I've already talked about IRON MAN, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, IRON MAN 2, THOR, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, and THE AVENGERS to conclude Phase 1.
I have also completed Phase 2 with IRON MAN 3, THOR: THE DARK WORLD, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, and ANT-MAN.
Now, I'm on to Phase 3 with CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, DOCTOR STRANGE, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING in the rearview mirror... up next is THOR: RAGNAROK...
Since THOR: RAGNAROK was only released a few month ago there's not much to really get into in this column that isn't still fresh in most Marvel Studios fans' memory. Yet, believe it or not, THOR: RAGNAROK is a rather divisive movie within a sector of the Marvel fan community. While the majority of the general audience, as well as the critics, adored what director Taika Waititi did in changing the tone, adding humor, as well as making things weirder for the God of Thunder, there is a segment of Marvel comics fandom who do not like it at all. The fans who are unhappy have not made as much negative noise as say the fans who disliked the divisive nature of STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, but they are there and they are still wondering what happened to their beloved live action Thor franchise.
Honestly, I get it. Although I love Ragnarok since I was one of the fans who thought Thor needed so flip the script after his past two franchise films and go from having darker tones to going more cosmic and embrace the weird in the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For me, what Waititi did was brilliant and he not only gave actor Chris Hemsworth new life in his character, he tapped into Hemsworth's comedic side, too.
I was in the group who thought Thor was in sore need of a "soft reboot" and Waititi managed this change brilliantly. So brilliantly, I hope Marvel Studios brings Waititi and Hemsworth back for another Thor film in a few years. And maybe Waititi is the guy who can introduce Beta Ray Bill and make him not only a worthy successor to Hemsworth but make the horse-faced alien character weirdly believable... and very cool.
Opening on November 3, 2017, THOR: RAGNAROK became one of Marvel Studios' Top 10 openers, domestically, with $122 million. Some fans may not have been happy with the changes in tone and added humor to this movie, it was apparent the general audience embraced these changes as Ragnarok had a much bigger opening than the $85 million THOR: THE DARK WORLD took in, and the $65 million THOR opened with.
Overall, THOR: RAGNAROK took in $315 million domestically, $538 million Internationally for a global total of $854 million. Way more than the $644 million worldwide THOR: THE DARK WORLD made and the $449 million THOR grabbed globally.
Both critics and the majority of fans alike loved the potentially risky shift in the Thor franchise Waititi embarked on and it was such a success it not only seemed to revitalize the character in the MCU, but Hemsworth has found a new love for the character he has been portraying since 2011. This could mean he may continue in the role after the events in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and AVENGERS 4, while fellow Avengers actors Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans may be stepping aside.
Written by Daniel Wolf, Founder & Publisher
Previous Road to Infinity War Posts:
Road to Infinity War - SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Retrospective
Road to Infinity War: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Retrospective
Road to Infinity War: DOCTOR STRANGE Retrospective
Road to Infinity War - CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR Retrospective
Road to Infinity War: ANT-MAN Retrospective
Road to Infinity War - AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON Retrospective
Road to Infinity War: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Retrospective
Road to Infinity War - CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER Retrospective
Road to Infinity War - THOR: THE DARK WORLD Retrospective
Road to Infinity War: IRON MAN 3 Retrospective
Road to Infinity War: THE AVENGERS Retrospective
Road to Infinity War - CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER Retrospective
Road to Infinity War - THOR Retrospective
Road to Infinity War - IRON MAN 2 Retrospective
Road to Infinity War - THE INCREDIBLE HULK Retrospective
Road to Infinity War - IRON MAN Retrospective
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