Thor: Love and Thunder First Reactions Praise Marvel Film as a Vivid and Vibrant Blas

Publish date: 2024-04-30

First reactions have poured in for Taika Waititi‘s highly-anticipated “Thor: Love and Thunder,” which had its world premiere June 23 in Hollywood. Expectations for the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe entry are sky high considering Waititi’s last comic book outing, “Thor: Ragnarok,” is widely considered one of the best Marvel movies.

According to journalists and critics on social media, those expectations were met. Film critic Simon Thompson wrote, “#ThorLoveAndThunder is a vivid and vibrant blast that delivers. Hemsworth’s Thor remains a jewel in Marvel’s crown. Bale’s Gorr is a killer boogeyman blending the campy and the creepy. Portman’s Foster and Thompson’s Valkyrie are a top notch pairing. Crowe’s Zeus is *chef’s kiss.*”

#ThorLoveAndThunder is a vivid and vibrant blast that delivers. Hemsworth’s Thor remains a jewel in Marvel’s crown. Bale’s Gorr is a killer boogeyman blending the campy and the creepy. Portman’s Foster and Thompson’s Valkyrie are a top notch pairing. Crowe’s Zeus is *chef’s kiss* pic.twitter.com/PDb5SZRWOo

— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) June 24, 2022

Insider correspondent Kirsten Acuna agreed and specifically praised Christian Bale’s performance as Gorr, writing that he is “phenomenally menacing” and “one of the creepiest Marvel villains we’ve ever seen on screen.”

Christian Bale is phenomenally menacing as #ThorLoveandThunder’s villain, Gorr the God Butcher. One of the creepiest Marvel villains we’ve ever seen on screen. Gave me some Dark Knight Ledger Joker vibes at one point. pic.twitter.com/zsg9SNXfqY

— Kirsten (@KirstenAcuna) June 24, 2022

Critic Courtney Howard touted Taika Waititi’s directing, saying that he delivers “a subversive, irreverent spectacle” with “great story, stakes and character-building.”

Popular on Variety

Related Stories

Illustration of a digital brain surrounded by film festival awards laurels VIP+

What Film Fund From AI Startup Runway Means for Content’s Future

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 01: Christopher Ciccone poses for a portrait while promoting his new book "Life With My Sister Madonna" on August 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Christopher Ciccone, Artist and Brother of Madonna, Dies at 63

#ThorLoveAndThunder has an Appetite For Destruction & laughs. It’s totally rad! Taika Waititi delivers a subversive, irreverent spectacle. Great story, stakes & character-building. Chris Hemsworth & Natalie Portman, superb.Russell Crowe & Christian Bale slip easily into the world pic.twitter.com/W7PUUXIfM5

— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) June 24, 2022

Some were more critical of the film, like Bro Bible senior writer Eric Italiano, who generally enjoyed “Love and Thunder” but said the plot “felt flat and stakeless.”

#ThorLoveAndThunder is the funniest film in the MCU. The jokes are excellent as is the cast delivering them.

Christian Bale, obviously, is also terrifying as #Gorr

BUT, the plot felt flat and stakeless. Not sure if that's a #Thor problem or an MCU-without-a-big-bad problem. pic.twitter.com/G6XP9EyL0Y

— Eric Italiano (@eric_ital) June 24, 2022

Set after the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” the latest “Thor” sequel finds Chris Hemsworth‘s superhero teaming up with Korg (voiced by Waititi), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) to stop Gorr the God Butcher (Bale) from eliminating all gods. Portman’s return to the MCU has generated the most buzz for “Thor: Love and Thunder” ahead of its release. Portman sat out “Ragnarok” and appears in the new film as Mighty Thor, which also finds her wielding the  mystical hammer Mjolnir. Waititi co-wrote the script with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.

“On ‘Black Swan,’ I was asked to get as small as possible,” Portman recently told Variety for a cover story. “Here, I was asked to get as big as possible. That’s an amazing challenge — and also state of mind as a woman.”

“I’ve seen her play the scientist character in ‘Thor’ 1 and 2, and it just seemed pointless to do it again,” Waititi added about bringing Portman back as a superhero. “That character feels like just a love interest. It’s an Earthwoman who runs around being mortal and not really consequential throughout.”

“Thor: Love and Thunder” opens in theaters nationwide July 8. Check out more first reactions in the posts below.

Another classic Thor adventure! #ThorLoveAndThunder is everything I wanted it to be. Big, colorful, weird Guns N' Roses-fueled battles to go w/ a hopelessly romantic story about discovering love in unexpected places. Christian Bale & Russell Crowe are especially great. And Korg! pic.twitter.com/fu0gTUuMRj

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) June 24, 2022

I saw #ThorLoveAndThunder. It can't quite match the visual or comedy bombast of Ragnarok, but Taika Waititi makes up for it with an emotionally mature Marvel movie. It's also very funny (Natalie's got jokes) and features one of the most stunning visual sequences in MCU history.

— Jake (@jacobkleinman) June 24, 2022

#ThorLoveAndThunder is much more episodic than I would have suspected. Delivers big laughs. Very standard, cookie cutter villain with Christian Bale. I want the buddy cop comedy with Natalie Portman & Tessa Thompson. Matt Damon must go Broadway. Post credits are EPIC! Pure fun. pic.twitter.com/2J5UQuHHSA

— Clayton Davis (@ByClaytonDavis) June 24, 2022

VIP+ Analysis: The Films Fighting ‘Top Gun’ to Rule Summer

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXN%2Bjp%2BgpaVfo7K4v46tn6iqXaG8t7GMmqWdZaSdwq%2BwxKtkn6GiqMFuvsSamq2hn6PAbn2RbGxsaGFsfnp7