Each member of the Guardians of the Galaxy and their respective enemies throughout the first film, all deliver multiple one-liners or slightly emotional insights that encompass who they are to their core. 9 times out of 10, it was a major part of the humor Director James Gunn brought to the story.
Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, is at the forefront of the sarcasm in the film but his team, Rocket, Gamora, Drax, and Groot also fare in their ability to showcase their personalities in their side remarks made throughout the movie. However, not all of the lines from the main characters are humorous, some are heartfelt and provide more insight into their hearts and minds or leave questions the fans want to be answered as the films continue.
Updated on June 14th, 2022, by Hannah Saab: There's no shortage of updates and casting news for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, not to mention details about the highly-anticipated The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special set to be released in December 2022. With the team returning to screens in July for Thor: Love and Thunder, now is a great time to look back at the movies in the popular film series, which include the one that started it all and introduced iconic characters along with some unforgettable quotes.
Peter's Excitement For The Future
"What Should We Do Next? Something Good? Something Bad? Bit Of Both?"
The one who brought the Guardians together and who would eventually become the strongest of the team, Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) has had a lot of funny quips. Whether it was sarcasm, usually aimed at Drax, or just in the delivery of his comments to his crew, Peter Quill provided excellent context into who he was as the main character.
Most fans would say Peter Quill inciting of the dance-off is his most in-character moment but the quote that shows his personality most comes in when they get their new ship, and he asks them what they want to do next. He's caring for his friends and looking to the future for the first time in a long time and wants to help people but will be edgy about it. Gamora's answer makes the moment all the better when she tells him they'll follow his lead.
Yondu's Hilarious Warning
"I May Be As Pretty As An Angel, But I Sure As Hell Ain't One."
Yondu Udonta is played by the hilarious Michael Rooker. His character development is more evident in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but in this first installation of the series, Yondu is the spiteful, clever, and relatively threatening father figure of Peter Quill, and leader of The Ravagers.
Yondu's first moments on-screen set him up to be a secondary antagonist but as time goes on and his crew starts to flush out that he's developing a soft spot for Peter, the fans start to see it too. It's not until later when he cracks the joke about looking like an angel that fans get to see that he also just wants a family around but has to put up a front to make sure he gets his jobs done. And, to be fair, he really isn't an angel with his trusty arrow always at the ready.
Rocket's Confidence In His Uniqueness
"Ain't No Thing Like Me 'Cept Me!"
Considered the bravest member of the Guardians, Rocket (played by Bradley Cooper) runs headfirst into danger and while at first, it came from a place of recklessness and greed, his bravery started coming from a place of caring for his friends.
However, that doesn't mean he warms up to anyone easily as he has a snide response prepared for when someone offends him. His quick defensive response to Peter saying he's a raccoon is evidence of his insecurities that he covers with jokes or anger. Nevertheless, he has slowly come to terms that maybe being a "bounty hunting raccoon" isn't all too bad and actually makes him quite unique.
Nebula's Murderous Mindset
"Not All, You Will Already Be Dead."
Nebula, played by Karen Gillan, is the ex-Luphomoid assassin working for Ronan, but still with the ultimate goal of killing who or whatever gets in the way of her assignments. That just so happened to be Gamora, her adopted sister. Nebula doesn't tend to confront her own misgivings and instead uses her impeccable fighting skills and anger to get her through life.
Outside of Knowhere, Nebula retrieves the orb and leaves her sister to die freezing in space. Nebula corrects Gamora when she says Thanos will kill everyone because, by Nebula's own hands, Gamora will already be dead. This isn't just a summary of their relationship, at this point, but also of Nebula's current mindset.
Gamora's Allusion To Her Painful Past
"Whatever Nightmares The Future Holds Are Dreams Compared To What's Behind Me."
Gamora, played by Zoe Saldana, is a Zehoberei assassin that presents herself as such until her development throughout Guardians of the Galaxy. While some fans believe Nebula to be more interesting than Gamora, Gamora's role establishes that her traumatic past and how she hasn't really learned how to look forward to the future.
When Gamora first meets Rocket, Groot, and Star-Lord, she isn't thrilled to be sharing a high-security prison with them. As they're all mumbling about how to survive their new circumstances and potentially escape, she reflects on her past, what she's lost and what she might stand to gain by sticking with this group even for a moment. This told fans that there was much to learn about her and that as flat in demeanor as she tried to carry herself, she had a large weight on her shoulders and goal in mind.
Drax Taking Things Too Literally
"Nothing Goes Over My Head. My Reflexes Are Too Fast. I Would Catch It."
