Chris Hemsforth on criticism for Marvel superhero films: ‘It felt harsh’

Chris Hemsworth, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese

Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth says the criticism of Marvel superhero movies by cinema giants like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola came across as "harsh".

Scorsese had made headlines in 2019 when he had branded the superhero films as "theme park experience" and "not cinema". Coppola later went a step further and called superhero movies "despicable". Hemsworth, known for playing the fan-favourite superhero Thor in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies, said he has been a fan of the two filmmakers due to the extensive nature of their filmography.

"It felt harsh, and it bothers me, especially from heroes. It was an eye-roll for me, people bashing the superhero space. Those guys had films that didn't work too. We all have. When they talked about what was wrong with superheroes, I thought, ‘Cool, tell that to the billions who watch them. Were they all wrong?'" the Australian actor told a UK news outlet.

On Scorsese's contention that superhero movies had an adverse impact on mid-budget and indie cinema, Hemsworth offered a counter point. "Cinema-going did not change because of superheroes, but because of smartphones and social media. Superhero films actually kept people in the cinemas during that transition and now people are coming back. So, they deserve a little more appreciation," he said.

Hemsworth also addressed the criticism of superhero movies by actors who appeared in the MCU. Though he did not name any names, his comments were seemingly aimed at his Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) co-star Christian Bale, who had once complained that acting in front of a green screen was a "monotony". Another co-star of Hemsworth, Idris Elba, had said it was "torture" filming a Marvel movie. "I grew up on a soap opera. And it used to bother me when actors would later talk about the show with guilt or shame. Humility goes a long way. One of the older actors on Home and Away [1988] said, ‘We don't get paid to make the good lines sound good, but to make the bad ones work.' That stuck with me," he said.

Hemsworth, who has appeared as Thor in eight MCU movies, said if he ever played the superhero again, he would try to do something different. "If I ever went back to [Thor], I'd wonder how we could change it again. I desperately wanted something to scare the shit out of me. And Furiosa did," he said, referring to his upcoming movie Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

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