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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe best way to watch the Guardians of the Galaxy story is in release order: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. For the fullest version of the story, add Thor: Love and Thunder and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special between Endgame and Vol. 3.
The five-film list is the core order. The two additional titles are related appearances rather than numbered Guardians movies: Thor: Love and Thunder is an optional crossover, while The Holiday Special is a Disney+ Special Presentation.
The five Guardians of the Galaxy movies in order
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
This order follows the films’ theatrical release sequence and is also the clearest narrative path. It introduces the Guardians as their own team, brings them into the Avengers’ conflict with Thanos, and then returns to their personal story for its concluding chapter.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
The first film introduces Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord, alongside Gamora, Rocket, Groot and Drax. They begin as incompatible outsiders rather than a traditional superhero team, but the theft of the Orb puts them in the path of Ronan the Accuser and forces them to work together.
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This is the essential starting point because it establishes the team’s relationships, Peter’s connection to Earth, the group’s distinctive humor and music-driven style, and the wider cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel lists the U.S. release date as August 1, 2014.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
The direct sequel follows the established team after the first film. The Guardians are now working together professionally, although their personal tensions have not disappeared. Peter’s search for answers about his parentage becomes the film’s central thread, while the team encounters new allies and threats.
Watch this immediately after the 2014 film. Although it is a self-contained adventure, it deepens the characters and relationships that matter when the Guardians later enter the Avengers storyline.
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Infinity War is the first major Avengers crossover involving the Guardians. Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket, Groot, Drax, Mantis and Nebula all have important connections to the film’s central conflict, which follows Thanos’s attempt to collect all six Infinity Stones.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The film is not Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.5; it is an Avengers event movie with several intersecting storylines. Nevertheless, it belongs in a Guardians watch-through because the team’s choices and relationships are directly tied to the Thanos plot. Marvel lists the U.S. release date as April 27, 2018.
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Watch Endgame directly after Infinity War. It continues the consequences of the preceding film and follows the surviving heroes as they attempt to undo or confront the damage caused by Thanos.
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Rocket and Nebula are among the surviving heroes involved in the next phase of the conflict. The film is therefore important not only as an Avengers conclusion but also as a bridge to the Guardians’ later status and lineup. Marvel lists the U.S. release date as April 26, 2019.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
The third numbered Guardians film is the emotional conclusion of the original team’s central arc. Peter Quill is still dealing with the loss of Gamora, while the team faces a crisis that puts one of its own in danger.
Because the film builds on the team’s history, the two earlier Guardians movies and the Avengers crossovers are the most useful preparation. Marvel lists the release date as May 5, 2023. It is the final entry in the core five-film order, not a fourth film disguised by a different title.
Expanded Guardians viewing order
If you want the most complete screen journey rather than only the five core movies, use this seven-title sequence:
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) — The team’s origin and first adventure.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) — The team’s second standalone film.
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) — The first major Avengers crossover with the Guardians.
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) — The direct continuation of the Thanos conflict.
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) — Optional Guardians-related crossover.
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) — A Disney+ Special Presentation and an especially useful lead-in to Vol. 3.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) — The concluding numbered Guardians film.
Where does Thor: Love and Thunder fit?
Place Thor: Love and Thunder after Avengers: Endgame and before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Marvel’s pre-Vol. 3 viewing guidance identifies it as the Guardians’ last adventure with Thor before the two sides part ways.
It is optional, not a required Guardians movie. The Guardians appear as part of Thor’s story, but the film is not a numbered Guardians sequel and does not replace either of the core films.
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Where does The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special fit?
Watch The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special after Endgame—and, if you are following the expanded order, after Thor: Love and Thunder—but before Vol. 3.
Marvel describes the Special Presentation as a story in which the Guardians travel to Earth to find a Christmas present for Peter Quill. It was released on Disney+ on November 25, 2022, and was created as a lead-in to the 2023 feature. It is not a theatrical movie and should not be counted as a fourth Guardians film, but it is more relevant to Vol. 3 than a disposable side story.
Release order or chronological order?
For this particular series, release order is the recommended choice. The five-film core sequence already follows the practical story progression: 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023. The two related 2022 titles fit naturally between Endgame and Vol. 3.
