TL;DR: Thor: Ragnarok is the rare "parent-approved" superhero movie that actually respects your intelligence while keeping the kids entertained. It’s a neon-soaked, hilarious departure from the self-serious tone of earlier Marvel films, trading Shakespearean drama for classic rock and physical comedy. It’s perfect for ages 10+, offering a masterclass in resilience as Thor loses literally everything—his hammer, his hair, his father, and his home—yet finds a way to keep cracking jokes and leading his people.
Quick Links:
- Watch it on: Disney+
- If they love the humor: Guardians of the Galaxy
- If they want more Thor & Loki: Loki (Disney+ Show)
- For the gamers: Marvel Snap or Fortnite (where Thor is a perennial favorite skin)
If you checked out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) somewhere around the second Thor movie because it felt like a homework assignment about Norse mythology, I don't blame you. But Thor: Ragnarok is the "reboot" that didn't need a formal reset. Directed by Taika Waititi, it’s essentially a 1980s heavy metal album cover come to life.
The plot: Thor is imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, a cosmic junk heap, where he’s forced into gladiatorial combat against his "friend from work," the Hulk. Meanwhile, his long-lost sister Hela (the Goddess of Death) has returned to destroy Asgard. Thor has to assemble a ragtag team—including a depressed Valkyrie, a sneaky Loki, and a soft-spoken rock monster named Korg—to save his people.
This movie hits the sweet spot of "cool" without being "cringe." It avoids the "brain rot" feel of some mindless YouTube content by having a legitimate, high-stakes story, but it keeps the energy high enough that even kids with the shortest attention spans will stay locked in.
- The Humor: Unlike the earlier films where Thor was a bit of a stiff, here he’s a lovable goof. The dialogue feels improvised and natural. Kids who grew up on the fast-paced, irreverent humor of The LEGO Movie will feel right at home.
- The Visuals: It’s bright, colorful, and looks like a video game in the best way possible.
- The Hulk: Seeing the Hulk talk like a grumpy toddler is a highlight for younger viewers. It humanizes the "big green guy" in a way that makes him relatable to kids who also sometimes struggle with "big feelings" (and the occasional smash-everything tantrum).
Ask our chatbot for a list of the funniest MCU movies for a family movie night
As parents, we spend a lot of time trying to protect our kids from failure. But Thor: Ragnarok is a 130-minute argument for why failure is actually the best teacher.
Thor spends the first ten minutes of the movie feeling invincible because of his hammer, Mjolnir. Then, Hela crushes it with one hand. It’s a genuine "oh no" moment for kids who view Thor’s power as tied to his gear. The rest of the movie is Thor learning that he is more than his tools. In a world where kids often feel their worth is tied to their "stats" in Roblox or their rank in Fortnite, there’s a really healthy message here about intrinsic value.
There’s also the theme of "Home." By the end of the movie (spoiler alert for a 2017 film), Asgard—the physical place—is destroyed. Thor has to realize that "Asgard is not a place, it’s a people." In an era where "community" often feels like it’s just something that happens on a Discord server, discussing what actually makes a home or a community is a great dinner-table conversation.
While Thor: Ragnarok is rated PG-13, it’s on the lighter side of that rating. Here’s the breakdown:
- Violence: It’s heavy on "fantasy violence." Lots of robots being smashed and undead soldiers being dispatched. It’s stylized and mostly bloodless, but it is constant. If your child is sensitive to "scary" villains, Hela is genuinely intimidating and has a pretty high body count of nameless Asgardian soldiers.
- Language: There’s some mild profanity ("hell," "ass," "piss off"), but it’s mostly used for comedic timing rather than aggression.
- Alcohol: The character Valkyrie is introduced as a "scrapper" who drinks to forget her past. It’s played for laughs initially, but it’s a clear depiction of someone using substances to cope with trauma. It’s a good opening to talk about healthy vs. unhealthy ways to deal with sadness.
Recommended Age: 10+. Mature 8 and 9-year-olds will likely be fine, especially if they’ve already seen other MCU films like The Avengers.
Check out our guide on navigating PG-13 movies for elementary-aged kids
If your family loved the vibe of Ragnarok, you’re in luck. The "Cosmic Marvel" side of things is generally where the most fun is had.
If Ragnarok is a heavy metal album, Guardians is a 70s pop mixtape. It has the same irreverent humor and "found family" themes. It’s arguably a bit more "grown-up" in its emotional beats, but just as fun.
If the kids liked the "Thor is kind of a dork" energy, they’ll love Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. It’s a high school movie that happens to have a superhero in it.
This is a mobile/PC card game that is incredibly easy to pick up. It features all the characters from the movie and is a great way to engage with the lore without the 100-hour commitment of a console game. Plus, the matches are only 3 minutes long, making it a great "waiting for the bus" game.
While this game had a rocky launch, it’s actually a decent campaign for kids who want to play as Thor or Hulk. Just be wary of the in-game marketplace—don't let them drain the bank account on "skins" that don't change the gameplay.
If you want to move beyond "Did you like the part where the Hulk sat in the hot tub?", try these prompts:
- On Loss: "Thor lost his hammer, his dad, and his eye in this movie. How did he stay so positive? Do you think the jokes were a way of him being brave, or was he just hiding how he felt?"
- On Leadership: "Loki is always looking out for himself, while Thor is trying to save everyone. Why do people keep trusting Loki? What makes Thor a better leader by the end of the movie than he was at the beginning?"
- On "Home": "If we had to leave our house tomorrow but we were all still together, would it still feel like 'home' to you?"
Thor: Ragnarok is a rare win-win. It’s a movie that doesn't treat "family-friendly" as a synonym for "boring" or "dumbed down." It’s a vibrant, hilarious, and surprisingly deep look at what it means to lose everything and still keep moving forward.
In a digital world full of "brain rot" content that offers zero nutritional value for a kid's brain, Ragnarok is a feast. It’s got the spectacle they want and the substance you’re looking for.
Ask our chatbot for more recommendations based on your family's favorite Marvel characters
Next Steps:
- Check out the Screenwise guide to the MCU to see where to go next.
- If your kids are obsessed with the mythology, grab a copy of Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman—it’s the "real" stories that inspired the characters, told in a very accessible way.