James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) blasts into the MCU with cosmic comedy, starring Chris Pratt as Peter Quill—Star-Lord—a thief snagging an orb that pits him against Ronan (Lee Pace). With misfits Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista),
Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Groot (Vin Diesel), they bicker and bond—“We are Groot” melts X hearts—to save the galaxy. Gunn’s retro mixtape—“Come and Get Your Love” struts—pairs with Tyler Bates’s score, Michael Rooker’s Yondu whistling death. Shot in vibrant hues by Ben Davis, it’s a space opera riot—dance-offs, prison breaks, Quill’s Walkman cool. Pratt’s dorky charm, Bautista’s literal lunk, and Rocket’s snark spark laughs, Saldana’s steel adding edge. Grossing $773 million, it’s a fan fave—some say slight, but its “Guardians assemble” vibe and quotable chaos—“Hooked on a Feeling!”—make it a social media riot—hilarity in the stars.