Thor: The Dark World (2013) is a Marvel Studios superhero movie directed by Alan Taylor and starring Chris Hemsworth as Thor. The movie is the sequel to Thor (2011) and the eighth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story follows Thor as an ancient enemy known as the Dark Elves returns under the leadership of Malekith. When Jane Foster becomes connected to a powerful cosmic weapon called the Aether, Thor must protect her while trying to stop Malekith from plunging the Nine Realms into darkness.
The movie also features Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Christopher Eccleston as Malekith.
Movie Details
| Movie Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Thor: The Dark World |
| Original Title | Thor: The Dark World |
| Release Date | November 8, 2013 (United States) |
| Release Year | 2013 |
| Runtime | 112 minutes |
| Certificate / Age Rating | PG-13 |
| Status | Released |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Superhero |
| Director | Alan Taylor |
| Writers | Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely |
| Story | Don Payne, Robert Rodat |
| Based On | Marvel Comics’ Thor character created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby |
| Producer | Kevin Feige |
| Production Company | Marvel Studios |
| Distributor | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
| Budget | Approximately $150 million |
| Worldwide Box Office | Approximately $644.6 million |
Thor: The Dark World Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Thor: The Dark World from Marvel Entertainment. The trailer introduces Thor, Jane Foster, Loki, Malekith and the Dark Elves.
Cast
- Chris Hemsworth as Thor
- Natalie Portman as Jane Foster
- Tom Hiddleston as Loki
- Stellan Skarsgård as Dr. Erik Selvig
- Idris Elba as Heimdall
- Christopher Eccleston as Malekith
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Algrim / Kurse
- Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis
- Ray Stevenson as Volstagg
- Zachary Levi as Fandral
- Tadanobu Asano as Hogun
- Jaimie Alexander as Sif
- Rene Russo as Frigga
- Anthony Hopkins as Odin
- Jonathan Howard as Ian
- Chris O’Dowd as Richard
- Alice Krige as Eir
- Clive Russell as Tyr
- Richard Brake as a Captain of the Einherjar
- Talulah Riley as a nurse
- Benicio del Toro as the Collector
Story / Plot
Long before the events of the movie, an ancient race known as the Dark Elves attempted to plunge the universe into darkness. Their leader, Malekith, possessed a powerful weapon known as the Aether.
The Asgardians fought against the Dark Elves and eventually defeated them. The Aether was hidden away so that Malekith could never use it to complete his plan. The Dark Elves were believed to have been destroyed or defeated, but Malekith survived.
After the events of the first Thor movie and The Avengers, Thor is fighting to restore order across the Nine Realms. Meanwhile, Jane Foster continues her scientific research on Earth and is searching for a way to reconnect with Thor.
Jane eventually discovers a strange gravitational anomaly in London. While investigating it, she is transported to another location and accidentally comes into contact with the Aether.
The Aether enters Jane’s body and becomes connected to her. Thor discovers what has happened and takes Jane to Asgard in an attempt to protect her.
Odin realizes that the Aether is extremely dangerous. It is actually the ancient weapon that Malekith needs to carry out his plan to return the universe to darkness.
Malekith and his forces attack Asgard in search of Jane and the Aether. During the attack, Thor’s mother Frigga attempts to protect Jane but is killed by Malekith’s forces.
Thor becomes determined to stop Malekith, but Odin wants to protect Asgard and refuses to allow Thor to take Jane away from the realm.
Thor realizes that he needs Loki’s help. Loki is imprisoned in Asgard after the events of The Avengers, but Thor offers him a chance to escape if he helps him stop Malekith.
Thor and Loki leave Asgard together and travel to Svartalfheim, where they attempt to lure Malekith into removing the Aether from Jane.
Malekith succeeds in extracting the Aether from Jane and transforms Algrim into Kurse. Loki appears to betray Thor, but his actions are part of a larger plan to defeat Malekith.
The conflict eventually moves to London, where Malekith attempts to use the Aether during the Convergence. The Convergence is a rare event in which the Nine Realms become aligned.
Thor arrives in London and fights Malekith while the realms begin shifting around them. Jane and her scientific team use their equipment to help Thor control the unusual portals created by the Convergence.
Thor eventually defeats Malekith and prevents him from using the Aether to plunge the universe into darkness.
