The Guardians Of The Galaxy first appeared in issue #18 of Marvel Super-Heroes in 1969. Created by writer Arnold Drake and artist Gene Colan, the initial team-up of characters was different to that seen in the films.
The original roster consisted of Vance Astro, Martinex T’Naga, Captain Charlie-27, and Yondu Udonta. Later members included Stakar Ogord, Aleta Ogord, and Nikki.
In 2008, a new generation of Guardians featured in comic books, including the characters we know and love from the movies. These included galactic adventurer Star-Lord; the cosmically enhanced warrior Drax the Destroyer; the assassin Gamora; a treelike alien called Groot; a martial artist with mental telepathy named Mantis; and an anthropomorphic raccoon named Rocket.
These heroes first hit the big screen in 2014 and then went on to headline two sequels and a holiday special. They also appeared in two of the Avengers movies as well as Thor: Love And Thunder.
Below, we list all of the movies that have featured the Guardians. Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
Guardians Of The Galaxy
US Release Date: August 1, 2014
Worldwide Box Office: $777.3 million
Director: James Gunn
Metascore: 76
Main Cast:
Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Lee Pace (Ronan), Michael Rooker (Yondu), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Sean Gunn (Kraglin), Djimon Hounsou (Korath)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.
Guardians Goof:
In the prison scene, Rocket wakes up with matted fur on his right cheek. In the next shot, his fur is perfectly groomed.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
US Release Date: May 5, 2017
Worldwide Box Office: $869.8 million
Director: James Gunn
Metascore: 67
Main Cast:
Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Michael Rooker (Yondu) Karen Gillan (Nebula), Sean Gunn (Kraglin), Kurt Russell (Ego), Sylvester Stallone (Stakar Ogord)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
The Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord’s encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.
Guardians Goof:
When Ego shows Quill how to create a ball of energy, he places Quill’s hands with the palms facing each other. When the camera angle changes, Quill’s hands are facing up.
Avengers: Infinity War
US Release Date: April 27, 2018
Worldwide Box Office: $2.052 billion
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 68
Main Cast:
Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Chris Evans (Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Guardians Goof:
When Quill claims he has muscles, he gestures at his chest with both hands. When the camera cuts to a closer shot of Rocket standing next to him, his left arm is hanging at his side.
Avengers: Endgame
US Release Date: April 26, 2019
Worldwide Box Office: $2.798 billion
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 78
Main Cast:
Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Chris Evans (Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.
Guardians Goof:
In Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Gamora is not aware the orb she is searching for is an Infinity Stone until The Collector tells her about two-thirds of the way through the film. In Avengers: Endgame, in a scene that takes place before the first Guardians movie, she refers to the orb as an “Infinity Stone.”
Thor: Love and Thunder
US Release Date: July 8, 2022
Worldwide Box Office: $760.9 million
Director: Taika Waititi
Metascore: 57
Main Cast:
Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Sean Gunn (Kraglin), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), Christian Bale (Gorr), Tessa Thompson (King Valkyrie), Russell Crowe (Zeus)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Thor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct.
Guardians Goof:
When standing in front of the Guardians, there is a hole in Thor’s poncho when he gets shot by aliens. But when he turns to the aliens that shot him, the hole is no longer there.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special
US Release Date: November 5, 2022
Worldwide Box Office: N/A
Director: James Gunn
Metascore: 82
Main Cast:
Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Dave Bautista (Drax), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Maria Bakalova (Cosmo the Dog), Kevin Bacon (Himself)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans in an all-new original special created for Disney+.
Guardians Goof:
Mantis tells Kevin Bacon he fought Jason Voorhees. But Jason wasn’t in Friday the 13th (1980), the franchise starter that Kevin starred in. Jason started slicing and dicing teens in Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981).
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
US Release Date: May 5, 2023
Worldwide Box Office: $845.5 million
Director: James Gunn
Metascore: 64
Main Cast:
Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Dave Bautista (Drax), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Maria Bakalova (Cosmo the Dog), Chukwudi Iwuji (The High Evolutionary), Sean Gunn (Kraglin), Will Poulter (Adam Warlock)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own – a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.
Guardians Goof:
The High Evolutionary has the technology for building and rebuilding living tissue. So, why didn’t he repair his own face after Rocket tore it up?
Which is your favourite Guardians movie? Let us know in the comments below.