A strict MCU timeline can make the wider franchise more complicated, especially because the Avengers films contain overlapping events and time-related plot developments. You do not gain much by rearranging the Guardians titles chronologically. Release order preserves the way the characters and revelations were introduced and avoids placing a crossover ahead of the films that establish the team.
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| Viewing approach | Order | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Core order | Guardians → Vol. 2 → Infinity War → Endgame → Vol. 3 | Readers who want the essential Guardians story |
| Expanded order | Core order, with Thor: Love and Thunder and The Holiday Special between Endgame and Vol. 3 | Viewers who want the team’s major related appearances |
Why Infinity War and Endgame belong on a Guardians list
The Guardians begin as a self-contained cosmic team, but Infinity War changes the scale of their story. Marvel’s official material lists major Guardians characters among the film’s heroes and frames the conflict as a confrontation between Thanos and the Avengers and their allies.
Endgame follows directly from that conflict. Rocket and Nebula are among the surviving heroes moving into the next phase, so skipping both Avengers films would leave a substantial gap between Vol. 2 and Vol. 3. They are Avengers crossover films—not numbered Guardians sequels—but they are essential connective tissue for a complete Guardians-focused viewing.
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What not to include as a main Guardians movie
Do not add every Avengers title to a Guardians marathon. The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) are Avengers films, but they do not feature the Guardians as members of the team in the relevant way.
The Avengers films that matter for this focused list are:
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
Other MCU films may be useful for a complete Marvel Cinematic Universe marathon, but they are outside the main Guardians order. Keeping the list focused makes the answer more useful for someone following this team’s story rather than the entire MCU.
Home-viewing options
For viewers who want the three numbered Guardians movies together, a Guardians of the Galaxy 3-Movie Collection is the most direct physical-media option. Marvel identifies a three-movie collection and physical 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD editions for the trilogy. Check the exact format, region compatibility and included discs before buying, since editions can vary by country and retailer.
If you already own the first two films, an individual Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Blu-ray or 4K UHD can complete the numbered set. Physical editions and stock change over time, so confirm the retailer’s current listing rather than assuming every format remains available.
Music collectors may also look for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 soundtrack on vinyl or CD. It is a separate collector purchase, not part of the viewing order, and availability can be more variable than movie discs.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsStreaming availability is different from the canonical order. Catalogs, rights and affiliate availability vary by country and can change, so check the authorized service in your territory at the time you plan to watch. In particular, do not treat a past Disney+ listing for the Holiday Special as a guarantee of current availability everywhere.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the films suitable for a first-time Marvel viewer?
Yes, the first two Guardians films work as a relatively accessible entry point to the MCU because they establish their own characters and setting. The Avengers crossovers assume more knowledge of the wider Marvel universe and become easier to follow if you know the basic Infinity Stone and Thanos storyline.
For a first-time viewer who wants only the Guardians’ emotional journey, begin with the five-film core order. For a viewer already familiar with the MCU, the expanded sequence adds the team’s Thor crossover and the Holiday Special without requiring a full franchise rewatch.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many Guardians of the Galaxy movies are there?
There are three numbered Guardians of the Galaxy movies: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). With the two Avengers crossover films, the core Guardians-related movie order contains five films. The Holiday Special is a separate Disney+ Special Presentation, not a fourth movie.
Is Thor: Love and Thunder required before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?
No. It is an optional crossover that includes the Guardians before they part ways with Thor. It fits between Avengers: Endgame and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but the three numbered Guardians films and the two Avengers crossovers are the essential sequence.
Should I watch the Holiday Special before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?
Yes, if you want the fullest Guardians story. Marvel positions the Special Presentation as relevant lead-in material for Vol. 3. It is short, Christmas-themed and not a theatrical movie, so it is best labeled separately rather than counted among the three films.
Can I skip the Avengers movies in a Guardians marathon?
You can, but the story will have a major gap. Infinity War introduces the Guardians to the Thanos conflict and Endgame follows its consequences. Watch both between Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 if you want the complete character and story progression.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Watch Guardians of the Galaxy → Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 → Avengers: Infinity War → Avengers: Endgame → Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. For the expanded version, insert Thor: Love and Thunder and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special before Vol. 3.
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