“Thor: Ragnarok,” released in 2017, is an American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Thor. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it serves as the sequel to both “Thor” (2011) and “Thor: The Dark World” (2013), and is the 17th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Taika Waititi, with a screenplay by Eric Pearson and the writing team of Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost.

Chris Hemsworth stars as Thor, alongside a cast that includes Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, and Anthony Hopkins. In “Thor: Ragnarok,” Thor must escape from the alien planet Sakaar in order to prevent the destruction of Asgard by Hela and the imminent Ragnarök.

Confirmation of a third Thor film came in January 2014, with Kyle and Yost beginning work on the screenplay. Hemsworth and Hiddleston’s involvement was announced later that year, with Waititi joining as director after the departure of “Thor: The Dark World” director Alan Taylor. Mark Ruffalo reprised his role as Hulk from previous MCU films, allowing elements of the “Planet Hulk” comic storyline to be adapted for “Ragnarok.” The remaining cast, including Blanchett as Hela, was confirmed in May 2016, with Pearson’s involvement announced at the start of filming in July.

Principal photography took place in Brisbane and Sydney, Australia, with filming concluding in October 2016 at Village Roadshow Studios in Oxenford. “Thor: Ragnarok” premiered in Los Angeles on October 10, 2017, and was released in the United States on November 3, 2017, as part of Phase Three of the MCU. The film received critical acclaim for its performances, Waititi’s direction, action sequences, humor, and musical score, with many considering it the best installment of the Thor series. It grossed $854 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year.