Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 First Reactions Range From the Best Marvel Movie in Ye

 Posted on September 8, 2024  |  8 minutes  |  1538 words  |  Larita Shotwell

After “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” earned some of the worst reviews for a Marvel movie yet (its 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes ties “Eternals” as the lowest-rated MCU title on the aggregation website), it appears the Marvel Cinematic Universe is back on track thanks to “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” First reactions for the trilogy-ending “Guardians” sequel are rolling in and praise the film as the “best Marvel movie in years” and “surprisingly emotional,” though some critics deemed it “uneven.”

Awards Radar editor Joey Magidson called the film “full of heart” and said it brought him “to tears on multiple occasions.”

“It’s not what you’re necessarily expecting,” he added, “but it really does land. A perfect ending, too.”

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is full of heart and brought me to tears on multiple occasions. @JamesGunn making it Rocket’s story pays off big. It’s not what you’re necessarily expecting, but it really does land. A perfect ending, too. @Guardians #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 pic.twitter.com/KdLhNUZdj6

— Joey Magidson (@JoeyMagidson) April 28, 2023

Next Best Picture editor Lauren LaMagna agreed, writing that “Guardians 3” is “full of stakes, emotion and feels like a solid ending (good thing!). The production design and set pieces are some of Marvel’s strongest.”

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GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 is full of stakes, emotion & feels like a solid ending (good thing!). The production design & set pieces are some of Marvel’s strongest. It’s long, but the theme of found family is & will always be it’s strength. I’ll miss these misfits 💙 #GotGVol3 pic.twitter.com/inK2g6rfAi

— Lauren (@laurenlamango) April 28, 2023

Uproxx writer Mike Ryan wrote, “James Gunn bets the house on a surprisingly emotional story centered on Rocket and the love and friendship between these characters. Bets and wins. It’s pretty incredible.”

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 3, James Gunn bets the house on a, surprisingly, emotional story centered on Rocket and the love and friendship between these characters. Bets and wins. It’s pretty incredible (animal lovers, there are a couple tough scenes) #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3

— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) April 28, 2023

Den of Geek editor David Crow wrote, “Thank God that James Gunn is back in the MCU. This is easily the best Marvel movie in years and had a… surprisingly wistful heart.”

My reaction to #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 : thank God that James Gunn is back in the MCU. This is easily the best Marvel movie in years and had a real, heartfelt, and surprisingly wistful heart.

— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) April 28, 2023

Nerdopolis editor Sean Tajipour also hailed the film as “an emotional and action-packed rollercoaster ride” and “easily the best MCU film since ‘No Way Home.'”

Just screened #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 and it is an emotional and action-packed rollercoaster ride. It’s easily the best MCU film since No Way Home. I highly recommend watching the movie on the most giant screen possible to be immersed in this intergalactic story.

Thank you,… pic.twitter.com/gKRrVYny5Z

— Sean Tajipour (@Seantaj) April 28, 2023

However, not everyone had only praise for “Guardians 3.” Next Best Picture editor-in-chief Matt Neglia said that though the movie “sometimes succeeds” in its goal of “sweeping emotion, gut busting laughs and thrilling action,” it still “feels strangely uneven and anticlimactic.”

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 aspires for sweeping emotion, gut busting laughs & thrilling action. It sometimes succeeds but as a send off for all of these characters, it feels strangely uneven & anticlimactic. Features the best makeup & visual effects of the trilogy. #GotGVol3 pic.twitter.com/IgOYEvbAPX

— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) April 28, 2023

Similarly, Grace Randolph wrote that while Gunn is “quickly becoming [a] phenomenal blockbuster director,” he “really needs to stop putting his family and friends in his movies.”

“It’s super distracting and took me out of a whole sequence,” she added.

#GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 has that #MCU magic!#JamesGunn quickly becoming phenomenal blockbuster director & might deliver a 🔥 #Superman movie

But he really needs to stop putting his family & friends in his movies – it’s super distracting & took me out of a whole sequence.… pic.twitter.com/Z2XMm8SRTO

— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) April 28, 2023

James Gunn is back in the director’s seat for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” after writing and directing the previous two installments. Gunn was developing “Vol. 3” when Disney fired him in 2018 after controversial jokes he made on Twitter years ago resurfaced online. He was reinstated as director in 2019 after many “Guardians” actors, most notably Dave Bautista, criticized Disney for cutting ties with him. In the interim, Gunn jumped to DC and Warner Bros. to helm “The Suicide Squad.” Gunn is now in charge of DC Studios along with Peter Safran, and the two are rebooting the DC Universe on the big screen starting with Gunn’s “Superman: Legacy.”

The original “Guardians” film was considered a huge risk as it centered on comic book characters that were not especially mainstream. However, critical acclaim for the movie was high and it ended up grossing $94 million in its opening weekend. It finished its box office run with $333 million domestically and $772 million worldwide. The 2017 sequel performed even better with a $146 million opening on its way to $389 million domestic and $863 worldwide.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” opens in theaters nationwide May 5 from Disney.

See more reactions below.

#GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 all around this was a better film than the second. This had some epic action moments, interesting progression for the characters, & a great emotional arc for Rocket and the main villain. But some things I wanted more depth/weight but a good time still. pic.twitter.com/LIuP5e0Bhv

— Samuel Leggett Jr (Loved X-Men97) (@SuperSel0320) April 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/jaxelburgh/status/1651778705784467456

#GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 is the best Marvel movie in years. Perfect blend of humor, heart, and action with an epic third act that doesn’t devolve into CGI mush. Will Poulter is a legend. pic.twitter.com/1kptA0b9RY

— Jake (@jacobkleinman) April 28, 2023

Proud to report that #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 takes the trilogy out on an extremely high note.

Highlights include one of the best villain performances in action sequences ever in the #MCU.

Full thoughts on @comicbooknation! #GotGVol3 pic.twitter.com/WqhKD3QYTq

— Kofi Outlaw (@KofiOutlaw) April 28, 2023

#GotGVol3 : did it look cool? Yes, yes it did. I think Guardians 3 is really solid — the camera isn’t just stagnant in action scenes and Bautista and Klementieff steal the show.

I love Will Poulter but Warlock was a miss. Ditto for the needle drops. #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 pic.twitter.com/MevoRO9Fr7

— andrew korpan (@andrewkorpan1) April 28, 2023

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