Over the course of the past decade, the Guardians of the Galaxy have created some of the best moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
With the release of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOL. 3 right around the corner, we can’t help but look back one our favorite moments featuring that ragtag group of intergalactic criminals we’ve all come to know and love since they were introduced back in 2014. Here are the moments and scenes that come to mind when we think about the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Peter Quill
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) has some of the most memorable moments of all the Guardians in the Galaxy. Though his heartbreaking scenes in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR were some of the most traumatic in the 2018 crossover film, we can’t help but remember one of his earliest moments, one where he turned to humor and “out of left field” tactics to confuse an enemy.
Of course, we’re talking about Quill challenging Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) to a dance-off in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. When Xandar appears to be only seconds away from destruction, Quill begins dancing while the Kree crusader watches in disbelief. But it isn’t all for fun and games, as Quill is distracting the “big turd-blossom” so his fellow Guardians can destroy Ronan’s hammer and steal the Power Stone.
Gamora
Gamora (Zoe Saldana) has also been at the center of some of the most consequential moments in the MCU thus far. Few, however, compare to the scene in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR where she prepares Peter Quill for the possible outcome of their confrontation with Thanos (Josh Brolin) before they attempt to prevent him from obtaining the Reality Stone.
The gravatas and emotional weight of this scene, not to mention the change in Gamora’s demeanor upon hearing that her father is finally putting his plan into motion, creates an unforgettable moment that sets up the rest of the movie for its heroes. Gamora telling Quill that he will have to kill her to prevent Thanos from getting the Soul Stone is a direction no one expected and no one will forget.
Rocket Raccoon
Rocket Racoon (Bradley Cooper) has always found a way to sneak humor into a scene, especially when it comes to stealing or trying to acquire someone’s body parts, whether that be an eye, a leg, or as we saw in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, Bucky Barnes’ (Sebastian Stan) vibranium arm during the Battle of Wakanda. After Rocket and Bucky team up to take out a whole group of outriders, the Guardian of the Galaxy asks how much for the Winter Soldier’s gun before asking for the arm.
Not only is this great because Rocket never stops wanting what he can’t have, it’s also amazing because there is a payoff years later with THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HOLIDAY SPECIAL in which Nebula gives Rocket the arm as a Christmas gift.
Groot
Trying to decide on just one Groot (Vin Diesel) moment from the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY movies, and MCU in general, is tougher than one might think. While we could have included Baby Groot dancing in the opening title sequence of the 2017 sequel, or Teenage Groot cutting off his arm to make a handle for Stormbreaker in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, we had to go back to the beginning for this beloved character.
In the group’s first adventure, when Ronan’s ship is about to crash down and kill the GOTG, Groot envelopes his friends in a layer of branches to protect them, sacrificing himself in the process. With the heartbreaking line, “We are Groot,” the anamorphic tree unites the gang and creates one of the most touching moments in the process.
