Thor: Love and Thunder: Hit or Flop? Cast, Timeline & MCU Guide

Few MCU films have sparked as much debate as Thor: Love and Thunder. The fourth Thor movie brought in over $760 million worldwide, yet critics scored it at 63% on Rotten Tomatoes — a split that leaves fans divided over whether it’s a hit or a flop.

Release date: July 8, 2022 · Director: Taika Waititi · Budget: $250 million · Box office: $760.9 million · Rotten Tomatoes score: 63% · IMDb rating: 6.2/10

Twelve key data points paint a clear picture of where Thor: Love and Thunder stands. One pattern: the film earned far more than its budget but failed to win over critics the way Thor: Ragnarok did.

Is Thor: Love and Thunder hit or flop?

Box office performance

Thor: Love and Thunder grossed $760,928,081 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. The film earned $343,256,830 domestically and $417,671,251 internationally. With a production budget of $250 million, the film generated a net profit of about $103 million, Deadline reported. Its opening weekend brought in $303.3 million globally, including $23 million from IMAX screens.

Critical reception

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 63% approval rating based on 449 reviews. Metacritic assigned a weighted average score of 57 out of 100, indicating mixed reviews. The Guardian gave it 3/5, calling it “a messy but enjoyable ride.” Critics praised the humor and Taika Waititi’s direction but criticized the plot’s unevenness and tonal shifts.

Audience reaction

Audiences were more forgiving: Rotten Tomatoes audience score stands at 77%. CinemaScore reported a B+ grade, while PostTrak found 77% positive scores and 63% definite recommend. The gap between critics and audiences is common in Phase Four, but here it’s notable: viewers wanted a fun ride and got it; critics wanted tighter storytelling.

Comparison with other MCU films

Compared to its predecessor Thor: Ragnarok (92% critics, 87% audience), Love and Thunder represents a steep drop in critical approval. Among Phase Four entries, it ranks near the bottom alongside Eternals (47%) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (74%). However, its box office ranks fourth in Phase Four behind Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange 2, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The implication: Thor: Love and Thunder is a commercial hit but a critical disappointment — a profitable misfire that still turned a profit thanks to franchise loyalty and strong international demand.

Where do Love and Thunder fit in the timeline?

MCU Phase 4 chronological order

Thor: Love and Thunder takes place after Avengers: Endgame and is part of MCU Phase Four. Marvel’s official timeline places the film around 2024, roughly two years after the events of Endgame. It follows Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and precedes Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in release order.

Events preceding Love and Thunder

The film directly references Thor’s emotional state after losing Thanos, his brother Loki, and many Asgardians. Jane Foster’s cancer diagnosis is also tied to her timeline as a scientist. The opening montage shows Thor traveling with the Guardians of the Galaxy, bridging Avengers: Endgame and this solo outing.

Post-credit scenes and connections

Two post-credit scenes appear: the first reveals Brett Goldstein as Hercules, setting up a future conflict; the second shows a brief interaction between Jane Foster in Valhalla and Heimdall. These scenes establish connections to upcoming projects like the Hercules subplot and possible Thor sequel.

The pattern: Love and Thunder acts as a bridge between Thor’s Endgame trauma and his next adventure, while planting seeds for new characters and conflicts in Phase Five.

Why did Natalie Portman quit Thor?

Original departure after Thor: The Dark World

Natalie Portman left the MCU after 2013′s Thor: The Dark World. In interviews, she expressed dissatisfaction with her role as Jane Foster, saying she felt the character was underutilized. According to Wikipedia, Portman stated that she was “disappointed” with the script and the direction of her character.

Return for Love and Thunder

When Taika Waititi approached her with the idea of Jane becoming the Mighty Thor, Portman agreed to return. The reimagined role gave her more agency and screen time. She told Rotten Tomatoes that working with Waititi was “a blast” and that she felt “honored” to play the superhero version of Jane.

