Although some MCU devotees still haven't forgiven Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) for his thoughtless actions in Avengers: Infinity War, which may have been the prime cause for the Avengers' downfall against Thanos, the movie that introduced him to the silver screen is still loved by die-hard and casual fans alike.
Guardians Of The Galaxy brought something different to the table in 2014 with a group of characters completely new to the existing MCU, exploring space like never before in the franchise. The loveable rogues quickly gained the audience's favor with their comedy and flair, but the movie is even more beloved for its killer soundtrack. For fans of these elements but not so much the focus on superheroes, there are many great movies with a similar style to check out.
The Boat That Rocked (2009) - Available To Rent On AppleTV, Amazon Prime & More
Given that Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 is comprised of 1970s music, Richard Curtis' fabulous ensemble movie, The Boat That Rocked, seems an obvious choice for those who particularly love the sound of the former film. Following a group of outlaw DJs who play rock music despite it being banned from British airways, the soundtrack is bursting at the seams with 1960s hits.
While the music is the greatest similarity between the two movies, they are also well-matched in comedy, as a host of the UK's funniest actors, including Nick Frost and Chris O'Dowd, bring to life a hilarious script and demonstrate similar group dynamics to that of the Guardians, with frequent squabbles but, ultimately, a familial bond.
The Dirty Dozen (1967) - Available To Rent On AppleTV
What makes The Guardians different than many other teams of heroes is their criminal records. Having banded together in prison, they are presented as morally questionable from the get-go. Despite their efforts to protect the galaxy from the evilest of threats, they themselves are no saints.
World War 2 movie, The Dirty Dozen, sees an Army Major lead 12 convicted murderers on a mission against German officers, with many a famous face, from Lee Marvin to Donald Sutherland, rounding out the crew. Just like The Guardians, the team of prisoners cause havoc behind enemy lines and fight for the greater good, in spite of their own misdeeds.
Ocean's Eleven (2001) - Available To Stream On HBO Max
If anyone knows how to assemble a team and pull off a well-devised plan, it's Danny Ocean (George Clooney). While Peter Quill may not appear to have much in common with the slick ex-con of the Ocean's trilogy, his ability to lead a group of mismatched individuals, dodge unsavory groups, and protect the Power Stone is reminiscent of the smooth criminal.
The group, as a whole, shares similarities with Ocean's 11 men, each bringing something unique to the table, from Rocket's resourcefulness to Gamorra's level-headedness. For viewers who like to see a band of misfits coming together to pull off the impossible, the classic heist movie Ocean's Eleven is a must-see.
Star Trek (2009) - Available To Stream On FuboTV
For fans of Gamorra, Zoe Saldana can be found in another powerful position as no-nonsense Lieutenant Uhura in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek trilogy. At her side, Pratt's fellow Chris - Chris Pine - stars as audacious James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise. And then, for an extra sprinkling of familiar MCU faces, Chris Hemsworth appears as his father, George Kirk.
Also similar to Guardians Of The Galaxy, Star Trek follows an unlikely team on a mission in outer space, with Kirk and Spock's heated rivalry not dissimilar to the group's initial dynamic before uniting. There is plenty of humor to go around and vastly varying planets throughout the trilogy -- all that Star Trek lacks is a pop soundtrack.
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004) - Available To Stream On Hoopla
While The Guardians assemble to explore outer space, Team Zissou is renowned for their investigations of the underwater world. In this Wes Anderson movie, Team Zissou embarks on a mission to inflict revenge on the mythical Jaguar Shark for killing Steve Zissou's (Bill Murray) partner.
As with any Wes Anderson movie, The Life Aquatic boasts a superb soundtrack, and this one is comprised mainly of David Bowie songs performed in Portuguese by Seu Jorge. For fans of the family drama woven into Guardians Of The Galaxy between Gamorra, Nebula, and Thanos, this movie is a great choice as, in the midst of the team's mission, a man who may or may not be Steve's son (Owen Wilson) joins the ranks and shakes up the group dynamic to hilarious effect.
Men In Black (1997) - Available To Stream On STARZ
Another Terran with extensive knowledge of space and extraterrestrials, like Peter Quill, is Jay (Will Smith) of the Men In Black trilogy. Adapted from the comics created by Lowell Cunningham, Jay - previously an N.Y.P.D. officer - is enlisted by Agent Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) to join a secret organization to police extraterrestrial behavior rather than the streets of New York.
As well as Jay's streetwise and distinctly earthly nature compared to the other agents, the comedy of Men In Black holds up against Guardians Of The Galaxy, with strong yet humorous villains, a surprisingly effective team despite their differences, and eccentric aliens, making this a superb alternative pick.
Baby Driver (2017) - Available To Rent On AppleTV
An obvious comparison can be drawn between Star-Lord and Baby (Ansel Elgort) as action men who do their best work with the right song playing. Just as Star-Lord approaches the Power Stone to the sound of "Come And Get Your Love," Baby is reluctant to fulfill his role as an unrivaled getaway driver after a heist until he has put "Neat Neat Neat" back to the beginning.
Baby Driver is a brilliant pick for viewers who love the combination of great music and exciting action but don't mind skipping out on the fantastical element of Guardians Of The Galaxy, since this movie is set in everyday Atlanta with no incoming spaceships or alien species to speak of.
Snatch (2000) - Available To Stream On Amazon Prime
Director Guy Ritchie has mastered the blueprint of several groups of characters pitted against one another in an attempt to claim something valuable for themselves. This is never more brilliantly executed than in Snatch, in which a variety of men, from boxing promoters to a Russian gangster, fight for possession of a stolen diamond.
This same format can be spotted in Guardians Of The Galaxy if the Power Stone were a large diamond and Ronan a violent bookie who feeds his adversaries to pigs. The chaos of overlapping agendas and comedy of mismatched alliances make for an entertaining and rivetting watch, along with an impressive, eclectic soundtrack in the neighborhood of Awesome Mix Vol. 1.
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (2005) - Available To Stream On HBO Max
Despite his space-related savvy, Peter Quill was not always exploring the galaxy, and neither was The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy's protagonist, Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman). Both unsuspecting earthlings are thrust into outer space and eventually find themselves with a new, cosmic family to explore the universe with.
With an all-star cast and a diverse view of the galaxy, this movie does not seem a million miles away from the Infinity Saga. Despite its distinctly English, almost quaint feel compared to the titan that is the MCU, this story - adapted from Douglas Adams' sci-fi franchise - is as funny as it is bizarrely unique, with its celebrated wit and physical comedy making it a great alternative to Guardians Of The Galaxy.
Footloose (1984) - Available To Stream On STARZ
Anyone who has followed The Guardians throughout the MCU will know that Peter Quill has a soft spot for Footloose, even considering it "the greatest movie in history," which makes this classic of '80s cinema a must-see for fans, if only to understand a little more of Quill's character.
Between its upbeat dance numbers, teenage angst, and Kevin Bacon's liberation of a town without dance, Footloose is a light-hearted flick with a buoyant soundtrack. Despite the lack of space travel and action sequences, a lot of the same spirit that is found in Guardians Of The Galaxy is at the heart of a fun movie such as this.