The embargo has lifted and the floodgates are open, but what are the critics saying about Thor: Ragnarok?
Well, it looks like Marvel Studios has delivered yet another slam dunk, as the early critical consensus has deemed Taika Waititi’s space opera to be the most outrageous entry into the MCU yet. It’s a “crazy, colorful, ambitious and hilarious” thrill ride through the cosmos, and the superlatives don’t end there.
Granted, for those of you out there who have kept track of Ragnarok‘s production, this onslaught of reviews won’t be too surprising, as Marvel’s third and final film of 2017 was already generating positive buzz long before today’s embargo lifted. Heck, even Guardians director James Gunn was full of praise coming out of an early screening.
And it looks as though that momentum will continue to build right up until Thor: Ragnarok‘s arrival on November 3rd. Here’s a small sampling of reviews to give you an idea of what’s to come.
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: 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 below:
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.
Talk about high praise. Indeed, this goodwill ought to stand 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 today’s reviews. Stay tuned for more.