The best Chris Hemsworth movies, ranked

There are few modern actors more endearing or beautiful than Chris Hemsworth. The Australian has only been in Hollywood for a little over a decade, but he’s already proven himself to be one of the great action stars of the century, thanks to his combination of Marvel movies and outside projects.

Not every Hemsworth project works, but over the course of his career, he’s delivered a number of fascinating performances, some of which play against his natural likability. Hemsworth may seem like a lovable lug, but he’s also a more compelling actor than he may initially appear to be.

15. Thor: Love and Thunder

I know, there are a lot of Thor flicks on this list, but can you blame the web for rooting for the God of Thunder? Love and Thunder populates the bottom spot on this list for obvious reasons, but I believe time will serve the flick well. It was a massive let down for audiences when it first released, but I believe that’s largely a result of the massive popularity of Ragnarok. Any film following that absolute triumph was bound to be a bit of a let down, and Love and Thunder’s rushed story certainly didn’t help.

Still, the film accomplished quite a few things. It helped shift Thor into the next era of the MCU, introduced his new ward, Love, and tied his longstanding romance up with a tidy little bow. It’s certainly worth a watch for any MCU fan, and the future may see this film rise in popularity. It’s available to enjoy alongside all its other MCU brethren on Disney Plus.

14. Snow White and the Huntsman

One of the original fairytale twists, Snow White and the Huntsman was well received when it arrived in theaters back in 2012. It was released just as Hemsworth’s career was properly taking off, and his character is broadly praised as plain but enjoyable. It’s hard to be anything but second-tier when paired with the stunning Charlize Theron, of course, so we don’t blame Hemsworth for failing to upstage her.

Snow White and the Huntsman adds a modern twist to the classic tale, and sees Kristen Stewart’s Snow White join forces with Hemsworth’s Huntsman in a quest to hunt down and slay the Evil Queen. It’s sheer, action-packed fun, holds up more than a decade post-release, and is available to stream on Netflix and Max.

13. Thor: The Dark World

It’s basically the opposite of the tone that Thor: Ragnarok would go on to establish, and there are plenty of people who think it’s one of the worst movies in the MCU, but Thor: The Dark World is also where Chris Hemsworth really starts to find his groove as the character. The first Thor sees him trying a little too hard, but The Dark World is a little more easy-going, and it leans into the natural charm that Hemsworth seems to be able to turn on at will. The flick is available to enjoy on Disney Plus.

12. Men in Black: International

Critics certainly didn’t like Men in Black: International much, but audiences look on the flick with far more favor. In general, audiences seem to enjoy the 2019 revamp of the Men in Black series, and it’s really no surprise why. Hemsworth and co-star Tessa Thompson already displayed their flawless chemistry in Thor: Ragnarok, and they bring the same charming energy to the Men in Black franchise with International. 
The plot isn’t overly memorable, and generally follows in the same trend of each of its predecessors, but it’s still worth a viewing for fans of Hemsworth, Thompson, or the Men in Black franchise as a whole. As a perk, it’s available to stream with a subscription to Starz.

11. Thor

It’s by no means the best Thor movie, nor is it the worst. That award goes to either Thor: The Dark World or Thor: Love and Thunder – depending on who you ask. The first Thor flick isn’t anything special, as far as superhero movies go, but it does provide a fitting origin story for the MCU’s God of Thunder.
Riddled with talented stars who’ve since become staples of the sprawling franchise, Thor tells the story of our man Thor’s first journey to Earth. There, he meets Natalie Portman’s Jane, helps set the stage for 2012’s Avengers, and establishes himself as a staple of the industry. Like the other Thor movies, fans can enjoy this flick over on Disney Plus.

10. Blackhat

It’s not the most critically beloved movie of Michael Mann’s career, but Blackhat certainly does have its defenders. Hemsworth stars as a convicted hacker who is released from prison in order to track down another hacker who is hacking into nuclear power plants. The movie doesn’t always cohere, but Hemsworth is pretty consistently compelling in spite of an accent that is less than convincing. Hemsworth gave himself over to a major director here, and while not everything about the movie works, we have to admire his willingness to do something different. Even better, the film is easily accessible with a Netflix subscription.

9. Extraction

It’s no award-winner, but that doesn’t seep the sheer delight from the action-packed chaos that is Extraction. There’s a reason they made a sequel to the 2020 hit and, despite low-ish critical reviews, audiences are clearly fans of the Hemsworth-led film. 

Extraction follows Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake, a black market merc who’s saddled with a deadly task: rescuing a crime lord’s kidnapped son. Praised for its captivating action scenes and Hemsworth’s skillful performance, Extraction is a must-watch for any fan of simple, explosive action. It helps that it’s particularly easy to track down on streaming, thanks to its current presence on Netflix.

