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Thor: How to watch Marvel’s God of Thunder in release and chronological order

Want to get started on watching Marvel’s Thor? Here’s how to do it!

Thor: Love and Thunder
Image credit: Marvel Studios
Joshua Lapin-Bertone avatar
Guide by Joshua Lapin-Bertone Contributing writer
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He’s a son, a brother, a prince, an Avenger, and a god.

Since his big screen introduction in 2011, Thor has been one of the most complex characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Based on the long-running Marvel Comics series, Thor has been one of the most essential pieces of the superhero film franchise. The God of Thunder has gone through an emotionally intense character arc, as he’s experienced triumph and tragedy. Chris Hemsworth has delivered a dynamite performance, and he isn’t bad to look at either.

If you’re interested in watching Marvel’s Thor, Popverse is here to help! This guide will tell you everything you need to know about watching the God of Thunder in release order, chronological order, and answer all of your burning questions.

Let’s begin!

How to watch Thor in release order

Thor 2011 still
Image credit: Marvel Studios

Are you looking to watch Marvel’s Thor in release order? Since the films aren’t numbered, it can be a bit confusing. Does Thor: Ragnarok come before Thor: The Dark World? Not to worry, just follow this list and you’ll be all set.

Note: This list only covers Thor's appearances in the MCU. For a full MCU watch order, please refer to this guide.

How to watch Thor in chronological order?

Party Thor in season two of What If...
Image credit: Marvel Studios

If you want to watch Thor in chronological order, here is how you would do it. The chronological order is mostly the same as the release order, but some films jump around the timeline, and some pieces of media take place in alternate timelines. Confused? Don’t stress, it’s all very simple once you follow this list.

MCU Sacred Timeline

This covers the main MCU continuity, known as the Sacred Timeline. This is the same continuity that contains the Iron Man, Captain America, Avengers, and most of the other Marvel movies. The dates in this section were provided by The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline guidebook.

  • 965: Thor (Odin battles Frost Giants and finds baby Loki flashback)
  • Spring 2010: Thor (main storyline)
  • Spring 2012: The Avengers and Avengers: Endgame (2012 time heist mission)
  • Fall 2013: Thor: The Dark World and Avengers: Endgame (2013 time heist mission)
  • Spring 2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • 2015-2017: Thor: Love and Thunder (Jane and Thor relationship flashbacks)
  • Fall 2017: Doctor Strange (mid-credits scene) and Thor: Ragnarok
  • Spring 2018: Thor: Ragnarok (credits scene), Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame (first act before the timeskip)
  • Fall 2023: Avengers: Endgame (main storyline)
  • Spring 2025: Thor: Love and Thunder (Jane becomes the Mighty Thor)
  • Fall 2025: Thor: Love and Thunder (main storyline)
Branched Timelines

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an entire multiverse of stories. As such, some of Thor’s appearances fall outside of traditional continuity. If you’re new to this, that’s one way of saying that these pieces of media aren’t connected to the main film series. Thor could die in one of these stories, but still appear in the main Avengers films.

Reality where the Avengers assemble in 1602
  • 1602: What If…? season 2 episode 8
Reality where Peter Quill attacks the Avengers
  • 1988: What If…? season 2 episode 2
Reality where Killmonger rescued Tony Stark
  • 2008: What If…? season 1 episode 6
Reality where the Avengers never assembled
  • 2010: What If…? season 1 episode 3
Reality where Thor is an only child
  • 2010: What If…? season 1 episode 7 and What If…? season 1 episode 9
Reality where Captain Carter fights the Hydra Smasher
  • 2014: What If…? season 2 episode 5
Reality where Happy Hogan saves Christmas
  • 2014: What If…? season 2 episode 3
Reality where Ultron won
  • 2015: What If…? season 1 episode 8
Team Thor reality
  • 2016: Team Thor: Part 1 and Team Thor: Part 2
  • 2018: Team Daryl
Reality where Strange Supreme intervened
  • Throughout space and time: What If…? season 2 episode 9

Do I need to watch anything before Thor?

Thor 2011 still
Image credit: Marvel Studios

If you’re looking to start watching Thor, but worried about all the MCU lore, let us put your fears to rest. The first Thor film was one of the first MCU films, so it isn’t heavy with continuity. In fact, Thor takes place in its own section of the universe, away from the misadventures of Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. If you choose to watch the other MCU films first, then you will recognize S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulsen. However, even if you haven’t seen those films, his presence won’t be confusing. Feel free to start your MCU journey with Thor without any prior MCU knowledge.

Will there be a Thor 5?

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Love (India Rose Hemsworth) from Thor: Love and Thunder
Image credit: Marvel Studios

As of this writing, Marvel Studios has not officially announced a fifth Thor movie (try saying that four times fast). However, there are a few reasons to assume another Thor movie will be made. Chris Hemsworth is one of the few remaining leading actors from the first phase of Marvel movies. With Marvel’s recent critical and financial failures, it makes sense that the studio would lean into a popular character like Thor.

Chris Hemsworth appears to be up for it. Speaking to the Happy Sad Confused Podcast, the actor said he would return, as long as the character keeps getting reinvented. If Marvel Studios greenlights Thor 5, Taika Waititi won’t be in the director’s chair. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the director of the third and fourth Thor film indicated that he was moving onto other projects.

If you’re afraid of missing the announcement for Thor 5, keep your eyes on Popverse’s guide to upcoming superhero movies.

Are the Team Thor shorts canon?

