Thor (2011) review: How does it impact Infinity War?

Credit: Paramount Pictures/Marvel Studios; from Thor (2011)

How will the events of this movie play into Infinity War?

Like the earlier Marvel Studios films, Thor isn’t just an “origin story,” it’s also a tentpole for both Avengers and a larger world. Yet while may not have been as successful as Iron Man or Iron Man 2 in terms of box office numbers, I would argue it’s far more important in terms of setting the stage for what’s to come.

If you really think about it, what we can assume will happen in Avengers: Infinity War could not have come to pass without Thor.  For one thing, this movie was essential in establishing the greater cosmology of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Without Asgard, the Nine Realms, the Bifrost and other fantastical concepts, you wouldn’t also have the Infinity Stones. In fact, it’s this movie, during the post-credit scene, where we see our first glimpse of one of them.

And why were the Chitauri and Thanos even interested in Earth in the first place? It’s because of Loki, whom they found falling through the void of space. The main reason the God of Mischief joined them is because he seeks revenge for what happened to him during Thor.  After all, if he couldn’t rule Asgard, he might as well rule Midgard. Considering Loki’s development over the course of the Marvel Studios films, I imagine Infinity War will reveal he regrets ever aligning himself with Thanos and the Chitauri.

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One can also see the seeds of Thor Odinson’s final destination within this film, too. His story is all about a reckless prince who becomes a wise and noble ruler for his people. This becomes even more clear with Thor: The Dark World (2011) and especially Thor: Ragnarok (2017). By the time Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters, Thor will definitely be on the concluding leg of this journey.