after the events of Ragnarok conclude, Thor reaches his lowest point yet as Thanos kills Loki by squeezing his throat, and the Children of Thanos massacre half of the inhabitants of Asgard to obtain the Infinity Stones.

Thor, seeking vengeance, recruits half of the Guardians of the Galaxy to help him create a weapon that will allow him to destroy Thanos before he can collect all the stones.

Thor acquires a new hammer (technically an axe) but doesn’t aim for the head, giving the Mad Titan the opportunity to wipe out half the universe’s life with a snap of his fingers.

7. Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame

Thor was a shadow of his former self after the Avengers’ defeat at Thanos’ hands five years ago. Depressed and unhealthy, he is unwilling to attempt to collect the Infinity Stones. Thanks to time travel, Thor has a chance encounter with his deceased mother, who reassures him of his worth and helps him rebuild his self-esteem.

During the climax, he assists Captain America and Tony Stark in their fight against a duplicate of Thanos. Then, after the battle, Thor abandons the crown of Asgard to Valkyrie and blasts off into the cosmos with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

8. MCU’s Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

The fourth solo Thor picture brought back director Taika Waititi and Jane, played by Natalie Portman, for a tale of two Thors and renewed (yet tragic) love.

At the beginning of Love and Thunder, Thor is still chilling with the Guardians (returning to the fan-favorite god bod).

Portman bulked up for her new role as The Mighty Thor, while Christian Bale played the villainous character of Gor the God Butcher, a devastated alien determined to kill all deities. Guns N’ Roses triumphed amidst frantic action, hilarious moments, and heartfelt ones.

Conclusion

As of now, there is no indication about when Thor 5, which has not even been announced, will be shown in theaters. If there is going to be a fifth Thor film, we probably won’t see it until 2025 at the earliest. Director Taika Waititi has already prepared some playful pitches for a potential Thor 5, whether they will make the fifth installment.