10 MCU Movies Blatantly Inspired By Other Movies
9. Thor/Henry IV
This should come as absolutely no surprise, considering the first two Thor movies were handled by someone who made their mark on cinema by adapting Shakespeare. However, the film that Thor's original outing is most similar to is actually a play that Kenneth Branagh never actually got around to; Henry IV.
Sure, there are elements of other Shakespeare works scattered throughout Thor - what with Odin having more than a little King Lear in him, and Loki being none too dissimilar to Edmund - but Henry IV is where Branagh took the most inspiration.
Like Prince Hal, Thor is hedonistic, which makes him irresponsible, yes, but also makes him closely knit with the people. But unlike Hal, Thor doesn't screw those people over when it comes time to actually become king. And over the course of his three film journey, Thor grows into the king he needs to be, without sacrificing his affinity for the people.
There's even a Falstaff in the Thor movies. Except instead of getting turned away by a king who has moved on and can't afford to be seen with him...he dies.
Sorry Volstagg, at least you died in the best Thor movie. So there's that!