Thor: The Dark World Ending Explained
Near the end of the movie, Malekith takes the Aether and travels to Greenwich in London to use it during the Convergence. His objective is to release the Aether’s power and plunge the Nine Realms into darkness.
Thor follows Malekith to Earth and confronts him at Greenwich. The Convergence creates portals that connect different locations and realms, making the final battle unpredictable.
Thor uses his hammer and his knowledge of the portals to continue fighting Malekith. Jane and her scientific team also help by using their equipment to manipulate the portals.
During the final battle, Thor is transported through different portals while fighting Malekith. Eventually, Thor manages to return to Earth and defeat Malekith by using one of the portals to send a large object directly into him.
Malekith’s plan fails and the Nine Realms are saved from being plunged into darkness. The Aether is recovered and eventually taken away from Asgard because keeping both powerful Infinity Stones in the same place is considered too dangerous.
The Asgardians take the Aether to the Collector, who secretly keeps it in his collection. This becomes important later in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because the Aether is revealed to be the Reality Stone.
Thor returns to Asgard, but Loki appears to have died during the battle against Malekith. Thor is unaware that Loki has actually survived.
The movie’s final scene reveals the twist: Loki has secretly taken Odin’s place on the throne of Asgard. Thor believes that he is speaking to Odin, but the audience discovers that Loki is actually disguised as Odin.
This ending sets up Loki’s continued involvement in the MCU and leads into the events of later Marvel movies.
Post-Credits Scenes Explained
Thor: The Dark World contains important post-credits scenes that connect the movie to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.
First Post-Credits Scene
Sif and Volstagg take the Aether to the Collector because the Asgardians do not want to keep two Infinity Stones in the same place. The Collector accepts the Aether and later reveals his interest in collecting powerful artifacts.
This scene becomes important because the Aether is later identified as the Reality Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones.
Second Post-Credits Scene
Thor returns to Earth and reunites with Jane Foster. The two share a kiss after being separated for much of the movie.
The scene also shows that the creatures transported to Earth during the Convergence are eventually returned to their proper locations.
Where to Watch Thor: The Dark World (2013)
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Franchise / Connections
| Connection | Movie |
|---|---|
| Franchise | Marvel Cinematic Universe – Thor |
| MCU Phase | Phase Two |
| Previous Movie | Thor (2011) |
| Related MCU Movie | The Avengers (2012) |
| Sequel | Thor: Ragnarok (2017) |
| Related Movie | Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) |
| Related Movie | Avengers: Infinity War (2018) |
| Related Movie | Avengers: Endgame (2019) |
| Related Movie | Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) |
FAQs
What is Thor: The Dark World about?
Thor: The Dark World follows Thor as he battles Malekith and the Dark Elves, who want to use the Aether to plunge the Nine Realms into darkness. Jane Foster becomes connected to the Aether, forcing Thor to protect her while stopping Malekith.
Who directed Thor: The Dark World?
Thor: The Dark World was directed by Alan Taylor.
Who played Thor in Thor: The Dark World?
Chris Hemsworth played Thor.
Who played Loki in Thor: The Dark World?
Tom Hiddleston played Loki.
Who played Jane Foster?
Natalie Portman played Jane Foster.
Who played Malekith in Thor: The Dark World?
Christopher Eccleston played Malekith, the leader of the Dark Elves.
Who played Kurse in Thor: The Dark World?
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje played Algrim and Kurse.
When was Thor: The Dark World released?
Thor: The Dark World was released in the United States on November 8, 2013.
How long is Thor: The Dark World?
Thor: The Dark World has a runtime of approximately 112 minutes.
What is the age rating of Thor: The Dark World?
Thor: The Dark World is rated PG-13 in the United States.
What genre is Thor: The Dark World?
The movie is an action, adventure, fantasy, science-fiction and superhero film.
Is Thor: The Dark World part of the MCU?
Yes. Thor: The Dark World is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is the eighth MCU film and part of Phase Two.
Is Thor: The Dark World a sequel?
Yes. Thor: The Dark World is the direct sequel to Thor (2011).
What movie comes before Thor: The Dark World?
Thor (2011) is the previous standalone Thor movie. The Avengers (2012) also takes place between the two Thor movies.
What movie comes after Thor: The Dark World?
