Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
MovieEssential
A band of cosmic misfits must unite to stop a fanatic from seizing a powerful Infinity Stone. It was the 10th MCU film released, part of Phase Two, and it’s #17 of 81 in story order. We rate it Essential: the main saga depends on it. At 2h 1m, it streams on Disney+ in the US.
| Directed by | James Gunn |
|---|---|
| Starring | Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel |
| Release date | August 1, 2014 |
| Runtime | 2h 1m |
| Age rating | PG-13, some material may be inappropriate for under 13 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 91% critics · IMDb 8.0/10 |
| Box office | $773M worldwide |
| Phase | Phase Two |
| Saga | Infinity Saga |
| Story position | #17 of 81 in chronological order |
| Timeline setting | Cosmic, present day |
| Part of | Guardians of the Galaxy movies in order |
| Post-credit scene | Yes |
Why it matters in the MCU
Opens the cosmic MCU; introduces the Power Stone and Thanos’s plan.
Post-credit scene
Stick around once the credits start. What happens is in the box below, which gives away part of the ending.
Spoiler What happens after the credits of Guardians of the Galaxy: tap to reveal
Two scenes: mid-credits, Baby Groot dances whenever Drax isn’t looking; at the very end, Howard the Duck makes a cameo in the Collector’s ruined museum.
Where it fits in your watch
- Release order
- Movies-only order
- Guardians of the Galaxy order
- Drax order
- Nebula order
- Groot order
- Rocket order
- Gamora order
- Star-Lord order
Guardians of the Galaxy FAQ
Can you skip Guardians of the Galaxy?
No. It’s Essential: the Guardians carry Infinity War’s emotional core.
When was Guardians of the Galaxy released?
Guardians of the Galaxy was released on August 1, 2014.
Where does Guardians of the Galaxy fit in the MCU timeline?
Guardians of the Galaxy is set mostly in space in the present day and sits at #17 of 81 in story order.
Does Guardians of the Galaxy have a post-credit scene?
Yes, there’s at least one extra scene after the credits. The spoiler box on this page describes it.
Where to watch Guardians of the Galaxy in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Disney+ |
|---|---|
| Rent or buy | Amazon, Fandango at Home, Apple TV |
Where to watch Guardians of the Galaxy outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Disney+ | Rent: Apple TV, Rakuten TV, Amazon |
| Canada | Disney+ | Rent: Apple TV, Amazon, CosmoGo |
| Australia | Disney+ | Rent: Fetch TV |
| India | JioHotstar | None needed |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
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