Thor: Love and Thunder struck Hollywood Thursday for the world premiere of the latest Marvel Studios film, and the first reactions are in.
Official reviews do not hit until July 5, so this is the first glimpse of what audiences are saying. It’s worth noting that reactions from premieres generally lean more enthusiastic than from critics’ screenings.
The project reunites Thor: Ragnarok filmmaker Taika Waititi with star Chris Hemsworth for a tale that pits Thor against Gorr the God Butcher, a villain played by Christian Bale that is determined to wipe gods out of the galaxy. Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster returns to the franchise for the first time since Thor: The Dark World (2013) and this time around will wield the power of Thor. The film also stars Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and actors from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, including Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista.
Love and Thunder comes as the Marvel brand has expanded into streaming with Disney+, with multiple series landing this year, including the currently streaming Ms. Marvel. On the big screen, the studio released Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness less than two months ago, with the project standing behind Top Gun: Maverick as the second highest-grossing film of the year to date. The studio also has Black Panther: Wakanda Forever due out on the big screen later this year.
Love and Thunder arrives in theaters July 7.
Read on for reactions from the premiere.
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 gets better when it’s not trying to desperately recapture the magic of Ragnarok. Most of the humor doesn’t land as well as it did the first time, but Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, & Christian Bale do the best with it.
More coming soon to @DiscussingFilm pic.twitter.com/2jkZD8TJAi
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) June 24, 2022
THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER is a rockin’ great time with electrifying action, lots of laughs (the screaming goats!) & a profound story on absent gods & our desire for love. Natalie Portman makes a mighty return & Christian Bale slays it as the terrifying Gorr. The best Thor film yet! pic.twitter.com/s42SkqxlJj
— Matt Neglia @Tribeca (@NextBestPicture) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder is the GREATEST movie Marvel has made so far! I’m not joking. I haven’t laughed that hard since Ragnarok and I feel invested in Marvel again in a way that I haven’t since Endgame. Also, bring tissues. The journey is *chefs kiss* from start to finish!❤️ pic.twitter.com/bJYVxCJoQS
— Lyra Hale ???? SDCC (@TheAltSource) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder surpasses all expectations balancing absolutely bombastic insanity with moving character driven stories. Christian Bale is top tier and Natalie Portman is truly outstanding. Waititi may have just delivered the MCU’s best movie of Phase 4 #ThorLoveAndThunder pic.twitter.com/HDePEKKS8P
— Caitlin Tyrrell (@caitlin_tyrrell) June 24, 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder is a fun, tight, and largely self contained Marvel adventure. If not quite as much of a surprise as Ragnarok, this is more evidence that Taika Waititi knows how to make Thor a blast. Heart/humor mix again to make for a real good time. #ThorLoveAndThunder pic.twitter.com/Bkxn5HJFQe
— Joey Magidson (@JoeyMagidson) June 24, 2022
However, you can’t be that breath of fresh air twice, so you need to up the emotional connection to the characters and the plot. See the Guardians movies. #ThorLoveAndThunder tries but can’t quite hit it, and comes across as weirdly restrained, which is a shame. pic.twitter.com/KhE13qEc7x
— Kaitlyn Booth (@katiesmovies) June 24, 2022
holy shit. #ThorLoveandThunder is the perfect blend of taika at his best with comedy and a punch to the gut all in one. i left this movie emotionally satisfied while also sobbing and just perfection. we stan a dad rock soundtrack. in the words of my new favorite characters: AHH pic.twitter.com/MytduVq89h
— it was rachatha all along (@RachelLeishman) June 24, 2022
If you, like me, take delight in watching Christian Bale slurp up the scenery while gobbing out that black ink Danny DeVito had in Batman Returns, then #ThorLoveAndThunder is for you.
