10 Must-See Chris Hemsworth Movies That Prove He’s More Than Thor, Ranked

If you say 'Chris Hemsworth,' most people are going to picture Thor; muscles, hammer, Asgard, the works. He’s been playing Marvel’s blondest god since 2011, showing up in his own movies, every Avengers flick, a couple of cameos, and even as an animated voice (yep, that was him in What If...?). And he’s not finished: Hemsworth's back for Avengers: Doomsday, so the thunder continues.

But let’s be honest, sticking a guy like Hemsworth in a box marked 'superheroes only' is a big miss. If you dig into his filmography, you’ll find he’s tried... well, just about everything Hollywood throws at leading men. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it’s 'so weird, I kind of love it.' So, here’s a look at Hemsworth's best projects outside of Marvel’s strict workout regime, from comedy to crime and a couple of odd voice gigs. (And if you only know him from Thor, seriously, try at least one from this list.)

Strong, Fast, Funny: Hemsworth's Greatest Hits (Without a Cape)

• Blackhat (2015): If you ever wanted to see Thor as a super-hacker, this was your chance. Michael Mann (who knows a thing or two about crime) had Hemsworth play a convicted cyber-criminal who gets a time-out from prison to help chase down a digital bad guy. The reviews? Pretty rough—critics didn't exactly buy the 'tech bro as muscle bro' casting, and the box office bombed. Still, Mann stands by it, and a director's cut actually earned some respect from folks who originally panned it. RogerEbert.com gave it 3.5 stars, which is way above its Rotten Tomatoes rep.
• Extraction (2020): Pandemic lockdown? Stuck on the couch? Netflix had your back, offering Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, a mercenary sent on a messy rescue mission in Dhaka. This one was produced by the Russo brothers (yep, the Avengers guys) and directed by Sam Hargrave, who used to coordinate those big Marvel fights. Think peak '80s tough-guy action—Arnold, Sly, Norris—with a John Wick attitude, but a softer heart. Sure, Extraction 2 is even more bonkers, but the first one's got the timing: we all needed something this loud and entertaining when it hit.
• Crime 101 (2026): This one’s pretty fresh, and it’s Hemsworth’s take on a retro, L.A. jewel-thief thriller, co-starring Mark Ruffalo (another Marvel alum), Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, and Nick Nolte. Hemsworth’s Mike Davis pulls heists on the legendary 101 freeway, echoing classics like Heat—just, not quite as stylish. Bart Layton directed, and while it won't oust your favorite Michael Mann flick, it delivers a solid, old-school crime ride.
• Ghostbusters (2016): Forget what the angry online crowd yelled about—it’s actually a pretty funny movie, and Hemsworth’s scene-stealing secretary Kevin is top-tier comedy. Clearly hired for his looks and pretty much lost in every scene, Hemsworth goes full himbo, and when he finally gets possessed by the villain, it’s a comedic highlight. This and his smaller role in the Vacation reboot basically set up the lighter, quirkier Thor we’d get later in Ragnarok.
• Rush (2013): This is Hemsworth’s 'I act, too' showcase, playing real-life F1 daredevil James Hunt. Ron Howard directed, and the main focus is Hunt's competitive, messy, sometimes nasty feud/friendship with Daniel Bruhl’s Niki Lauda. It’s a legit crowd-pleasing sports thriller, with Hemsworth balancing swagger, self-doubt, and '70s sideburns like a champ. For anyone who thinks he’s just a brawler, Rush is the counterargument.
• Transformers One (2024): Now here’s a curveball: Hemsworth voicing a young Optimus Prime (aka Orion Pax) in an animated prequel. Let’s just say, following Peter Cullen in the role is practically sacred ground for robot fans. People were nervous, but Hemsworth pulled it off. He made Orion Pax sound eager, idealistic, and just rebellious enough—then gradually settled into a voice that, in the final showdown, hits the gravity and warmth Cullen fans expect. If you thought 'Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime' was Hollywood gone mad, you might be surprised how well it works.
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024): Aside from being a box office flop, this might be Hemsworth's flat-out best performance. As Dementus, the unhinged, scenery-slurping villain, Hemsworth sports a prosthetic nose and an accent so big it could flatten the Outback. He leads a biker cult, he's oddly hilarious, and his presence pushes both Furiosa and Immortan Joe to team up against him. Even with the film's underwhelming ticket sales, Hemsworth gives the kind of gonzo, committed performance you don’t see often. The villain literally asks if Furiosa can 'make it epic'—but it’s Hemsworth who goes all-in.
• Cabin in the Woods (2012): Here’s an odd bit of movie trivia: Hemsworth actually shot this meta-horror gem before Thor, but thanks to MGM’s money troubles, it sat on the shelf for years. It finally came out after he’d become a big Marvel star. As a horror-comedy hybrid, the movie’s a mess—in a good way—with Hemsworth standing out as the surprisingly clever jock who gets a tragically hilarious hero moment. Fun behind-the-scenes bit: Joss Whedon, who wrote the film, ended up recommending Hemsworth for Thor after working with him here.
• Star Trek (2009): Okay, blink and you’ll miss him, but Hemsworth’s got a crucial role in J.J. Abrams’ reboot—he’s George Kirk, Starfleet sacrificial dad and all-around hero. He only commands the ship for 12 minutes, but it’s a powerful prologue. Fun fact: Eight days after Star Trek opened, Marvel cast Hemsworth as Thor, and all those 'Star Trek actor signs up for superhero gig' headlines hit. There were even plans to bring him back for a never-filmed fourth movie, so his early Kirk still echoes in franchise lore.
• Bad Times at the El Royale (2018): Hemsworth’s best villain (yeah, even better than Dementus) comes in this twisty, moody '60s hotel noir, reuniting him with Cabin in the Woods director Drew Goddard. The movie is a web of strangers, secrets, and violent showdowns on the Nevada-California border. Hemsworth plays Billy Lee, a cult leader who floats into the film’s third act and absolutely takes over—shirt loose, mustache messy, weaponized charm cranked to 11. It’s part Charles Manson horror, part movie star deconstruction, and honestly, Hemsworth's most magnetic work. The movie didn’t get much love when it came out, but I stand by it: this and Rush are Hemsworth at his best.

"Dementus might have asked Furiosa if she had it in her to 'make it epic', but Hemsworth sure took that advice to heart in his performance."

If you’re only used to gods and hammers, these movies deserve a spin. Hemsworth’s been busy showing there’s more to him than Marvel costumes, from hacker dramas to animated robots and deranged desert warlords. Try Bad Times at the El Royale or Rush and see what the guy can actually do when he’s not summoning thunder on someone’s head.