The next standalone Thor movie is Thor: Ragnarok, released in 2017.
Who is the villain in Thor: The Dark World?
Malekith is the main villain of Thor: The Dark World. He is the leader of the Dark Elves and wants to use the Aether to plunge the universe into darkness.
What is the Aether in Thor: The Dark World?
The Aether is a powerful cosmic weapon sought by Malekith. It is later revealed to be the Reality Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones.
Is the Aether an Infinity Stone?
Yes. The Aether is later revealed to be the Reality Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What happens to Jane Foster in Thor: The Dark World?
Jane accidentally comes into contact with the Aether, which enters her body and makes her the host of the powerful substance. Thor takes her to Asgard to protect her.
Why does Thor need Loki’s help?
Thor needs Loki’s knowledge and abilities to reach Malekith and stop him. Although Loki is imprisoned, Thor makes an agreement with him so they can work together against the Dark Elves.
Does Loki die in Thor: The Dark World?
No. Loki appears to die during the battle with Malekith, but the ending reveals that he survived and secretly took Odin’s place on the throne.
Does Loki become Odin in Thor: The Dark World?
At the end of the movie, Loki secretly assumes Odin’s appearance and takes his place as the ruler of Asgard.
What happens to Odin at the end of Thor: The Dark World?
The movie’s ending reveals that Loki has secretly taken Odin’s place. This sets up Loki’s continued manipulation of Asgard in later MCU events.
What happens to Frigga in Thor: The Dark World?
Frigga is killed while trying to protect Jane Foster from Malekith and the Dark Elves.
Who is Malekith?
Malekith is the leader of the Dark Elves and the main antagonist of Thor: The Dark World. He wants to use the Aether to return the universe to darkness.
What are the Dark Elves?
The Dark Elves are an ancient race led by Malekith. They seek to use the Aether and the Convergence to plunge the Nine Realms into darkness.
What is the Convergence in Thor: The Dark World?
The Convergence is a rare cosmic event during which the Nine Realms become aligned, creating portals between different locations and realms.
Where does the final battle take place?
The final battle between Thor and Malekith takes place around Greenwich in London during the Convergence.
How does Thor defeat Malekith?
Thor fights Malekith during the Convergence and eventually uses one of the portals to send a large object into Malekith, defeating him.
Who gets the Aether at the end of Thor: The Dark World?
The Asgardians give the Aether to the Collector for safekeeping because they do not want two Infinity Stones kept together in Asgard.
Who is the Collector in Thor: The Dark World?
The Collector is a mysterious character who collects powerful and unusual objects from across the universe. He appears in a post-credits scene involving the Aether.
Does Thor: The Dark World have post-credits scenes?
Yes. The movie has important additional scenes after the main story, including the Collector receiving the Aether and Thor reuniting with Jane.
Is Thor: The Dark World available on Netflix?
Netflix availability varies by country. Use the Netflix link in the Where to Watch section to check the current catalogue in your region.
Is Thor: The Dark World available on Amazon Prime Video?
Availability varies by country. Amazon Prime Video may offer the movie as part of a subscription, rental or purchase depending on the region.
Is Thor: The Dark World available on Apple TV?
Apple TV availability varies by country and may include rental or purchase options depending on the region.
Is Thor: The Dark World available on Disney+?
Disney+ availability varies by country. Check the Disney+ catalogue for your region.
Is Thor: The Dark World connected to The Avengers?
Yes. The movie takes place after The Avengers and continues Thor and Loki’s stories following the events of the first Avengers movie.
Is Thor: The Dark World before or after Iron Man 3?
Thor: The Dark World is part of MCU Phase Two and was released after Iron Man 3. Both movies are part of the same MCU timeline.
What is the budget of Thor: The Dark World?
The reported production budget was approximately $150 million.
How much did Thor: The Dark World make at the box office?
Thor: The Dark World earned approximately $644.6 million worldwide.
Is Thor: The Dark World based on Marvel Comics?
Yes. The movie is based on the Marvel Comics character Thor, who was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby.
Related Movies
- Thor (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Iron Man 3 (2013)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Disclaimer: Streaming availability can change by country and over time. This page provides links to legitimate streaming, rental, purchase and movie-discovery services. No unauthorized full-movie stream is provided on this page.
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