It’s no secret that in 2011, Chris Hemsworth took Hollywood by storm when he played the powerful Norse god Thor for the very first time. A role that not only made him a superstar, but allowed him to become one of the most in-demand actors of his generation.
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Since then, the talented Aussie has proven that he can do much more than wear a cape and throw a hammer to the moon and back.
From comedies to tense drama, here are 12 of Chris Hemsworth’s best movie roles (in no particular order). Get a notebook, because you need to watch them all.
1. Red Dawn (2012)
Although Red Dawn isn’t exactly a masterpiece, you’ll want to watch this action film purely for Chris’ impeccable performance as a war veteran who tries to protect his country from North Korean invaders. If the movie could have done with a better script and better pacing, it definitely gave enough to Chris’ character to shine as the haunted leader of a group of unlikely fighters.
2. Men in Black: International (2019)
This fun new chapter in the Men In Black movie franchise was relatively well-received and contains some hilarious scenes that could only be enhanced by Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson’s brilliant chemistry as Agent H and Agent M. In this popular movie, Chris saves the world from shape-shifting aliens with some witty dialogue that proves he can be hysterically funny when the script demands it. From action to comedy, the Aussie’s charisma never falters.
3. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Although every Thor installment gave him something to chew on, Taika Waititi’s wildly different take on the mythical figure showed everyone that Chris could play both a serious, dutiful superhero and a side-splitting, goofy god. Thanks to this strange, but incredibly entertaining opus in which Thor must get back to his kingdom after finding himself imprisoned on another planet, the writers of the following Avengers movies played with the character’s humorous side a lot more, and we wouldn’t want it any other way!
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4. Snow White and The Huntsman (2012)
Chris Hemsworth is so versatile that he once played in a fairytale adaptation. That being said, the golden-haired actor surprisingly did not play a prince. In this bleaker and much more action-packed version of the famous children’s tale, the Aussie was cast as a brooding huntsman who is tasked to kill Snow White, but eventually decides to help her fight back against her evil step-mother. And although this movie takes place in a world filled with fairies and monsters, Chris gave just enough ruggedness to his character that we wonder why he was never cast in Game of Thrones.
5. Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Miraculously, Chris Hemsworth managed to play a jock character that didn’t make us roll our eyes every five seconds. In this horror movie that featured a still relatively unknown Hemsworth, a group of friends are holidaying in a seemingly haunted cabin, but soon realize that it’s far from a simple hut. Here, Chris plays a college student who is both stereotypical and resourceful, and his unexpected depth perfectly suits the movie’s mind-blowing twists and turns.
6. Thor (2011)
How could we not include Chris’s first round as Thor in this movie list? Although many fans have grown to love the less serious version of the character popularized in Ragnarok, the Aussie did really well on his first gig in the Marvel Universe, alternating between an honorable god and a confused alien whose godly father has banished him on earth for misconduct. We know the character has only gotten better over the years, but there’s still something quite magical about his introduction to the world.
7. Ghostbusters (2016)
In this reboot of the iconic sci-fi franchise, Chris Hemsworth fully embraces his eye candy status by becoming the silly but kind assistant who works alongside the all-female Ghosbusters gang. Playing into the film’s voluntary reversal of gender roles, Chris does a phenomenal job becoming the perfect sidekick as his employers struggle to stop a planned ghost-apocalypse in New York City. Believe it or not, it takes a really good actor to play dumb so successfully.
8. Star Trek (2009)
Though Chris only played Captain Kirk’s brave father George Kirk, first officer of the USS Kelvin, for a few minutes, he made a lasting impression. In just one scene, his character masterfully leads his ship through an alien attack and eventually sacrifices himself to save his crew and the mother of his unborn son. The movie predominantly centers on the latter’s journey aboard the USS Enterprise, but Chris still managed to shine bright like a diamond with just one scene of pure charisma and courage. This also happened to be his first ever movie, by the way!
9. Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
A stylish thriller where multiple strangers find themselves in the same hotel, bringing their darkest secrets with them. In this movie’s stellar cast, Chris plays a captivating, eccentric cult leader named Billy Lee, whose real nature is revealed little by little until everything comes out in the open. With this role, the Aussie showed yet another side of his talent by knowing how to give us the creeps while remaining hypnotizing.
10. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Who doesn’t remember Thor’s drastically different looks in the gut-wrenching final episode of the MCU’s 3rd phase? In Hemsworth’s top-rated film, Endgame, the Norse god has become a shell of his former self and struggles to cope with the trauma brought upon by Thanos’ snap at the end of Infinity War, especially the loss of many of his fellow Asgardians. And as he joins the Avengers to try and reverse the horrible events of the previous movie, Chris Hemsworth shows a vulnerable side of Thor that adds even more depth to a character who was already one of the more fleshed-out heroes in the MCU.
Endgame is one of the highest-grossing films ever! See the full list to find out where it stands!
11. Extraction (2020)
Chris can be goofy and charming, but he gives us Oscar-worthy vibes when he plays broody, level-headed characters who haven’t believed in happiness in a while. In this Netflix action movie, the actor becomes a weary mercenary who has kind of given up on ever feeling good about anything again. But when he is asked to bring a kidnapped child back to his family, he has no idea that this new job is about to change his resigned outlook on life. Once again, Chris knows how to tug at our heartstrings by playing that perfect blend between a rugged and a warmhearted protagonist, and it only means good things for his future as an actor.
12. Rush (2013)
In 2013, the actor surprised everyone by tackling a biographical film. In fact, according to its IMDb rating (8.1), Rush is Chris Hemsworth’s best movie (at least, where he’s the lead role). Here he played the English racing driver James Hunt, whose intense rivalry with Niki Lauda (played by Daniel Bruhl) is slowly seeping into both their personal lives and mental well-being. More charismatic than ever, Hemsworth does an outstanding job playing the slightly pompous but charming driver who will stop at nothing to win.
Here you have it, Chris Hemsworth’s best roles over the years. Although the talented hunk is mostly known for his MCU role, it’s clear he has the chops to play a wide range of characters and thensome, and we wouldn’t put it past him to impress us even more in the years to come!
Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments which Chris Hemsworth movie you liked best, and if you think we might have omitted your favorite.
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2 Responses
Wrong, one of Chris Hemsworth best movies was Black Hat. Just because it was over shadowed by American Sniper doesn’t mean it was not fantastic.
Noted. We’ll be looking into adding Black Hat to the list :)