6 MCU Movies & Shows To Rewatch Before Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3
As the final chapter in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 expects audiences to remember a few other MCU movies and shows. Despite the number of superheroes being adapted to the big screen, getting a complete trilogy is something just a few characters have done. The Guardians of the Galaxy now join Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, and Thor as the MCU characters to have received at least three theatrical films.
Presumably, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set in 2025, three years after Avengers:Endgame’s Battle of Earth. While Marvel’s Phase 4 did not have a Guardians of the Galaxy movie, the Guardians have appeared twice since Avengers:Endgame. Here are the six MCU movies and shows to rewatch before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
6 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1![]()
The record-breaking success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first four years, especially with The Avengers, meant that the studio could be riskier in future projects. Just like Iron Man (2008) took a not-so-popular Marvel character and turned him into a movie star, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) made a group of relatively unknown Marvel heroes into pop culture icons. The first Guardians of the Galaxy did not ask audiences to know those characters beforehand, and instead took its time to introduce Peter Quill, Gamora, Rocket, Drax, Groot, and Nebula. Despite dealing with the Power Stone, Guardians of the Galaxy’s MCU connections were limited.
As the Guardians of the Galaxy’s journey come to an end in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it can be important to revisit how it all began. A Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 rewatch is especially interesting after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which revealed the truth about Peter Quill’s father. The first Guardians of the Galaxy also set up several storylines, some of which will finally be paid off in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. For example, Rocket mentions a few things about his past in Vol. 1, and now Rocket Raccoon's tragic backstory will be revisited in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
5 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2![]()
Between Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Peter Quill’s team remained separated from the broader MCU. Marvel’s Phase 3 releases were mostly heavily interconnected – Captain America: Civil War led right into Spider-Man: Homecoming, for example. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, on the other hand, continued the first film’s approach of telling a self-contained story. In fact, Vol. 2 had fewer MCU connections than Vol. 1. The Power Stone was no longer part of the story, and Thanos did not return. Instead, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 explored Star-Lord’s past and the relationship between Gamora and Nebula.
Presumably, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set in 2025, three years after Avengers:Endgame’s Battle of Earth. While Marvel’s Phase 4 did not have a Guardians of the Galaxy movie, the Guardians have appeared twice since Avengers:Endgame. Here are the six MCU movies and shows to rewatch before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
6 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1
The record-breaking success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first four years, especially with The Avengers, meant that the studio could be riskier in future projects. Just like Iron Man (2008) took a not-so-popular Marvel character and turned him into a movie star, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) made a group of relatively unknown Marvel heroes into pop culture icons. The first Guardians of the Galaxy did not ask audiences to know those characters beforehand, and instead took its time to introduce Peter Quill, Gamora, Rocket, Drax, Groot, and Nebula. Despite dealing with the Power Stone, Guardians of the Galaxy’s MCU connections were limited.As the Guardians of the Galaxy’s journey come to an end in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it can be important to revisit how it all began. A Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 rewatch is especially interesting after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which revealed the truth about Peter Quill’s father. The first Guardians of the Galaxy also set up several storylines, some of which will finally be paid off in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. For example, Rocket mentions a few things about his past in Vol. 1, and now Rocket Raccoon's tragic backstory will be revisited in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
5 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
Between Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Peter Quill’s team remained separated from the broader MCU. Marvel’s Phase 3 releases were mostly heavily interconnected – Captain America: Civil War led right into Spider-Man: Homecoming, for example. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, on the other hand, continued the first film’s approach of telling a self-contained story. In fact, Vol. 2 had fewer MCU connections than Vol. 1. The Power Stone was no longer part of the story, and Thanos did not return. Instead, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 explored Star-Lord’s past and the relationship between Gamora and Nebula.
