What to Stream at Home Before ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

By Angela Tricarico
Published April 19, 2023, 1:30 p.m. ET
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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to grow a little more when the 32nd entry in the franchise is released this May.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters on May 5 and will likely wrap up the Guardians’ MCU journeys, at least for now.

The new movie will take place in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame as the Guardians embark on a new mission to protect Rocket Raccoon when his past begins to resurface. This mission is dangerous and could tear the team as they know it apart.

James Gunn returns to the director’s chair after helming the first two Guardians volumes; he’s also credited again with writing the movie’s screenplay.

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki and Sean Gunn all reprise their roles from the previous films, with Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper returning to voice Groot and Rocket, respectively. Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, and Maria Bakalova are new additions to the ensemble for the third volume.

Since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a direct follow-up to a few MCU titles, you might need to do homework to catch up and understand what’s happening. Luckily, every MCU title you’ll need is streaming on Disney+ ($7.99/month; $10.99/month without ads).

  1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

    Photo: Everett Collection

    We meet the Guardians team for the first time in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and a team made up of extraterrestrial criminals are forced to go on the run after they steal a powerful artifact.

    The film is also the first appearance of Josh Brolin’s Thanos, a character who comes to impact the MCU in a major way.

    STREAM ON DISNEY+

  2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

    Photo: Everett Collection

    The Guardians team returns and grows in the direct sequel. In introducing Ego (Kurt Russell), the team learns more about Quill’s parentage, as he’s half-human, half-alien. It’s also the first appearance of Pom Klementieff’s Mantis, an empath who ends up becoming a valued member of the team.

    STREAM ON DISNEY+

  3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

    AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, from left: Tom Holland as Spider-Man, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Dave Bautista as Drax, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, 2018. © Marvel/ © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection
    Avengers: Infinity War
    Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
    Part one of the two-part culmination of a decade’s worth of superhero movies, Avengers: Infinity War operated on a scale previously impossible in motion picture history. But even with a cast of dozens and dozens, this filler-free super-thriller is a straightforward romp that delivers just as many tears as jokes. Watch as the heroes of Earth (and beyond) band together to stare down the might of Thanos, a mad tyrant determined to gain omnipotence and remake the universe as he sees fit.
    [Stream Avengers: Infinity War on Netflix] Photo: Everett Collection

    In the first half of the MCU’s Infinity Saga culmination, the Guardians find themselves in an epic battle against Thanos, team member Gamora’s father, alongside nearly every major character to appear in the MCU. The movie takes place on Earth and in space, and the Guardians help carry the space contingent alongside Thor, Iron Man, and Spider-Man.

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  4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

    nebula in avengers endgame
    Photo: Marvel Studios

    After half of the universe is wiped from existence at the end of Infinity War, the only Guardian left standing is Nebula, and she has a score to settle with her adoptive father, Thanos. The movie also introduces a new-old version of Gamora, who is stuck in 2014 and doesn’t remember any of her interactions with the Guardians, including her boyfriend, Quill.

    STREAM ON DISNEY+

  5. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

    Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Mantis and Drax
    Photo: Disney+

    In this Marvel Studios special presentation, Drax and Mantis head back to Earth, determined to give Quill a Christmas to remember. Quill is depressed following the events of Endgame, and his teammates want to get him the perfect present — Kevin Bacon. Yes, the actual Kevin Bacon.

    STREAM ON DISNEY+

Additionally, there are two episodes of Marvel Studios Legends available to stream on Disney+ that focus on Drax and Mantis. Legends is a crash-course-type show that goes through a character’s MCU appearances to catch viewers up before their next big appearance.

The Guardians also briefly appear in the early scenes of Thor: Love and Thunder, which picks up after Endgame when Thor is traveling the galaxy with the Guardians team.