Top 10 Thor MCU Moments
#10: Meeting the Avengers
“The Avengers” (2012)
Thor crashes into his future comrades in a pretty literal way. While the Avengers have Loki captured on the Quinjet, Thor swoops in to snatch his errant brother up and off of the plane. Although this moment and his subsequent argument with Loki are great, we had to give this entry to the scuffle between Thor and the other Avengers. Iron Man hilariously interrupts Thor mid-sentence, and the two trade blows, both physical and verbal. Captain America then intervenes, until Thor hurls Mjølnir into his shield, and all three come to their senses. This battle is not only funny, but also full of great action. Plus, it acts as the first big hero vs. hero fight in the franchise.
#9: Being Unworthy
“Thor” (2011)
Midway through his first appearance in the MCU, Thor locates his hammer, Mjolnir, after it has been embedded in the ground on Earth. The artifact has drawn a lot of attention and SHIELD has set up a temporary base around it. In order to get to it, a depowered Thor has to fight his way through SHIELD agents amidst a thunderstorm. But even after all that effort, Thor discovers that, for the first time, he cannot lift Mjolnir. He isn’t worthy of it. Not only is it a good action scene (with Thor brought down to a very human level), but it’s also tied to his recurring struggle over whether he’s deserving of his own strength.
#8: Regaining His Powers
“Thor” (2011)
Speaking of Thor’s worthiness, his first film deals with this particular element quite a bit. The loss of his powers is what kicks off his character arc in this film, and, you guessed it, earning them back is what completes it. After Loki sends the Destroyer to attack him on Earth, Thor selflessly puts himself in harm’s way to protect others. Although he nearly dies, this act is enough to make him worthy of Mjolnir again – restoring both his strength and his abilities. Is it a little cheesy? Yes, but then, so is Thor – and we love him for it.
#7: Almost Killing Thanos
“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
So much of Thor’s journey in “Infinity War” is about his quest for revenge against Thanos for the death of his people and his brother. Just when Thanos has finally managed to get all the Infinity Stones, Thor comes barrelling in to stop him. Thor throws his new axe Stormbreaker at the mad Titan, trying to deliver on his promise to kill Thanos. It’s a satisfying moment – until it suddenly ISN’T. With Thor having aimed for the chest, instead of the head, Thanos takes the opportunity to snap away half of all life in the universe. “Infinity War” is about the heroes losing, and Thor loses big time. It’s a pivotal moment in the Infinity Saga, and especially for Thor’s character.
#6: His Conversation with Rocket
“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
Thor isn’t exactly the most introspective guy, but a quiet moment aboard Rocket’s ship gives him some rare breathing room to be just that. When Rocket notices Thor’s low spirits, he approaches the god, inquiring about the people he’s lost. Thor gets emotional as he explains that he has no family left – even his best friend is dead. While he does his best to brush things off and expresses outward confidence, it’s clear that Thor is overwhelmed and that revenge against Thanos is likely the only thing keeping him from breaking down. It’s a tragic, beautiful moment and some of Chris Hemsworth’s best acting in the MCU.
#5: Reuniting with His Mother
“Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
While we’re on the subject of emotional moments involving Thor and Rocket, “Endgame” sees the duo taking a trip back in time to retrieve one of the Infinity Stones in Asgard. While there, Thor runs into his late mother, Frigga. Their reunion is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Thor is a bit of a mess at this point, but Frigga helps him realize that it’s okay to fail and to not live up to others’ expectations – real heroes strive to be who they are. The capper on this great moment is Thor’s discovery that he’s still worthy of wielding Mjolnir.
#4: Remembering Who He Is
“Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)
During the climactic duel of his third solo film, Thor finds himself overmatched by his villainous sister Hela. Having lost an eye, and with his people threatened by Hela’s troops, things look dire for Thor. However, a vision of his father, Odin, reminds him that his true strength comes from within – that his hammer was merely a tool to channel his power. With this newfound conviction, Thor harnesses a massive amount of lightning to escape Hela’s clutches and fight off the soldiers threatening the evacuating Asgardians. This badass display of strength, accompanied by Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”, turns this battle into a full-on spectacle! Talk about awesome!
#3: Crafting Stormbreaker
“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
On his quest to kill Thanos, Thor heads to Nidavellir, the massive forge of the dwarves, hoping for a new weapon he can use against his foe. There, he finds Eitri, the last surviving dwarf, who agrees to help him make an axe he calls Stormbreaker. However, to do so, Thor needs to restart the enormous forge. He manages to do this with a cable, Rocket’s ship, and brute strength. Not only that, but Thor must hold the forge open himself, taking a direct blast from a star in the process. It’s not just one of Thor’s greatest feats, it might also be one of the greatest in the MCU, period!
#2: The Gladiator Fight
“Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)
While Thor and the Hulk’s first clash in “The Avengers” is pretty great, it doesn’t quite reach the same level of epic as their meeting on Sakaar, where the pair of them are pitted against each other in the arena. Thor initially takes quite a few hits, with the intention of reaching Bruce Banner within the Hulk, but he eventually decides to fight back when it’s clear Banner won’t be making an appearance. They prove evenly matched, until the Hulk triggers Thor’s lightning with a series of blows to the face. Some outside interference leaves the true victor up in the air but, while it lasts, the fight is a blockbuster bout between two of the strongest Avengers.
Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“Another!”, “Thor” (2011)
We Can’t Imagine How Many Cups They Go Through in Asgard!
Science & Magic, “Thor” (2011)
This Makes No Sense, But It Sounds Pretty Good, Right?
Meeting the Guardians, “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
Never Before Has Thor Been So Accurately Described
Giving Up the Throne, “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
Sometimes, Letting Go Is the Only Way to Grow
“Get Help,” “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)
We’d Love to See Every Time They Tried This Plan
#1: Joining the Battle in Wakanda
“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
When Thanos discovers the location of Vision, who has the last Infinity Stone, the conqueror’s forces invade Wakanda. Most of the Avengers are there to help with the defense, but still, they’re overwhelmed and outnumbered. Just when things seem at their most dire, a blast of light flashes over the battlefield and a lightning covered axe cuts through waves of enemies. Thor has arrived with Rocket and Groot, and in plenty of style! With his lightning surging, Thor launches himself into the battlefield like the god of thunder he is! This moment sees Thor at the peak of his power and drive! It’s his “big damn hero” scene and it’s absolutely striking! (You know, like his lightning?)
