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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a 2023 American superhero film written and directed by James Gunn and released by Marvel Studios. It is the third and final Guardians of the Galaxy film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following the team as they try to save Rocket Raccoon and confront his past. The film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, and Chukwudi Iwuji.

Plot

The Guardians are living on Knowhere when Rocket is gravely injured and the team must seek a way to save him. Their search leads them into conflict with the High Evolutionary and forces them to confront Rocket’s origin and earlier trauma.

Cast and characters

The ensemble cast features Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, Zoe Saldaña as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Bradley Cooper as Rocket.

Production

The film was written and directed by James Gunn and produced by Marvel Studios. It was made as the concluding chapter of Gunn’s Guardians trilogy.

Release and reception

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was released in 2023. It was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and received attention for its emotional tone, character focus, and conclusion to the series.

Key facts

  • The film is the third installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy film series and is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
  • James Gunn wrote and directed the film.
  • The story centers on the Guardians' effort to save Rocket Raccoon.
  • The cast includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper.
  • The film was released in 2023 and has a runtime of about 2 hours and 32 minutes.
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Canadian context

The film was part of the North American theatrical release schedule and is of interest to Canadian audiences as a major Marvel Studios release shown in Canadian cinemas and on Disney+ in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?
It is a 2023 superhero film from Marvel Studios and the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
Who directed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?
James Gunn wrote and directed the film.
What is the film about?
The story follows the Guardians as they try to save Rocket Raccoon and confront the consequences of his past.
Who stars in the film?
The main cast includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, and Chukwudi Iwuji.
When was it released?
It was released in 2023.
Is it part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Yes. It is an installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Guardians of the Galaxy film series.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_Vol._3
    Supports: Basic film identification, release year, cast, and plot outline.
  2. Disney+ — https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-820f0ded-3254-42c5-a7e4-7c044ff6dd65
    Supports: Runtime, genre, director, and official synopsis.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/guardians_of_the_galaxy_vol_3
    Supports: Director, producer, distributor, runtime, release date, and official synopsis.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6791350/
    Supports: Plot summary, cast, and film identification.