Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
He was days away from shooting the Marvel comic-book ensemble The Avengers last May when Thor — the movie that would introduce Chris Hemsworth as the titular superhero god — opened in theaters. Was he nervous? ''I could say I wasn't, but I'd be lying,'' laughs the 28-year-old Aussie. ''I had my fingers crossed, absolutely!'' Thor went on to gross a mighty $181 million, and suddenly the actor most remembered for his cameo as Captain Kirk's doomed father in J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek reboot was a bona fide star. By the time The Avengers wrapped, Hemsworth had been cast in two major projects for 2012: Snow White and the Huntsman, opposite Kristen Stewart, and Ron Howard's Formula One racing drama Rush. Work kept Hemsworth so busy he almost forgot to enjoy himself. ''It's only now that I sit back from it and I go, 'Oh, wow!' '' he says. —Anthony Breznican
Image Credit: Geisler-Fotopress/DPS/Corbis
15 Breakout Stars of 2011
From movies (Michael Fassbender and Shailene Woodley) to TV (Damon Wayans Jr. and Beth Behrs) to music (LMFAO and Foster the People), performers who raised their profile to another level this year
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Movie Calendar
- May 3
- May 10
- May 17
- May 24
- May 31
- June 7
- June 14
- June 21
- June 28
- July 5
- July 12
- July 19
- July 25
- July 26
- July 31
- August 2
- August 9
- August 16
- August 23
- August 30
- * Dates subject to change
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