Marvel Cinematic Universe: Ranking all 18 movies after Black Panther

Credit: Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Pictures; poster for Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

2. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

An easy-going space pirate mentally stuck in 1980’s pop culture; the adoptive daughter of an intergalactic warlord; a brawny knife-fighter who doesn’t understand metaphors; a walking tree who only says, “I am Groot”; and a sarcastic, gun-totting raccoon. And all five of them travel around in space? Hardly a recipe for a successful movie. Yet against all odds, Guardians of the Galaxy became one of the more delightfully surprise hits of 2014.

Why did this movie featuring some of Marvel’s most obscure characters work so well? For starters, it had some great lead performers. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Dave Bautista each give breakout performances as Peter Quill, Gamora, and Drax respectively. Bradley Cooper is almost unrecognizable as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, and Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, and the fact he can convey so much with just the same three words, proves just how talented he really is.

Guardians of the Galaxy can also be said to be the first Marvel Studio film with its own unique style. Where previous science fiction films set in space had a muted color palate, writer-director James Gunn’s film pops with color. The entire movie looks like a comic book come to life. It also works just as well as comedy as it does an action flick. Even the soundtrack, a mix of 1970s and 1980s pop hits, feels right.  Besides, it that very music, not to mention a dance off, which ends up being key to saving the day.

Does it feel unrealistic that these unlikely heroes would bond together like family so quickly? Sure, but no less than any other ensemble movie. It also goes to show that, with the right amount of talent, any comic book adaptation, no matter how obscure, can win over an audience.