Marvel and Disney Studios return to the big screen in their latest blockbuster ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ resulting in a net of $121 million in North America over the weekend.
The latest film in the trilogy is directed by New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waiti, who is better known for his indie films that have played in art houses and have raked in a total of $9.5 million. The film, starring Chris Hemsworth and Cate Blanchett, cost an estimated $180 million to make, not including at least $100 million in marketing costs. Waiti also makes a voice appearance in the film as a rock monster who gets quite a few laughs.
After Marvel film executive Kevin Feige received input from Hemsworth, he rebooted the Thor series with a less serious tone in Ragnarok and instead delivers a more comedic film. Blanchett plays the villain Hela, who is Thor’s sister. Hela returns to Asgard and runs amok taking over, self-proclaiming her leader of the city.
‘Thor: Ragnarok’ is the best of the solo ‘Thor’ films. It’s a breezy, fun, and strange addition to the Marvel canon and while it may not be their best, it does feel decidedly different than many of its predecessors. The supporting cast, which also includes Tom Hiddleston, Karl Urban, and Idris Elba contribute to the film’s success. ‘Ragnarok’ is a movie of brilliant cosmic hues and lasers and spaceships and other sorts of pulpy sci-fi cheese—elevated by an ‘80s-tinged Mark Mothersbaugh soundtrack and the occasional touch of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.”
Hemsworth appears more relaxed in ‘Ragnarok’ in comparison to the previous Thor films. The film humanizes Thor, turning him into just a dude with a hammer and less godlike. The special effects and battle scenes are zippy but familiar. Second place for the weekend went to the sequel “A Bad Moms Christmas,” which took in about $17 million, for a total since arriving on Wednesday of $21.6 million, according to comScore
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