Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Film and Plot Synopsis

Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder” finds the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – one of self-discovery. But his efforts are interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicitly wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. (Courtesy of Marvel Studios)

‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Movie Summary

The film begins with an alien by the name of Gorr (Christian Bale) struggling to cross a barren desert with his young daughter Love (India Hemsworth). Ultimately, Love succumbs to the heat and dies, and Gorr weeps in anguish. Gorr’s grief and prayers to his deities summon his God, Rapu (Jonathon Brugh), who could care less for Gorr’s plight. Gorr renounces Rapu which draws the anger of the God towards the frail man. Suddenly, the god killing Necrosword appears and offers itself to Gorr. The despondent man accepts the sword’s offer and kills Rapu with the sword. In the aftermath, Gorr vows to kill all gods as he is gifted the power to manipulate shadows and produce monsters. However, Gorr remains cursed with impending death without the sword.

At the same time, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is on the other side of the universe with his friend Korg (Taika Waititi) and the Guardians of the Galaxy – Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Drax (Dave Bautista), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Kraglin (Sean Gunn), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Groot (Vin Diesel). Thor has restored his physique to his more godlike appearance having lost all the weight he gained after the Snap from Thanos (Josh Brolin). Thor and the Guardians begin receiving distress calls from around the universe. The Guardians happily part company with Thor who journeys with Korg to find his friend Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander). A severely injured Sif informs Thor that she was attacked by Gorr and his monsters. She warns the Thunder God that the next target is New Asgard on Earth. Thor uses Stormbreaker to summon the bifrost to transport he, Korg, and Sif back to Earth.

Upon arrival, Thor finds the citizens of New Asgard being attacked by Gorr and his shadow creatures. The New Asgardian King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the Asgardians fight desperately to fight back the creatures. However, they are assisted by a new mysterious wielder of Thor’s previously destroyed hammer Mjolnir. This Mighty Thor is Thor’s ex-girlfriend Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer since parting company with Thor. In a desperate journey, Jane visited New Asgard and found that the shards of Mjolnir reformed and turned her into a superhero with Thor like powers. Unbeknownst to Thor, he accidentally placed an enchantment on the hammer years earlier that would protect Jane. Thor, who was devasted at the end of his relationship with Jane, finds himself jealous of not only Jane, but her ability to wield Mjolnir as well. With Thor and Korg in the battle, the Asgardian forces are able to drive back Gorr’s forces, but the villain abducts all the children from the settlement and imprisons them in the mysterious Shadow Realm. Thor communicates with the children telepathically through Heimdall’s son, Axl (Kieron L. Dyer) and informs them that they will be saved.

Thor forms a rescue team consisting of himself, Jane, Valkyrie, and Korg. Valkyrie and Thor decide to seek the assistance of other gods by traveling to the mysterious Omnipotence City and warning the other gods about the coming threat of Gorr. The leader of the gods, Zeus (Russell Crowe), rejects Thor’s request for help, believing that the Gods are safe and hidden away from Gorr as long as they remain within the City. Zeus also pontificates that Gorr will not be successful in achieving his goal of reaching Eternity. If Gorr reaches Eternity, he will be granted one wish, which is presumedly to destroy all gods. Zeus orders that Thor’s group will be imprisoned to preserve the secrecy of the City. Thor resists and Zeus throws a lightning bolt at Korg, which destroys all of Thor’s friend except Korg’s head which continues to talk. Valkyrie, Jane, and Thor retaliate, and Thor impales Zeus with his own thunderbolt. Thor’s team makes their escape from the City, and Valkyrie steals the thunderbolt on their way out to assist them with their upcoming battle with Gorr.

If you don’t shut up, you won’t be invited to the Orgy! Zeus (Russell Crowe)

Thor’s team begins journeying to the Shadow Realm. Along the way, Jane informs Thor of her cancer diagnosis. Upon arriving at the Shadow Realm, Thor and his friends cannot locate the children. Jane finds some ancient drawings that depict Thor’s axe, Stormbreaker, as a way to summon the Bifrost to enter the realm of Eternity. Jane realizes that they have fallen into a trap and that Gorr needs Stormbreaker to complete his quest. Jane throws Stormbreaker away to prevent Gorr from getting it. Gorr reveals himself and captures the trio. He threatens to kill Jane which forces Thor to summon the axe back to the Shadow Realm. Gorr steals the axe and injures Valkyrie. Jane collapses from her disease, and Thor is forced to retreat with his friends for their safety.

Once back in New Asgard, Thor learns the extent of Jane’s condition. Jane informs him that the more she uses the hammer, the faster the disease seems to progress in her body. Fearing for her life if she takes up the hammer again, Thor travels to the realm of Eternity alone. Once there, Thor uses Zeus’ thunderbolt to imbue the children with his power to fight off Gorr’s shadow monsters. At the same time, Thor takes on Gorr by himself.

The battle does not go well for Thor. Jane senses Thor’s plight in her hospital bed and picks up the hammer to save the love of her life. She arrives just in time to prevent Gorr from killing Thor. Thor and Jane combine forces to destroy the Necrosword which frees Gorr from its influence, but not before Stormbreaker opens the gateway to Eternity’s realm. The three are transported before Eternity. Gorr prepares to make his wish, and Thor pleads with Gorr to use his wish to revive his deceased daughter instead. Thor then turns his back on Gorr to attend to a dying Jane. Jane dies and her body disappears. Gorr, who is now dying again without the Necrosword, wishes for Love to be resurrected. As Love cradles her father’s head, Gorr requests that Thor take care of his daughter. The Asgardian agrees as Gorr dies.

In the aftermath, the children return to New Asgard. Valkyrie and Sif begin training the children as the next generation of warriors. Valkyrie orders a monument in honor of Jane to be built in New Asgard. Korg regrows his body and begins a relationship with another male Kronan. Thor adopts Love and raises her as his daughter. The two go on heroic adventures together, known as Love and Thunder, with Love wielding Stormbreaker and Thor using Mjolnir.

In a mid-credits scene, a recuperating Zeus is seen in Omnipotence City. He discusses how “superheroes” have become the new gods and that people need to be reminded of how important gods are. He also tasks Hercules (Brett Goldstein), Zeus’ son, with killing Thor, which Hercules gladly accepts. In a post-credits scene, Jane arrives at the gates of Valhalla where she is welcomed by Heimdall (Idris Elba), Thor’s deceased best friend.