Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok is the seventeenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third solo outing for the Asgardian god of thunder. Released in 2017, it marked a sharp tonal shift from its predecessors, trading the Shakespearean gravitas of Kenneth Branagh's first film and the dour fantasy of Alan Taylor's sequel for a brightly colored, irreverent cosmic adventure. Directed by New Zealander Taika Waititi, best known at the time for indie comedies like What We Do in the Shadows, the film grossed $855 million worldwide on a $180 million budget and earned a 93% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Waititi and his writers, Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle, and Christopher Yost, drew heavily from the Planet Hulk storyline from the comics, sending Thor to the garbage planet Sakaar where he is forced into gladiatorial combat against his old ally the Hulk. The film also introduces Hela, the first female villain in the MCU, played by Cate Blanchett, whose performance as the Goddess of Death drew on predatory animal movements and the work of performance artist Marina Abramović. Jack Kirby's cosmic art style heavily influenced the production design, particularly the neon-drenched, retro-futuristic look of Sakaar.

The film's soundtrack features Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song in two key action sequences, a choice Waititi felt captured the Norse mythology themes. Mark Mothersbaugh, of Devo fame, composed the score, blending orchestral elements with electronic textures. Principal photography took place from July to October 2016 at Village Roadshow Studios in Queensland, Australia, with additional location shooting in New York City. The film's success revitalized the Thor franchise and directly set up Avengers: Infinity War, with its post-credits scene showing Thanos's ship intercepting the Asgardian refugees.[edit]

Thor, having grown weary of his brother Loki's deceptions, finds himself imprisoned by the fire demon Surtur, who reveals that Odin is no longer on Asgard and that Ragnarok, the prophesied destruction of the realm, is imminent. Thor escapes, defeats Surtur, and takes his crown, believing he has averted the prophecy. But when he returns to Asgard, he discovers Loki has been impersonating Odin, having exiled their father to Earth. The brothers travel to New York City, where they find Odin living in peaceful seclusion. Odin, his time at an end, warns them of a terrible threat: his firstborn child, Hela, the Goddess of Death, whom he imprisoned long ago for her ambitions of conquest. As Odin passes away, Hela appears, shattering Thor's hammer Mjolnir with her bare hand and forcing Thor and Loki to flee through the Bifrost.

Hela arrives in Asgard, reveals herself as the rightful heir, and destroys the armies sent against her. She resurrects the ancient dead warriors and begins purging all opposition, appointing the cowardly Skurge as her executioner. Meanwhile, Thor and Loki are cast into space, landing on the garbage planet Sakaar, a lawless world ruled by the flamboyant Grandmaster. Thor is captured and forced into gladiatorial combat for the Grandmaster's amusement. He discovers that his old ally, the Hulk, has been living on Sakaar as the Grandmaster's champion for two years, having disappeared after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Thor struggles to convince the Hulk to help him escape while encountering Valkyrie, a hard-drinking, cynical former Asgardian elite soldier haunted by her past failure against Hela. Valkyrie initially refuses to help, but after Thor reminds her of what Asgard once meant, she agrees to assist in his escape.

Thor must now unite his allies, the Hulk, Valkyrie, and the gladiator Korg and his rock people followers, to escape Sakaar and return to Asgard before Hela unleashes Ragnarok and destroys everything. The central conflict becomes a race against time, with Thor learning that his true power comes not from his hammer but from within himself, as the God of Thunder.[edit]