Team Thor
Image credit: Marvel Studios

Team Thor is a trilogy of comedic shorts about the misadventures of Thor and his roommate Daryl. The trilogy consists of Team Thor: Part 1, Team Thor: Part 2, and Team Daryl. Taika Waititi wrote and directed the shorts, which were filmed as a mockumentary. Chris Hemsworth had such a fun time doing them, that he suggested continuing the story as a television sitcom.

Don’t worry about fitting them into the MCU timeline, because they aren’t canon. Our first hint is the inclusion of Bruce Banner. As Thor: Ragnarok established, the hero was off-world for years during the period when the shorts are supposed to take place. The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline guidebook doesn’t include the shorts, which should be the final word on the matter.

Plus, the tone of the shorts makes it pretty clear that we aren’t supposed to take them seriously. They’re on Disney+ if you want to watch them, just make sure you don’t get too caught up in trying to fit it into the MCU timeline.

Who else has played Thor aside from Chris Hemsworth?

Young Thor flashback in Thor: Love and Thunder
Image credit: Marvel Studios

It’s hard to picture anyone but Chris Hemsworth playing the marvelous God of Thunder, but a few other men (and children) have stepped into the role over the years. A child actor named Dakota Goyo played a young version of the character during a flashback in the first Thor film. Thor: Love and Thunder featured some quick glimpse of the God of Thunder during various stages of his childhood. We see Cameron Chapek as baby Thor, Tristan Hemsworth (son of Chris Hemsworth) as kid Thor, and Samson Alston as young adult Thor.

Luke Hemsworth (brother of Chris) has also played Thor…technically. The actor could be seen in Thor: Ragnarok, where he played an Asgardian performer who portrayed Thor in a play. It was probably one of the funniest scenes of the movie. Jason Scott MacDonald portrayed a Broadway actor who performed as Thor in the superhero-themed play Rogers: The Musical (as seen in Hawkeye).

Interestingly, as of this writing, Chris Hemsworth has been the only person to voice Thor in the What If…? animated series.

Which MCU characters are worthy of wielding Mjolnir?

Jane Foster as Thor from Thor: Love and Thunder
Image credit: Marvel Studios

We’re told that whoever is deemed worthy can wield Mjolnir and gain the powers of Thor. While the list of worthy individuals isn’t a large one, it’s not as exclusive as we were originally led to believe. Here’s a list of everyone who has wielded Mjolnir in the MCU. Please note, this only covers the MCU, not everyone who has wielded the mythical hammer in the comics.

  • Thor
  • Odin (Thor)
  • Vision (Avengers: Age of Ultron)
  • Hela (Thor: Ragnarok)
  • Captain America (Avengers: Endgame)
  • Dr. Jane Foster (Thor: Love and Thunder)
  • Kahhhori (What If…?) (Note: Alternate reality)

Are the MCU tie-in comics canon?

Thor: The Dark World prelude
Image credit: Marvel

The MCU saga is more than films and televisions shows. The epic storyline has been expanded with tie-in comics published by Marvel. According to Marvel, the tie-in comics are canon, but as the MCU has grown, some of these books have been contradicted by later films. The best mindset is to consider each of these comics canon, unless (or until) they’re contradicted by something seen in one of the movies or television shows.

Here is a rundown of the MCU tie-in comics that Thor appears in.

  • Thor, The Mighty Avenger – A digital comic set before the 2011 film. Originally released on Burger King’s website.
  • Thor: Rescue – Another digital comic set before the first film. This one was released on Dr. Pepper’s website.
  • The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week – A series that expands on Fury’s activities during the first few MCU films.
  • The Avengers: The Avengers Initiative – Hawkeye tests a new security system. Thor and the other Avengers are seen in a flashback.
  • Iron Man 3 Prelude – A comic that bridges the gap between The Avengers and Iron Man 3. Thor and the other Avengers make an appearance.
  • Thor Adaptation – A comic adaptation of the 2011 film.
  • Thor: The Dark World Prelude – A comic that bridges the gap between The Avengers and Thor: The Dark World.
  • Thor: Crown of Fools – Digital comic that serves as a prequel to Thor: The Dark World.
  • The Avengers Adaptation – More or less what the title says, an adaptation of the 2012 Avengers movie.
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron Prelude – This Specter’d Isle – A prequel to Avengers: Age of Ultron, focusing on the activities of Baron von Strucker.
  • Avengers: Operation HYDRA – The Avengers track down remnants of HYDRA, setting the stage for Avengers: Age of Ultron.
  • Thor: Ragnarok Prelude – Don’t let the title fool you, this series is actually an adaptation of the 2008 Incredible Hulk film and Thor: The Dark World.
  • Avengers: Infinity War Prelude – A recap of the Infinity Saga, setting the stage for Avengers: Infinity War.
  • Avengers: Endgame Prelude – An adaptation of Avengers: Infinity War. It was most likely given this title in order to capitalize on the hype for Avengers: Endgame.

Where can I watch Thor?

Still from Thor Love and Thunder, Chris Hemsworth as Thor is sitting on a rock under a tree wearing long robes

You don’t need a Bifrost Bridge to watch Marvel’s Thor, you just need a Disney+ subscription. The streaming service contains every MCU film on this list, in addition to the What If…? animated series, and the Team Thor shorts. If you prefer renting or owning digital copies of the films, each movie is available on a variety of video-on-demand platforms, including Google TV, Vudu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

Wielding a remote is a lot easier than wielding Mjolnir, so become the God of Film-Watching, and begin your Thor journey!

Popverse has assembled everything you need to know about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from our MCU watch order to a guide to upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows. Plus, we've taken the time to rank the entire MCU and compile the biggest outstanding questions from Marvel's connected films. Enjoy.

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