A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe. A film by James Gunn, starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Haddock, Sean Gunn, Lee Pace, and Josh Brolin.

In 1988, after Meredith (Laura Haddock) passed away, grief-stricken Peter Quill (Wyatt Oleff) runs away from the hospital in the middle of the night. As he cries, mourning his mother, he is abducted by the Ravagers, a group of alien thieves and smugglers.

26 years later, an adult Peter Jason Quill (Chris Pratt), who now works with a group of Ravagers led by Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker), his childhood abductor, travels to Morag, an oceanic planet in the Andromeda Galaxy, to steal a mysterious Orb. He is attacked by a Kree group led by Korath (Djimon Hounsou), sent by Ronan the Accuser to retrieve the Orb, but Peter cleverly escapes using his blaster fire and acrobatic maneuvers.

Upon arriving on Morag, Yondu Udonta realizes he’s been betrayed. The Orb is missing, and Peter Quill has vanished. Furious, Yondu places a 40k bounty on Peter’s head, demanding he be captured and brought back alive. Some Ravagers question Yondu’s motivation, suggesting he’s gone soft on Peter. However, Yondu insists he’ll be the one to punish Peter himself.

Korath reports his failed mission to retrieve the Orb to Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), relaying crucial information: Peter Quill, who calls himself Star-Lord, has an agreement to retrieve the Orb for a middleman known as the Broker. Ronan reveals he must bring the Orb to Thanos, who promises to destroy Xandar, the Nova Empire’s capital planet, in return. He orders Nebula (Karen Gillan) to Xandar to retrieve the Orb, but Gamora (Zoe Saldana) intervenes and persuades Ronan to assign the mission to her instead.

On Xandar, Quill attempts to sell the Orb to the Broker, who grows suspicious when he doesn’t see Yondu. Quill asks the Broker what the Orb actually contains, but the Broker refuses to reveal details about its contents or the buyer. However, when Quill mentions being attacked by someone working for Ronan, the Broker becomes visibly shaken. He pushes Quill out of his shop, declaring he won’t touch the deal if Ronan is involved.

Outside of the Broker’s shop, Gamora ambushes Quill and steals the Orb. A fight ensues, drawing in two bounty hunters: the genetically engineered and cybernetically enhanced raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and the tree-like being Groot (Vin Diesel). Nova Corps officers apprehend them, detaining them in the Kyln prison.

In prison, Gamora reveals she wasn’t retrieving the Orb for Ronan, but intended to sell it to another buyer. Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), seeking vengeance for his wife and daughter killed by Ronan, attempts to kill Gamora for her association with him. Quill persuades Drax that Gamora, having betrayed Ronan, is more valuable alive as Ronan will surely come for her.

Together, they form an unlikely alliance and successfully escape the prison in Quill’s ship. Their next stop is Knowhere, a severed head of a deceased Celestial of old, where Gamora’s buyer, the Collector Taneleer Tivan (Benicio Del Toro), lives.

GUARDIANS of the GALAXY isn’t just a superhero film; it’s a meticulously curated mixtape blasting through the cosmos. Director James Gunn masterfully wields classic rock and pop anthems, transforming them into more than mere background noise. Each track becomes a character, pulsating with the film’s frenetic energy, heart, and humor.

It’s a witty, heartfelt adventure that transcends genre with its unlikely band of misfits, each grappling with personal demons as they navigate a hilarious, action-packed cosmic journey. While the visuals are dazzling and the action thrilling, it’s the emotional core that makes Guardians soar, leaving you with a grin and a tear.

GUARDIANS of the GALAXY premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on 21 July 2014. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 1 August.