Chris Hemsworth movies ranked

By Mariel Turner 10:12am PST, Jan 16, 2018

Chris Hemsworth might be an A-list star and heartthrob today, but the Australian entertainer was once an up-and-coming actor with roles in some not-so-great films. In honor of the Jan. 19 release of his newest movie, "12 Strong," Wonderwall.com has ranked his flicks from the very worst to the very best. Keep reading to get started…

No. 16: "Red Dawn"

We begin with "Red Dawn" at No. 16. The 2012 reboot of the 1980s action film was panned by critics for lacking the topicality and creativity of the original. Audiences also disliked the film for its bad acting and wonky special effects. Luckily, Chris Hemsworth's next film had a slightly better reception.

No. 15: "The Huntsman: Winter's War"

2016's "The Huntsman: Winter's War" was not well-received by critics or audiences. In fact, the sequel was so bad that people deemed it completely unnecessary to watch. There was, however, one silver lining for Chris Hemsworth: Audiences enjoyed his acting and found the visuals to be particularly fascinating. But overall, this one was entirely forgettable.

No. 14: "Vacation"

Even Chris Hemsworth's gorgeous good looks couldn't help this comedy. In 2015's "Vacation," Chris took on the role of Stone Crandall. The nostalgia-driven flick was panned for lacking witty dialogue or real emotional connections between the characters as well as falling short of its humorous, throwback ambitions.

No. 13: "Blackhat"

Chris Hemsworth received recognition for his solid acting in 2015's "Blackhat" but critics felt director Michael Mann's vision and pacing were too muddled for a quality film. The action movie was a box-office bomb, only bringing in $19.7 million against a budget of $70 million. Chris was joined by some all-stars, including Viola Davis, but their acting prowess wasn't enough to keep this clunker afloat.

No. 12: "In the Heart of the Sea"

Based on the true story behind Moby-Dick, "In the Heart of the Sea" wasn't able to find its footing when it was released in 2015. The movie aspired to be an epic drama that tugged at viewers' heartstrings, but critics believed the movie fell flat. However, audiences enjoyed the film and Chris Hemsworth's portrayal of veteran whaler and first mate Owen Chase.

No. 11: "Snow White and the Huntsman"

Chris Hemsworth had one of the lead roles in "Snow White and the Huntsman" — he portrayed the Huntsman himself. Unfortunately, his quality acting wasn't enough to make up for the film's uneven pacing, confusing storyline and inconsistent acting by some of his co-stars. That said, the movie did receive praise for its dark take on a classic fairy tale story, visual effects, musical score and action scenes. Its positives were enough for the movie to be nominated for multiple Oscars — best visual effects and best costume design — plus it was a success at the box office, earning $396.6 million worldwide against a $170 million budget.

No. 10: "A Perfect Getaway"

Few may remember Chris Hemsworth in this 2009 film, but the actor had a prominent role in "A Perfect Getaway." The action thriller received praise for what one critic called its "smarter-than-average" scary movie script. Audiences loved the unexpected twist (we won't give it away!) and Chris' performance as Kale was thoroughly enjoyable.

No. 9: "Thor: The Dark World"

The sequel "Thor: The Dark World" comes in at No. 9! The second installment in the Thor film series might not be as good as the first or third, but it was still a solid superhero movie with all the action, special effects and hot Thor muscle scenes we'd expect. Chris Hemsworth was lauded for his humorous one-liners, strong chemistry with Natalie Portman and, of course, that amazing bod!

No. 8: "Ghostbusters"

Chris Hemsworth's performance as Kevin in the 2016 reboot of "Ghostbusters" was a fun complement to the all-female main cast. The movie was praised by many by critics and a majority of audiences, who felt that it had an energetic cast, a light-hearted and fun story and was overall a quality remake of the 1984 classic. Chris played his role to perfection too, balancing Kevin's dimwittedness and handsome physique to get all the laughs.

No. 7: "Avengers: Age of Ultron"

Chris Hemsworth once again took on the role of Thor in 2015's "Avengers: Age of Ultron." The 11th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide and was beloved by critics for the strong (and hilarious) chemistry between the cast. It did face some criticism for being what one critic described as "overstuffed" and lengthy, but overall, the sequel built on the success of the original.

No. 6: "Thor"

This was the performance that solidified Chris Hemsworth's transition from small-time actor to bonafide A-list action star. The original "Thor," released in 2011, had all the elements of an awesome superhero flick. Chris was lauded for being perfectly cast as the titular warrior god and the storyline was praised for being refreshing and witty. Critic Richard Roeper even declared, "Thor is the most entertaining superhero debut since the original 'Spider-Man.'" Impressive!

No. 5: "Rush"

Coming in at No. 5 is Chris Hemsworth's most underrated film, "Rush." The 2013 flick is a nicely crafted sports drama that features a strong performance from Chris as racing champ James Hunt. He stars opposite Olivia Wilde, who plays his model girlfriend and rocks a glam wardrobe and sparkling personality. While it might not be as well-known as the big blockbusters on the list, audiences loved "Rush" for its action-packed race sequences and intriguing storyline.

No. 4: "The Cabin in the Woods"

"The Cabin in the Woods" comes in at No. 4! This horror comedy film featured Chris Hemsworth in one of his lesser known roles, though it was definitely one of his best. The movie, which tells the story of a group of college students who fall victim to backwoods zombies near a remote cabin, perfectly captures a balance of humor, fear and weirdness to make for an incredibly enjoyable film. The 2012 flick also features an appearance from Jesse Williams pre-"Grey's Anatomy."

No. 3: "The Avengers"

The original "Avengers" film, released in 2012, breaks the top three thanks to a phenomenal script that emphasized the superheroes' humanity. The acton flick showcased crazy camaraderie between the cast, insane action scenes and a strong storyline. Chris Hemsworth as Thor truly shines in "The Avengers," perfectly portraying the tension and confusion that comes when you're trying to stop your brother from destroying Earth. Love!

No. 2: "Star Trek"

Brief but powerful! Chris Hemsworth's first major movie role as George Kirk in 2009's "Star Trek" is one of his best. He was only featured in one flashback scene in the beginning of the film — he's Captain James T. Kirk's father — but that scene alone set up the rest of the movie. The critically acclaimed "Star Trek" reboot was beloved by audiences when it was released almost 10 years ago. It was praised as reigniting a classic franchise with amazing visuals, a strong story, homage to the originals, humor and action.

No. 1: "Thor: Ragnarok"

Coming in at No. 1… "Thor: Ragnarok." This film is truly Thor at his best. The third installment in the standalone superhero trilogy features insanely hilarious dialogue, the action sequences we have come to know and love and Chris Hemsworth looking as gorgeous as ever (Thor got a haircut!). The movie takes on a lighter, funnier tone than its predecessors and debuted to critical and audience acclaim. "Ragnarok" is also the highest grossing film of the "Thor" series with $850 million worldwide!