Better known as "Drax the Destroyer," the Kylosian criminal and vengeful father sought out Ronan and Thanos for killing his family. Drax, played by Dave Bautista, is known for his inability to understand metaphors and his blunt comments that progressively get somehow more insulting throughout the rest of the movies.
One of Drax's funniest moments in Guardians of the Galaxy and one that truly combines his intergalactic species tendencies and his individuality is when Peter calls him a walking thesaurus and Drax gets offended. Rocket clarifies that whatever sarcasm they use it'll just go over Drax's head. Drax responds in such a serious tone that it almost feels threatening but he just doesn't understand that no one doubts his reflexes, just his ability to not take things so literally.
Ronan's Rageful Promise
"1000 Years Of War Between Us Will Not Be Forgotten. I Will Cure It!"
Ronan The Accuser, played by Lee Pace, is a Kree warlord with revenge on the brain. Ronan's goal was always based on a personal vendetta, so when he absorbs the Power Stone into the hammer and betrays Thanos, it was only a matter of time until karma came back for him.
Ronan never hid his ideals and goals from his friends or enemies alike, especially making declarations of war and purification over a grudge he has held for thousands of years ago. This line was not only a powerful delivery for his enemies but one that encompassed his rage, his loss, and his narrow-mindedness.
Saal's Lack Of Trust
"For The Record, I Advised Against Trusting You Here."
Denarian Saal, played by Peter Serafinowicz, got his official title as Denarian in the Nova Corps military. He was also known as Garthan Saal, the supporting character that provided some insight on how a regular citizen might feel when they see that a band of ex-prisoners show up to help a planet they're not even from. In other words, Saal trusted the Guardians about as far as he could throw them.
Saal rarely had time or patience to put up with outlaws and outcasts so he chose to ignore them and simply do his job. But when fans see him later, joining the battle against Ronan, he followed up his snide remark with a bit of trust of his own by telling Peter to prove him wrong. Saal was a dutiful man and even with his hesitations, he saw the battle through to his end.
Groot's Catchphrase
"We Are Groot."
"I am Groot" is a pretty good summary of Groot (played by Vin Diesel), not only because it is how his "vocabulistics" works but because he can express many emotions, questions, and battle cries with just those three words. But the quote that truly encompasses his character, especially his mindset in this first film, was after the battle against Ronan as the Dark Aster begins to plummet to Xandar.
Rocket asks Groot why he would sacrifice himself like this and Groot simply responds, "We are Groot." It is, without a doubt, one of the most heartfelt lines from Groot in the movie. Fans knew that Groot felt like they were a family worth saving and that without him protecting them from the fall, they would not be able to keep moving forward as the good guys they actually are.
Korath's Dedication To His Master
"You Will Never Make It To Ronan."
Korath, played by Djimon Hounsou, is a loyal soldier of the Kree Empire, and is particularly devoted to his master Ronan. He may have served Thanos by proxy, but didn't have to think twice to follow Ronan after he rebelled. Unlike his more fun counterpart in What If...?, Korath's variant in Guardians of the Galaxy is a serious servant who will defend Ronan at any cost.
A straightforward line he says when confronted by the Guardians underscores both his loyalty to his master and his belief in Ronan's abilities. He genuinely believes in everything the Kree warlord tells him to, which is unfortunate considering he's one of the good characters in another universe.
The Collector's Introduction To Groot
"Sir, You Must Allow Me To Pay You Now So That I May Own Your Carcass... At The Moment Of Your Death, Of Course."
As his assistant Carina helpfully explains, the Collector (played by Benicio del Toro) houses "the galaxy's largest collection of fauna, relics, and species of all manner." He's an eccentric character who has an eye for anything remotely valuable, which is why it's not surprising that he immediately takes an interest in Groot.
He tends to be comically straightforward, even if it insults potential clientele. He sees Groot as an object to be added to his massive collection rather than a living breathing being. It's hard to feel bad for him after his archive is destroyed, as he doesn't exactly treat others with respect.
Thanos' Violent Threat
"Return To Me Again Empty-handed And I Will Bathe The Starways In Your Blood."
While Thanos (played by Josh Brolin) doesn't get much screentime in Guardians of the Galaxy, the few moments he does appear are more than enough to show how terrifying and cruel he can be. He openly compares Gamora to Nebula, which is not something any good father would do. More importantly, he's quick to threaten anyone he deems incompetent, which is exactly what he does to Ronan.
After Ronan meets him and comes up with several excuses centered on Gamora's betrayal, Thanos reminds him that he's not someone anyone should offend. His dramatic but fearsome line about how he would "bathe the starways" in Ronan's blood is telling of the horrific events that the villain will be responsible for in the future.