Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Movie, 2023, Phase 5, Set in 2026
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is #48 of 69 in release order and #51 of 69 in chronological order in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story
Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 recap
On Knowhere, the gold-skinned Adam Warlock attacks the Guardians and badly wounds Rocket. A kill switch implanted in Rocket's body by Orgocorp stops them from healing him. Flashbacks show Rocket's past: the High Evolutionary created him in experiments to make a perfect society, and Rocket's friends, the animals Lylla, Teefs and Floor, were killed. The Guardians go to Orgocorp's headquarters to steal the switch's passkey, joined by the 2014 Gamora, now a Ravager, who does not know Quill. They follow the High Evolutionary to Counter-Earth, a copy of Earth with animal people, which he destroys. Nebula saves Rocket's life, and Rocket, near death, meets Lylla in a vision and is told it is not his time.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ending explained
The Guardians rescue the children and animals held on the High Evolutionary's ship. Rocket beats the High Evolutionary but spares him. Quill nearly dies in space and is saved by Adam. The team splits up: Quill returns to Earth to see his grandfather, Gamora returns to the Ravagers, Mantis goes off alone, Nebula and Drax stay to raise the children on Knowhere, and Rocket leads a new team of Guardians.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. In the mid-credits scene, Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam and Phyla, one of the rescued children, fight a monster as the new Guardians. In the post-credits scene, Peter Quill eats breakfast with his grandfather, and a title says the Legendary Star-Lord will return.
Where to watch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.9/10, Rotten Tomatoes 82%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, before Secret Invasion.
- Chronological order: after Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, before Secret Invasion.
What to watch before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
In release order, 34 Marvel Cinematic Universe essentials come before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), from Iron Man (2008) to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).
Cast
- Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord
- Zoe Saldaña as Gamora
- Dave Bautista as Drax
- Karen Gillan as Nebula
- Pom Klementieff as Mantis
- Vin Diesel as Groot (voice)
- Bradley Cooper as Rocket (voice)
- Sean Gunn as Kraglin / Young Rocket (voice)
- Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary
- Will Poulter as Adam Warlock
- Maria Bakalova as Cosmo (voice)
- Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha
Directed by James Gunn.