8. Star Trek

In one of his first movie roles, Hemsworth gets to play the father to Captain James Kirk in a pretty terrific prologue to the main action of the movie. It’s not a central role, but Hemsworth is so compelling in the part that it feels only natural he was eventually cast as Thor. He’s charismatic, and not just because he’s so obviously good-looking. In Star Trek, Hemsworth feels like a star on the verge of breaking out, and the death of his character provides much of the explanation for why Chris Pine’s Kirk behaves the way he does. The delightful sci-fi remake is available to stream on Netflix.

7. Bad Times at the El Royale

Hemsworth is just one member of an ensemble in Bad Times at the El Royale, but he acquits himself well playing a dangerous cult leader who doesn’t show up until well into the movie. As an actor, Hemsworth has always known when he can play against type, and he’s tremendous as a cult leader who uses his good looks and charisma to ensure that he always has an audience. Hemsworth plays the menace of this role well, and you can see how it might be easy to fall under his spell. This flick is harder to track down on streaming than some of its peers, but it can be rented for the low price of $.99 over at Prime Video.

6. The Avengers

It’s hard to argue that Hemsworth is the star of The Avengers, but just like everyone else in the ensemble cast, the fact that his version of Thor works in the context of the rest of the ensemble is both thrilling and surprising. His dynamic with Hiddleston, which is so crucial to the first movie, is also hugely important here, and he gets a few of the movie’s best lines and moments. Hemsworth is not blowing you away in The Avengers, but he holds his own, and proves that Thor is going to be around for the long haul. Like the other Marvel favorites, The Avengers is nestled in among its fellows on Disney Plus.

5. Rush

Hemsworth has spent less time outside the MCU in recent years, and Rush remains his biggest swing to date. The movie chronicles the intense rivalry between James Hunt and Nicki Lauda on the 1970s Formula 1 circuit. In a movie about dangerous obsession, Hemsworth plays Hunt, playboy with nothing to lose. He’s not precise or tactical, but his devil-may-care energy propels him to victory. As Hunt, Hemsworth proved that he could excel in a purely dramatic role, as long as he was well-cast, and his fan-favorite role can be enjoyed by anyone with a Netflix subscription.

4. The Cabin in the Woods

Chris Hemsworth has always worked with the right people, and The Cabin in the Woods proves that was true from the earliest part of his career. Hemsworth plays the dumb jock here, a stereotype that he leans into to great effect. What works best about this movie, though, is the way that each of the actors dig below the stereotypes they start as. Hemsworth is a jock, sure, but he’s also a good guy willing to take a risk to save his friends. It’s not his fault his death scene is so hilarious. Watch this delightful horror-comedy blend over on Max.

3. Ghostbusters: Answer the Call

Perhaps a surprising entry, but also the role that proved definitively that Chris Hemsworth was funnier than directors were allowing him to be. Playing the receptionist for the all-female version of the Ghostbusters, Hemsworth seems like a clear mark for the villain role. Instead, he’s just a goof, and that’s more than enough. Chris Hemsworth came off of playing Thor to take a role as a silly, jocky receptionist. If you didn’t love him already, Ghostbusters: Answer the Call surely won you over. You can enjoy his performance by renting the flick for less than a buck on Prime Video, since additional streaming options are currently bare.

2. Avengers: Infinity War

In a movie that features 40 huge actors, Hemsworth is the one who goes on the biggest journey. The moment when Thor arrives in Wakanda is one of the most triumphant in the history of Marvel, but what’s remarkable in Infinity War is how sad he is. Hemsworth plays Thor, a man on the brink of totally losing it who finds a purpose in taking down Thanos. When he fails to do that, there’s nothing left for him. In Infinity War, Hemsworth still gets to be fun, though, even if it is tinged with sadness. Enjoy the mega-popular hit over on Disney Plus.

1. Thor: Ragnarok

Thor has defined Hemsworth’s career, and Thor: Ragnarok is the movie where he finally becomes the version of the character he always should have been. Rocking a shorter hair cut, an eyepatch, and a surplus of charisma, Hemsworth is consistently hysterical in a movie where everyone gets to have jokes. The movie itself may not be perfect, but it deserves all the credit in the world for proving that Hemsworth’s Thor was just as iconic as Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, and it deserves its spot on the top of our list.

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: anyone with a Disney Plus subscription can enjoy each of Hemsworth’s appearances as Thor, from his debut solo flick to the Avengers team-ups that made the franchise a behemoth.