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) June 24, 2022
#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
Wow!! #ThorLoveandThunder is great! The best entry in Phase 4 behind Shang-Chi and No Way Home. I laughed. I cried. Then I laughed and cried some more, in that order. Natalie Portman is FINALLY given her due. Dr. Jane Foster is more than worthy of being the Mighty Thor.⚡️ pic.twitter.com/oOop89P1uf
— Kirsten (@KirstenAcuna) June 24, 2022
#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
#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 (@ericitaIiano) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder is predictably hilarious yet unexpectedly personal and heartfelt. Christian Bale and Natalie Portman’s performances truly shine while Waititi delivers an emotional story. I think this may be my favorite Thor movie. pic.twitter.com/i7BpmQHvQ1
— Richard Nebens – The Direct (@RichardNebens) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder is everything great about comic book movies! Truly hilarious insanity, heart wrenching tragedy, and bombastic action! Visually stunning and one of the best MCU soundtracks. The entire cast is fantastic, but Christian Bale and Natalie Portman are phenomenal! pic.twitter.com/dVkpf54fmP
— The Illuminerdi (@The_Illuminerdi) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder is a solid take on the Mighty Thor comics — it’s great to see Natalie wield the hammer and all that comes with it. Christian Bale is a top tier MCU villain and Chris/Tessa are great as always. Another Taika win with humor, heart & a can’t miss credits reveal. pic.twitter.com/BGkXgCEyV9
— Brian Particelli (He/Him) (@BrianParticelli) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder is absolutely AMAZING. It blows every other Marvel movie out of the water, and doubles down on the Ragnarok charm. A classic @TaikaWaititi joint, so many laughs and tears, with a moving narrative and beautiful visuals. And those post credits? OH MY GOD. pic.twitter.com/41iuRXPf0O
— therese lacson (@bamfpire) June 24, 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder is so very Taika Waititi! It’s wild, hilarious, action packed, & even dark. Christian Bale is phenomenal as Gorr and Tessa Thompson crushes it! Get ready to love those goats! Not enough Guardians (I’m bias on that). Mid credit is FIRE! #ThorLoveAndThunder pic.twitter.com/JaRDUkAEcT
— Tessa Smith – Mama’s Geeky (@MamasGeeky) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder is a bright spot in a wobbly Phase 4 as Ragnarok redux, down to its goofy lark humor and its undercooked A-list star as villain. Unconcerned with cameos and fan service, it feels like a tonic. Much better/funnier than the sum of its unimpressive marketing. pic.twitter.com/hwTLk8Chhs
— Jeff Zhang 张佶润 (@strangeharbors) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder just cemented itself as one of my favorite MCU films. Bursting w/so much heart, emotion & sincerity, I teared up, I smiled from ear to ear. This film is a warm hug & plea to cherish the present, live in the moment do something that matters. I adore this film! pic.twitter.com/FYnwC2Gyqv
— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder is electrifying! Chris Hemsworth is great as usual, Natalie Portman gets her time to shine, and Russell Crowe as Zeus is hilarious. Stormbreaker needs its own movie! pic.twitter.com/8T3YepCUIg
— John Nguyen (@JohnSpartan300) June 24, 2022
I REALLY enjoyed #ThorLoveAndThunder ! One of Marvel’s funniest films and surprisingly also one of it’s most heartfelt ones as well. Christian Bale stole the show for me as Gorr the God Butcher. Taika Waititi needs to direct every Thor film now. pic.twitter.com/6rUxRxNQtD
— Geeky Misfit (@JalenJColeman) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder has very high highs & very low lows. It’s very Taika Waititi and is tonally all over the place. That said, the second half is way better than the first and I really loved what Christian Bale brought to the table. Also, Natalie Portman is fantastic as expected. pic.twitter.com/NCCsDS7bj2
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) June 24, 2022
What a rush! Thor: Love & Thunder is pure entertainment. It’s fun, emotional, it has moments of horror. Christian Bale is perfectly terrifying as Gorr. Natalie Portman is fantastic as the Mighty Thor. Chris Hemsworth is perfect. And the goats are GOATS. #thor #ThorLoveAndThunder pic.twitter.com/u9QhIPh0G9
— Wendy Lee Szany (@WendyLeeSzany) June 24, 2022
I LOVED #THORLOVEANDTHUNDER!!! It was hysterical and stunning and full of so much heart! I am so happy to tell you all how awesome it was! Also, the goats are my favorite characters! The film was pure joy! pic.twitter.com/Z4X1oB9agD
— Jenna Busch (@JennaBusch) June 24, 2022
#TaikaWaititi didn’t disappoint .Had so much fun watching #ThorLoveAndThunder tonight.Brought my mini mjolnir with me. My stormbreaker must be jealous????Love to see creatures and gods but it’s a love story at heart. The two goats are my favorite. They made me laugh so hard! pic.twitter.com/wURmGmfhra
— Maggie Ma (@MaggieMa_LA) June 24, 2022
