The Guardians of the Galaxy made their first comic book appearance in 1969, but the superhero team that audiences recognize first arrived in the 2008 comic revival of the series. Then, in 2014, Marvel made a film adaptation of the popular comic. As we all know, Guardians of the Galaxy became a smash hit and has since led to more sequels, TV shows, and even a holiday special. Check out our guide below to find out how to watch the entire franchise in order.
In the original 2014 film, Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) finds himself on the run after stealing a mysterious orb. Along the way, he meets a wide range of characters whose fates have brought them together. In the end, the group realizes that despite their differences, they’re much stronger when they work together…ultimately forming the Guardians of the Galaxy. In the film’s climax, the plant creature Groot must sacrifice himself to save the team. Luckily, at the end of the film, we see that he hasn’t died, and instead is regrowing as a young seedling. The adventures of this new “baby Groot” are chronicled in the 2022 Disney+ series I am Groot.
The next installment came in 2015 when Disney XD premiered an animated Guardians of the Galaxy series which ran until 2019. The show followed the crew’s various adventures throughout the galaxy, and its third season is especially notable. The season was subtitled Mission Breakout and dives into the same story as the popular Disneyland ride of the same name. For diehard fans, watching the season is a must before riding the ride to give you a better backstory.
Volume 2 then premiered in 2017 and dived deeper into Quill’s emotional backstory. In the movie, he ends up meeting his father, the god-like Ego (played by Kurt Russell). In the beginning, Ego seems like a loving father who has missed his son, but soon his kind-hearted attitude gives way to an insidious plan. In the end, Quill must realize that his team of misfits has actually become his true family and that he’s strongest when he’s by their side.
Next up was the Holiday Special in 2022, which was both hilarious and heartfelt. In the special, Quill tries to teach the team the meaning of Christmas…and in a misguided attempt at giving him a present, Mantis and Drax travel to Earth and kidnap Kevin Bacon. The special also includes a rocked-up Christmas soundtrack with bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, The Pogues, and The Waitresses.
The most recent addition to the Guardians franchise was Volume 3, which premiered in 2023. The movie takes place after Gamora dies in Avengers: Infinity War and dual plots follow the gang trying to save a planet from destruction while Rocket learns of his tragic origins.
Though a fourth film hasn’t been announced yet, fans can still experience the Guardians’ story at Disney Parks thanks to Mission Breakout at Disneyland and Cosmic Rewind at Disney World. Both rides prominently feature the main cast, have great soundtracks, and are fun ways to dive deeper into the MCU.
You can also check out our guide below to find out where to stream every entry in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
