We’re fast approaching the third and final film in the Guardians of the Galaxy series – and if the trailers have anything to do with it, it should be emotional.
The team must reassemble for a mission when Rocket’s life is in danger – but the journey could lead to the end of Guardians as we know them.
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 hits theaters on Friday, May 5, 2023, and you can grab tickets now. Like the majority of Marvel films, there will be references to several plot points explored in previous films. Therefore, it is wise not to go there blindly.
Here are the movies and shorts you need to watch before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. We also have guides on how to watch the Marvel movies in order, plus all the MCU Phase 5 movies.
What Marvel movies should I watch to understand Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?
We’ve created this guide based on the trailers alone – but here are the key Marvel content items you should watch to understand the stories of Peter Quill and the gang so far:
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- Avengers Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers Endgame (2019)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
- Optional – Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
The first two Guardians movies are obviously worth watching in their entirety, but the team also has a major dynamic shift in Avengers Infinity War that can’t really be completed without Avengers Endgame.
While the Guardians Holiday Special is a unique festive short, it includes a very important plot point at the end that will likely be explored further in the third film.
Finally, the Guardians also make an appearance in the fourth Thor movie – but this is really an optional watch, as their time is short and doesn’t really advance their storylines.
How to watch Marvel content before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Everything in the list above is available on Disney+. Subscriptions cost $7.99 per month for ad-free viewing and $10.99 / £10.99 per month for ad-free viewing.
Disney+ also includes almost everything in the Marvel catalog, so you can check out some of the other originals like Loki and Ms. Marvel.
