Now unmistakable in the legendary Thor armor and his devastating hammer—both in the Thor film series and alongside other superheroes in the epic "Avengers" saga—Chris Hemsworth can certainly attribute his current fame and career to the success of the comic book character. Born and raised in Australia, the big screen star had to wait until 2009, shortly before ending his role in a national soap opera, to aspire to the heights of Hollywood.

Playing Captain Kirk's father in "Star Trek" and, of course, the God of Thunder in the first "Thor," Hemsworth quickly began to establish himself as a mainstream heavyweight. Since then, his appearances in comic book movies have continued with ever greater frequency and prominence, paving the way for a solid contribution to the action genre, as demonstrated by films such as the two "Tyler Rake" episodes and the adrenaline-fueled spin-off directed by George Miller, "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga."

Opening in Italian theaters on February 12, the thriller "Crime 101," directed by Bart Layton and starring Hemsworth himself, is already being hailed by much of the press as one of the year's most exciting releases. Based on Don Winslow's novel of the same name, the film centers on the clash between Davis, a master thief with extraordinary skills and a firm belief in his principles, and Lou Lubesnick, a veteran police officer who begins investigating him while law enforcement and the FBI are left in the dark. But Davis's opportunity to pull off a multi-million dollar heist alongside Sharon, a luxury goods insurance agent hell-bent on revenge against his company, could jeopardize his rulebook for the first time and further expose him to his opponents.

From early online reviews, we find that “Crime 101” is “the first GREAT movie of 2026, with a VERY satisfying ending,” as declared by JoBlo critics. Tom Chatalbash of Film Speak, on the other hand, calls the screenplay “tightly written” and features “compelling characters,” likening the film to “An old-fashioned blockbuster!” More descriptively, Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture calls the film a good crime thriller that has all the best elements, including “car chases, heists, tension, a strict code of ethics, thieves with hearts of gold, an unpredictable villain, and decent people who end up in unfortunate circumstances.” Winslow’s opinion of the adaptation is equally compelling, stating, “If you enjoyed films like Heat, The Town, The Departed, and Collateral, then you’ll love Crime 101.”

Even while busy promoting the film, Hemsworth couldn't help but give some space to the world of Marvel comic book movies. Interviewed by the Guardian, he clarified, as never before, the differences between his character and that of Thor: "The character you see in interviews, and the image I've projected of myself over the last twenty years of working in Hollywood, is me, but it's also a creation. It's what I thought people wanted to see."

Mentioning how, in his early experiences with the character, he felt "much more uncomfortable and awkward," even having to deal with occasional panic attacks, he continued, reflecting on how he feels today: "I felt like no one could stand in my way. Playing a god became a safety net. It fooled people into thinking I was so confident, so determined." And regarding the stark difference from the protagonist of "Crime 101," he concluded: "I felt quite exposed in this role. I couldn't hide behind the quality of my voice or my posture like I did with Thor and other major characters. I had to do exactly the opposite."

Another fact that struck the actor was the discovery that Chris Evans—unforgettable as Steve Rogers/Captain America—had been cast again in a Marvel production for the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday,” a news that, apparently, no one in the cast knew about. Interviewed by GamesRadar+, Hemsworth said: “I thought it was really cool when Evans shows up on the motorcycle, especially because no one knew he was going to be in the movie, and then there he is. I just thought it was cool. And he had a baby in real life and in Marvel life. His central role in the Avengers and the broader MCU narrative is something very personal to us. We can’t imagine this story without his central role in it.”

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