Wondering where to watch Guardians of the Galaxy? In the US the film streams on Disney Plus, and it needs no Marvel homework at all. In story order it comes after Captain America: The Winter Soldier and before the I Am Groot shorts, with both films set in 2014.
Guardians of the Galaxy streams on Disney Plus in the US, alongside the rest of the Infinity Saga. It is part of the standard subscription, so there is nothing extra to rent. If you are outside the US, availability varies by country, and the watch box on this page shows the options for your region.
The film runs 121 minutes. With the two extra scenes at the end, budget a little over two hours, which makes it an easy weeknight pick and a natural first night of a Guardians marathon.
This is one of the friendliest entry points in the whole franchise. No earlier film is required, and almost nothing on Earth matters once the opening scene is over. On our chronological list it comes right after Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and in release order it closes the first half of Phase 2.
Next on the timeline is I Am Groot, a set of animated shorts about the baby version of Groot. They are optional and only a few minutes each, so they slot in easily before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the direct sequel.
| Title | Relation to this film | Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Previous in story order | No |
| I Am Groot | Next in story order | Optional |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Direct sequel | Yes, if you keep going |
If you want every Guardians appearance lined up, including the Avengers films where the team crosses over, our Guardians of the Galaxy watch order guide covers it from start to finish.
Peter Quill was taken from Earth as a boy and raised by space pirates called the Ravagers. Now an adult who insists on being called Star-Lord, he steals a mysterious orb on a routine job and immediately finds that every dangerous person in the galaxy wants it. At the top of that list is Ronan the Accuser, a fanatical Kree warrior with a grudge against an entire planet.
Within a day Quill is in prison alongside an assassin, a talking raccoon with a very big gun, a tree that can say only three words and a warrior bent on revenge. None of them like each other. To survive, they have to cooperate, and the film gets most of its comedy and its heart from watching misfits slowly become a team. A mixtape of Quill's old Earth songs runs through the whole thing.
We rate Guardians of the Galaxy essential. It is where Thanos steps out of the shadows as the power behind the scenes, and it explains the Infinity Stones in detail for the first time. Without it, the cosmic half of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame loses a lot of its weight, since Gamora and Nebula's painful history with their adoptive father starts here.
It also launches a trilogy, a holiday special and a string of crossovers, so most viewers who like it keep going. Our list of essential Marvel movies and shows keeps it on the short list for a fast run, and the full Infinity Saga in order guide shows how it feeds into the two big Avengers films.
James Gunn directs and co-writes. Chris Pratt plays Peter Quill, a cocky thief with a soft spot he tries hard to hide. Zoe Saldaña is Gamora, an assassin raised by Thanos who wants out. Dave Bautista plays Drax, who takes every word literally and gets huge laughs for it. Bradley Cooper voices Rocket, the sharp-tongued engineer, and Vin Diesel voices Groot, squeezing more feeling out of one sentence than seems possible. Lee Pace plays Ronan, the film's villain.
There are two extra scenes, and both are light. A mid-credits scene shows a tiny Groot dancing when nobody is watching. The post-credits scene is a short comedic cameo inside the Collector's ruined museum, a nod to a cult-favorite Marvel character that has no effect on later stories.
Neither scene is required for Vol. 2 or the Avengers films, but both are fun and take only a couple of minutes. If you are working through the Infinity Saga in story order, our marathon plan can tell you how much viewing time is left from here.
In the US, Guardians of the Galaxy streams on Disney Plus as part of the standard subscription. Availability differs by country, so check the watch box on this page for your region.
Yes, there are two. The mid-credits scene shows a small Groot dancing, and the post-credits scene is a comedic cameo in the Collector's museum. Neither sets up a major future plot.
Nothing is required. The film introduces every main character and its own corner of the galaxy, so it works as a first Marvel movie. Watching The Avengers first only adds a little context about Thanos.
The film is set in 2014. In our chronological order it comes after Captain America: The Winter Soldier and before the I Am Groot shorts and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Yes, we rate it essential. It properly introduces Thanos, Gamora and Nebula and explains the Infinity Stones, all of which matter in Infinity War and Endgame.
The film runs 121 minutes, just over two hours. Add a few minutes if you want to catch both credit scenes.
Watch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special first. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame also matter, because they explain why Gamora is so different in Vol. 3.
Chris Pratt plays Peter Quill, Zoe Saldaña plays Gamora and Dave Bautista plays Drax. Bradley Cooper voices Rocket and Vin Diesel voices Groot, while Lee Pace plays the villain Ronan.
It is one of the best starting points. The story is self-contained, the tone is funny and warm, and it only needs you to know that a powerful villain named Thanos exists.
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