The parts that are hard to follow from the film alone, explained with a story summary, a character map and key terms.
Released
2013
Runtime
112 min
Set in
2013
Good to know before watchingNo spoilers
It follows Thor and The Avengers
Thor and Jane's relationship, and why Loki is locked up, make more sense if you've seen both.
Watch Thor and Loki
The estranged brothers are forced to team up again. Their back-and-forth is a highlight.
"Infinity Stones" are named for the first time
This film reveals there are several special stones in the universe, the start of a much bigger story.
There are scenes during and after the credits
The mid-credits scene leads into Guardians of the Galaxy.
Character mapSpoilers
Who's who in Thor: The Dark World (2013), with Thor and Jane Foster at the center. Asgard is above, Earth friends to the right, enemies below.
Because of copyright, we can't use stills, posters or any other images of the characters as they appear in the film. All face photos are freely licensed photos of the actors themselves (non-human characters are original illustrations made for this site; people without a photo are shown with initials).
Drag to move, pinch (or scroll on a computer) to zoom. Tap a person to read about them.
Face photos are freely licensed photos of the actors from Wikimedia Commons, cropped to a square and resized. Non-human characters are original illustrations made for this site, and people without a photo are shown with a placeholder (initials).
Long ago, Odin's father defeated the Dark Elves and hid the Aether, a force that could return the universe to darkness. Their leader Malekith survived and went into a long sleep.
2. Loki in prison
In Asgard, Loki is locked up for attacking Earth. Thor travels the Nine Realms keeping the peace, but keeps thinking about Jane.
3. Jane and the Aether
Investigating strange events in London, Jane slips into another place and the Aether enters her body. Thor takes her to Asgard. The Aether's awakening also wakes Malekith.
4. Asgard under attack
The Dark Elves attack Asgard. Thor's mother Frigga dies protecting Jane.
5. The brothers team up
Defying Odin, Thor frees Loki to help him. Both are grieving their mother. With help from their friends, they slip out of Asgard and head to the Dark Elves' world.
6. Loki's end?
Malekith draws the Aether out of Jane. In the fight, Loki falls protecting Thor.
7. Showdown in London
On the day the Nine Realms align, Malekith tries to unleash the Aether in London. Thor works with Jane, Dr. Selvig and the others to defeat him.
8. The throne, and one last twist
Thor turns down the throne and chooses to return to Earth. But the Odin sitting on Asgard's throne is really Loki in disguise.
A race from the darkness before the universe began, who want to return it to darkness. Their leader is Malekith.
The Aether
A red, fluid-like force of enormous power. The Dark Elves want to use it to plunge the universe into darkness. It's later revealed to be an Infinity Stone.
The Convergence
Once every few thousand years, the Nine Realms line up and the boundaries between them grow thin.
The Nine Realms
Nine worlds, including Asgard and Earth (Midgard), linked like the branches of a tree.
Kurse
The monster the Dark Elf warrior Algrim becomes through a special power.
The Collector
A figure who collects rare things from across the universe. He appears mid-credits.
Confusing parts, explainedSpoilers
Contains spoilers about the ending.
What is the Aether?
A force powerful enough to return the universe to darkness. At the end it's revealed to be one of the special stones called Infinity Stones.
Did Loki really die?
It looks that way, but at the end he's on Asgard's throne disguised as Odin, one of his trademark tricks.
What happened to the real Odin?
This film doesn't say. That thread continues in Thor: Ragnarok.
Why give the Aether to the Collector?
Asgard already holds the Tesseract, and keeping two such powerful stones in one place seemed too dangerous.
Why is Dr. Selvig acting strange?
He's still shaken from having his mind controlled by Loki in The Avengers. Even so, his devices are key in the final battle.
Easy-to-miss details
Frigga and Loki
Their mother Frigga still loved Loki despite everything he'd done. She meant a lot to him.
Loki does Captain America
In one scene Loki uses magic to turn into Captain America to mock Thor.
Stan Lee's cameo
Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee appears as a patient at the same hospital as Dr. Selvig.
The final tag
After the credits, a creature from another realm left behind in London runs loose.
The ending and post-creditsSpoilers
After the end credits
Mid-credits: the Aether is handed to the Collector. Post-credits: Thor returns to Jane.
