Thor: Love and Thunder first reactions are in — this could help you forget Dr Strange 2

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Film critics are gushing about Thor: Love and Thunder

Jane Foster/The Mighty Thor, Korg, King Valkyrie and Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder
(Image credit: Marvel Studios via YouTube)

After the relative disappointment of Doctor Strange 2 (which ‘only’ managed a score of 74% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), it looks like the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is back to top-tier form with the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder.

While the official reviews aren’t in yet, you can get an early taste from the film critics leaving early screenings and posting their first impressions on Twitter. 

Granted, the instant impression you have upon leaving the movie theater does tend to have a half life that declines over time. But the praise is so strong that it’s hard to see the film dipping below the 93% fresh that Thor: Ragnarok achieved on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Thor: Love and Thunder — what are the critics saying?

“Thor: Love and Thunder is absolutely AMAZING,” exclaimed Therese Lacson of Collider. “It blows every other Marvel movie out of the water and doubles down on the Ragnarok charm.” 

The best Marvel film? Lacson isn’t alone in that assessment. “Thor: Love and Thunder might be my favorite Marvel movie, and it also might be their very best,” says Drew Taylor of The Playlist.

At the very least, it does appear to be the best of the four Thor movies to date. “My favorite Thor movie of the four,” chips in Brandon Davis of ComicBook. “Feels like the best of MCU Phase 1 and Phase 4 in one entry. Loved it.” 

Indeed, while some clearly prefer other entries in the series (“it can't quite match the visual or comedy bombast of Ragnarok,” writes Inverse’s Jacob Kleinman), it’s hard at this point to find any seriously dissenting voices. 

The biggest criticisms come at some of the comedy not quite landing (a critique leveled by both Andrew Salanzar and Laura Sirikul), but overall it seems to deftly combine humor and heart in a way that’s quite difficult to pull off. But if anybody can, it’s director Taika Waititi.

“Thor: Love and Thunder is the perfect blend of Taika at his best with comedy and a punch to the gut all in one,” writes Rachel Leishman of The Mary Sue. Or, as Insider’s Kirsten Acuna put it: “I laughed. I cried. Then I laughed and cried some more, in that order.”

And yes, you should stay through the end credits as per usual: “EPIC,” says Clayton Davis of Variety.

Originally due out in 2021,Thor: Love and Thunder was delayed because of the pandemic, and will now emerge on July 8 2022. By the sounds of it, it’ll be more than worth the wait.

Alan Martin
Alan Martin

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. He also handles all the Wordle coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game for the last several years in an effort to keep his streak forever intact.