'Thor: Ragnarok' Reveals Mjolnir's True Purpose

WARNING: Spoilers for Thor: Ragnarok are ahead.

It was a moment seen from the earliest trailer, so it came as no surprise when it happened in the cinema. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) launches his beloved Mjolnir — an ancient hammer forged out of the Asgardian metal uru by Dwarven blacksmiths — towards Hela (Cate Blanchett), who catches it with one hand.

The Goddess of Death not only palms the God of Thunder's weapon of choice — a feat only accomplished by those whom the hammer deems worthy — she crushes the hammer and subsequently, Thor's mood.

Throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, anytime we've seen Thor, we've seen Mjolnir. It's appeared in all Thor movies as well as both Avengers flicks. It even had its moment to shine in Avengers: Age of Ultron, when the Avengers took turns to try to see if anyone would be able to pick it up.

Needless to say, it's been a part of who Thor's been, and Hela destroyed it like it was nothing. After being knocked off the Bifrost and landing on Sakaar, Thor eventually battles the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). It's in the fight where Thor sees his recently deceased father Odin (Sir Anthony Hopkins), who tells Thor Mjolnir's true purpose.

Mjolnir wasn't the thing that enabled Thor to fly. Nor was it the thing that allowed him to use the power of lightning to electrify his opponents. We find out Thor always had access to those powers — Mjolnir simply was a vessel that helped channel those powers.

As his father reminded him, Thor isn't the God of the Hammer — he's the God of Thunder.