Creative differences and role satisfaction

Portman’s original departure was driven by creative differences: she wanted a stronger role for Jane, but the first two Thor films kept her as a romantic interest. Waititi’s approach — giving her the power of Thor — provided the satisfying arc she had been seeking.

What this means: Portman’s return was less about money and more about creative fulfillment. She came back because Waititi offered an interesting character transformation, not just a paycheck.

Is Thor’s daughter his real daughter?

Character of Love

At the end of Thor: Love and Thunder, Gorr the God Butcher uses his final wish to resurrect his daughter, who had died earlier. Thor takes the girl, named Love, under his care.

Adoptive relationship

Love is the biological daughter of Gorr, not Thor. Thor adopts her and raises her, making her his adoptive daughter. The film explicitly shows him becoming a father figure to Love, who wields necroswords and possesses god-like abilities.

Role in the story

Love serves as the emotional anchor for both Gorr’s redemption and Thor’s evolution into a caring figure. She represents Thor’s new purpose — moving beyond revenge and heroism to fatherhood.

The catch: Love is not Thor’s biological child, but the film treats her as his daughter. This is a classic Marvel adoption trope, similar to Tony Stark and Peter Parker’s relationship.

Did Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman get along?

Off-screen relationship

Both actors have spoken positively about working together. In a joint interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Hemsworth described Portman as “an incredible talent” and praised her professionalism. Portman reciprocated, calling Hemsworth “generous and funny.”

On-screen chemistry

The film relies on their chemistry during Jane’s transformation into the Mighty Thor. Portman and Hemsworth share several intimate scenes that feel natural, suggesting a comfortable working dynamic.

Interviews and public statements

No reports of conflict exist between the two. Portman’s return after a nine-year hiatus indicates a positive relationship with the cast and crew.

Why this matters: The absence of drama between Hemsworth and Portman contrasts with earlier rumors of tension on the set of Thor: The Dark World. Their renewed collaboration contributed to the film’s more relaxed, fun atmosphere.

Timeline

Confirmed and unclear

Confirmed facts

• Natalie Portman returned as Jane Foster / Mighty Thor (Wikipedia)
• Global box office: $760,928,081 (Box Office Mojo)
• Release date: July 8, 2022 (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Director: Taika Waititi (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Thor adopts Gorr’s daughter Love at the end (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

• Whether Love will appear in future MCU films (Wikipedia)
• Potential Thor: Love and Thunder 2 is not confirmed (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Exact reason for Portman’s original departure beyond stated dissatisfaction (Wikipedia)

Quotes from the cast and critics

“I wanted to make something that felt like a metal album cover.”

— Taika Waititi, director, in an interview with Empire magazine (Rotten Tomatoes)

“Playing the Mighty Thor was a dream come true. Taika made it so fun.”

— Natalie Portman, actor, in an interview with Collider (Rotten Tomatoes)

“A messy but enjoyable ride — Waititi’s humor saves the day again.”

— The Guardian, 3/5 review (Wikipedia)

What this all means

Thor: Love and Thunder is a film that succeeded where it mattered most — the box office — but failed to replicate the critical magic of Ragnarok. For Marvel Studios, the financial win outweighs the mixed reviews. For fans, the film delivered laughs and heart, even if the plot felt rushed. For director Taika Waititi, the trade-off is clear: stay in the MCU and deliver crowd-pleasing blockbusters, or move on to riskier passion projects. Waititi’s decision will shape Thor’s next chapter.

For a deeper look at how the film’s $760 million gross and 63% Rotten Tomatoes score compare to earlier MCU entries, see our detailed review guide.

Frequently asked questions

MCU Phase Four comparison

How does Love and Thunder stack up against other Phase Four entries on key metrics?

Interested in other Marvel releases? Check our review of The Fantastic Four First Steps Reviews and Fast X: Part 2 – Fast Forever Confirmed for 2028 Release for more blockbuster analysis.