Chris Hemsworth’s Best Roles

Chris Hemsworth is globally recognized for playing the mighty Thor, the Asgardian God of Thunder in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This role transformed him into an international superstar, and his portrayal has become a cornerstone of the multi-billion dollar franchise. For over a decade, he has embodied the character’s journey from an arrogant prince to a worthy king and a beloved hero, defining the character for an entire generation of moviegoers.

However, Hemsworth’s career is much more than a single iconic role. He has consistently demonstrated his versatility by taking on a wide array of characters across different genres. He has proven his dramatic chops in intense biopics, showcased his comedic talent in blockbuster comedies, and led action-packed thrillers outside of his superhero persona. This diverse body of work highlights an actor with significant range who continues to challenge himself with new and interesting projects.

‘Extraction’ (2020)

In this action-thriller, Chris Hemsworth stars as Tyler Rake, a fearless black-market mercenary with a troubled past. He is a former special forces operator who now takes on incredibly dangerous missions for money. Rake is emotionally closed off and haunted by the memory of his deceased son, making him reckless and seemingly indifferent to his own survival.

His latest mission sends him to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned Indian drug lord. The job quickly goes sideways, forcing Rake to navigate a city on lockdown while being pursued by a rival drug lord’s army and corrupt police officers. He must protect the boy at all costs, which forces him to confront his own suppressed trauma.

‘In the Heart of the Sea’ (2015)

Hemsworth portrays Owen Chase, the seasoned first mate of the New England whaling ship Essex in the 1820s. The film recounts the real-life maritime disaster that would go on to inspire the novel ‘Moby-Dick’. Chase is a skilled and respected whaler who clashes with the ship’s less experienced captain from a prominent family.

After a catastrophic encounter with a massive and vengeful sperm whale, the Essex is destroyed, leaving the crew stranded in the Pacific Ocean thousands of miles from land. Chase must use all of his strength and leadership skills to help the survivors endure starvation, dehydration, and despair as they struggle to find their way back to civilization.

‘Ghostbusters’ (2016)

In this supernatural comedy, Chris Hemsworth plays Kevin Beckman, a handsome but remarkably dim-witted aspiring actor. He is hired by the Ghostbusters team as their receptionist, primarily based on his looks rather than his qualifications. Kevin is cheerfully oblivious to the dangers around him and often misunderstands even the simplest instructions.

Kevin’s character provides a significant amount of the film’s comic relief through his hilariously inept attempts to perform basic tasks like answering the phone. He eventually becomes a central part of the plot when his body is possessed by a powerful ghost named Rowan, who aims to bring about the apocalypse. The role allowed Hemsworth to fully embrace his comedic abilities.

‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (2011)

This film features Hemsworth as Curt Vaughan, a confident and athletic college student. He is one of five friends who take a weekend trip to a remote cabin for a getaway. Curt fits the classic “jock” archetype in a story that starts like a typical horror movie but quickly reveals itself to be something much more complex.

Curt and his friends soon find themselves terrorized by a family of zombies, but they are unaware that their ordeal is being secretly orchestrated by technicians in a high-tech underground facility. The character’s actions, along with those of his friends, are manipulated as part of a mysterious and ancient ritual designed to appease malevolent entities.

‘Thor’ (2011)

This film introduced Chris Hemsworth as the powerful but arrogant God of Thunder from the realm of Asgard. In the story, Thor’s reckless actions reignite an ancient war, which leads his father, Odin, to strip him of his powers and his mighty hammer, Mjolnir. He is then banished to Earth to live among mortals as a lesson in humility.

Stranded in New Mexico, Thor meets astrophysicist Jane Foster, who helps him navigate this new and unfamiliar world. While he is on Earth, his treacherous brother Loki seizes the Asgardian throne, forcing Thor to discover what it truly means to be a hero. He must prove himself worthy of his power in order to save both his home and his new friends.

‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ (2018)

Hemsworth portrays Billy Lee, a charismatic and manipulative cult leader, in this mystery thriller. The story is set in 1969 and follows a group of strangers who converge at the El Royale, a once-glamorous hotel that straddles the border between California and Nevada. Each of the guests is hiding a dark secret.

Billy Lee arrives at the hotel later in the film in search of a former follower who has taken something from him. His magnetic but menacing presence drastically raises the stakes for everyone trapped inside the El Royale. The character is a smooth-talking villain who uses his charm to exert control and incite violence, revealing a truly sinister nature.

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)

In this sequel, Thor is a fully integrated member of the Avengers team, fighting alongside Earth’s mightiest heroes. The conflict begins when Tony Stark’s attempt to create a global peacekeeping program goes horribly wrong, resulting in the creation of Ultron, a sentient artificial intelligence bent on human extinction.

During the film, Thor is troubled by apocalyptic visions after an encounter with Wanda Maximoff, leading him to seek answers about the powerful Infinity Stones. His journey provides the team with crucial information about the larger cosmic threat they are all facing. He plays a vital role in the creation of Vision and in the final battle to save the nation of Sokovia from Ultron’s destructive plan.

‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ (2024)

Chris Hemsworth takes on the role of the main antagonist, Dementus, a boisterous and violent warlord in the post-apocalyptic Wasteland. He is the leader of a massive Biker Horde that roams the desolate landscape. The character is responsible for kidnapping a young Furiosa from her home and killing her mother.

As Furiosa grows up, Dementus becomes a major power player in the Wasteland, clashing with other leaders like the Immortan Joe. He is a charismatic but deeply cruel figure who hides his own past traumas behind a theatrical and often bizarre persona. His actions and his ongoing conflict with Furiosa shape the central narrative of the entire film.

‘Star Trek’ (2009)

In the opening sequence of this sci-fi reboot, Hemsworth makes a memorable appearance as George Kirk. He is the father of the future Captain James T. Kirk and serves as the first officer of the USS Kelvin. His tenure as acting captain is tragically brief, lasting only twelve minutes.

When his ship is attacked by a massive Romulan vessel that has emerged from the future, George Kirk makes the ultimate sacrifice. He stays behind to pilot the crippled Kelvin on a collision course with the enemy ship, which allows the crew, including his wife and newborn son, to escape. His heroic final act defines his son’s legacy and sets the entire story in motion.

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ (2017)

This film reimagined the character of Thor by leaning heavily into Chris Hemsworth’s comedic talents. The story finds Thor imprisoned on the garbage planet of Sakaar without his hammer. He is forced to compete as a gladiator in a contest run by the eccentric Grandmaster, where he must face his fellow Avenger, the Hulk.

Thor’s main goal is to escape Sakaar and return to Asgard to stop the impending doom known as Ragnarok. This apocalyptic event is being brought about by his long-lost sister Hela, the Goddess of Death. He assembles a team that includes the Hulk, Loki, and a former Asgardian warrior named Valkyrie to save his people.

‘The Avengers’ (2012)

This film brings Thor back to Earth when his adoptive brother, Loki, steals the powerful Tesseract and plans to lead an alien invasion. Initially, Thor’s goal is to capture Loki and return the Tesseract to Asgard, which puts him in direct conflict with Iron Man and Captain America upon his arrival.

After realizing the scale of Loki’s threat, Thor agrees to join the newly formed team of heroes. He contributes his immense power and knowledge of cosmic threats to the group. During the climactic Battle of New York, his abilities are essential in fighting back the Chitauri army and ultimately helping to defeat his brother.

‘Limitless with Chris Hemsworth’ (2022)

In this documentary series, Chris Hemsworth undertakes a personal journey to explore the full potential of the human body and mind. He works with world-class experts, scientists, and doctors to face a series of extreme challenges. Each episode is designed to test a different theory about how to live a longer, healthier, and better life.

The challenges push him to his physical and mental limits, including swimming in arctic waters, fasting for four days, and climbing a rope dangling from a skyscraper. Throughout the series, he learns about the science behind aging and discovers practical ways to combat it. He also confronts his own mortality after undergoing genetic testing that reveals a predisposition for a serious illness.

‘Rush’ (2013)

Hemsworth stars as James Hunt, the charismatic and reckless British Formula 1 driver from the 1970s. The film focuses on the intense and legendary rivalry between Hunt and his methodical Austrian competitor, Niki Lauda. Hunt is depicted as a gifted natural talent who lives a wild, playboy lifestyle off the track.

The story chronicles their fierce competition during the 1976 Formula 1 season, a year marked by incredible drama and a near-fatal crash for Lauda. Hunt’s devil-may-care attitude is a stark contrast to Lauda’s calculated and precise approach to racing. The role required Hemsworth to capture the essence of a real-life sports icon during the most dangerous era of motorsports.

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)

This film opens with Thor having already lost his home and many of his people. He and the surviving Asgardians are almost immediately attacked by the powerful villain Thanos. After a brutal defeat, Thor is left drifting in space, having failed to protect his brother and the Tesseract.

Driven by a desire for revenge, Thor embarks on a desperate quest with Rocket Raccoon and Groot to forge a new, even more powerful weapon called Stormbreaker. His mission is to create an axe capable of killing Thanos. He arrives dramatically in Wakanda during the film’s final act, turning the tide of the battle and delivering a grievous wound to the Mad Titan.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

In the aftermath of Thanos’s victory, this film finds Thor in a state of deep depression and self-loathing. He has retreated to a settlement called New Asgard on Earth, where he has let himself go physically and emotionally, overwhelmed by his failure to stop the devastation. He has given up being a hero and spends his days in a drunken stupor.

When the remaining heroes discover a potential way to reverse the damage through time travel, Thor reluctantly rejoins the team. The mission forces him to confront his past in a very literal sense, which helps him begin to heal and rediscover his sense of worth. He ultimately plays a crucial part in the final battle against Thanos, wielding both his new axe and his old hammer.

Tell us which Chris Hemsworth role you think is his best in the comments.