The critics have spoken and as expected, Marvel has another mega hit on their hands with Taika Waititi’s threequel, Thor: Ragnarok. It’s about time that the God of Thunder finds himself showered with positive reviews, too, given that both Thor and Thor: The Dark World are widely considered to be amongst the studio’s lesser efforts. With Ragnarok though, the titular Avenger finally has a winner and not only that, but the film can now lay claim to being the highest rated Marvel movie ever on Rotten Tomatoes – sitting at 98%.
Granted, it’s still early days and with only 47 reviews up on the aggregate site so far, that can easily change. For now, however, Thor reigns supreme and for a sampling of what the critics are saying, see below:
Variety: These days, Marvel movies arrive as parodies of themselves. If only that were an indication of the genre’s own impending Ragnarok — a sign that the entire phenomenon is about to implode, only to be reborn as something more worthy of the audience’s time and intelligence.
Empire:Â Daft as a badger sandwich and twice as funny, this is vintage Waititi, and the boldest, most outrageously fun film Marvel has yet produced.
Total Film: The final fight scene, played out to the strains of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song and against a burning Asgard, doesn’t hold back. It’s so exciting you’d be forgiven for getting physically aroused. This is a Marvel movie that knows when to embrace the ridiculous and when to puncture any pomposity, and it’s a delight from start to big finish. And yes, you do need to stay to the very very end of the credits.
That sea of praise continues with the following:
IGN: Thor: Ragnarok is a goofy, kitschy- but- fun romp and the most purely entertaining of the three Thor movies, marked by its distinctive designs, ‘80s synth score, and assemblage of spirited characters. It’s carried by the excellent chemistry between Thor, Hulk, and Valkyrie, who give humanity to a visual effects-heavy spectacle that finally makes good on Thor’s title of God of Thunder. But it’s also a film fragmented by its clear preference for its B storyline (Sakaar) over its A storyline (Asgard). Thor: Ragnarok’s desire to go for the gag also hurts the movie in a few key serious moments that deserved to pack more punch than they did.
EW: Ragnarok is basically a Joke Delivery System — and on that score, it works. The movie is fun. So to recap: Taika Waititi was mostly the right director for the job. Chris Hemsworth is hilarious. Tessa Thompson is going to be a star. And while Ragnarok’s story is an aimless mess, you won’t stop laughing.
Uproxx: Thor: Ragnarok is by far the most unusual of the Marvel movies – a crazy, colorful, ambitious, hilarious ride through the cosmos – even surpassing the Guardians of the Galaxy movies as the former holder of that title. And it’s by far the funniest. It’s not even a question that Thor: Ragnarok is the best of the Thor movies and it’s certainly up there as far as the best in the MCU. Who knew a Thor movie could be this wonderful? I guess Taika Waititi did. And please let Taika Waititi make whatever other movies he wants from now on.
Impressive, right? This goodwill ought to put Thor: Ragnarok in solid stead as the threequel begins to make its box office climb. Analysts have predicted a thunderous opening weekend domestically, though we wouldn’t be too surprised if Ragnarok surpassed that $90m-$100m target in light of this week’s reviews. Stay tuned for more.
