World embraces more humorous tone of ‘Thor’ with huge overseas opening

IN 2017, the world is embracing Marvel Studios’ full- on steering toward the funny.

In May, James Gunn’s oftcheeky “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2” grossed US$ 474 million overseas — nearly 55 per cent of its total take.

Now, the new “Thor: Ragnarok,” the third fi lm in the Norse- god franchise, is tracking four per cent ahead of “Guardians 2” internationally, according to Marvel’s parent, Disney.

In its overseas debut over the weekend ahead of its US bow on Friday, Taika Waititi’s “Ragnarok” grossed US$ 107.6 million as it opened in more than half of all overseas markets, according to studio reports.

In many of those markets, Variety reports, “Ragnarok” set records for the best October opening ever.

In early praise for the third Thor fi lm, most critics are noting the franchise’s hard pivot toward a more humorous and ironic tone, as “Ragnarok” proudly wears its self-aware asides on its royal sleeve.

“Ragnarok” is easily the best-reviewed of the Thor movies, scoring an average of 74 on Metacritic (neither of the previous two landed above 60) and a 95 per cent “certified fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes.

Waititi was best known for such generally wel l - received indie comedies as “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” and “What We Do in the S h a d ows . ” W i t h “Ragnarok,” the director previously gives Chris Hemsworth (as Thor), Cate Blanchett ( Hela), Tom Hiddleston ( Loki) and Jeff Goldblum (Grandmaster) ample room to amp up the comedy. The new fi lm’s i n t e r n a t i on a l debut boosted the “Thor” franchise’s total take to US$ 1.2 billion worldwide. — WP-Bloomberg

Director Waititi and Hemsworth (inset left as Thor) attend The Cinema Society’s Screening Of Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ at the Whitby Hotel on Monday in New York City. — AFP photo

US actress Dakota Fanning and Australian director Ben Lewin arrive for the premiere of the film ‘Please Stand By’, during the 12th Rome Film Festival on Tuesday in Rome. — AFP photo