Summary

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has dominated the streaming universe, with 1.625 billion minutes streamed in just one week, surpassing its closest competitor by a large margin. James Gunn, the creative force behind the film, expressed his gratitude and shared that the movie is centered around themes of joy, compassion, and empathy for all living creatures. Gunn recommended watching the widescreen version of the film to fully capture his visual aesthetic, but also noted that the 3D version was enjoyable. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is available for streaming on Disney+.

After a successful run at the box office earlier this year, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has claimed the top spot in the streaming universe. The third installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series, available on Disney+, was streamed a whopping 1.625 billion minutes in just one week, from July 31 to August 6, 2023, according to recent Nielsen ratings. This staggering number puts it far ahead of its closest competitor, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which garnered a mere 717 million minutes in comparison.

James Gunn, the creative mind behind both the script and direction of the film, shared his gratitude and some interesting facts about the movie on social media. Gunn highlighted the fundamental themes of the film: happiness, kindness, expanding one’s viewpoint, and empathy for all living creatures. He also revealed his personal affiliation with the character Rocket, expressing gratitude for the character-driven growth and the supportive community over the years. He shared:

“At the end of the day, this is a movie about joy & compassion & learning to see beyond the rim of our own worlds & having empathy for all living things. Rocket’s journey is my own & I’m so happy to have had him help me to learn to be a better person over the past 11 years – as have all of you. Enjoy the movie. We came into this saying “You’re welcome” but now we’ll leave saying “thank you.””

For those planning to stream Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn recommended the widescreen version of the film as the best option to capture his vision for the film’s visual aesthetic. Gunn added that he enjoyed the 3D version as well, indicating that it was fun to watch the different versions of the film. He said on Threads:

“The ‘widescreen’ version is mixed aspect ratio and would be my preferred way to watch in your home. Lots of directors shoot in 2.35. Those sections in Vol 3 were composed for 1.90 and 2.35 respectively, and the changes come at specific points in the storytelling, so it’s my preferred way of watching the film on TV. But it’s fun to watch the different versions. I liked the 3D version too!”

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Knowhere To Run: The Guardians’ Past Catches Up in Vol. 3
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The plot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 revolves around the beloved band of misfits settling into life on Knowhere, only to have their lives disrupted by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill, played by Chris Pratt, is still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) and must rally his team for a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life. Inability to fulfill the mission could result in the demise of the Guardians as they are currently known.

The returning cast members also include Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Debicki, and Maria Bakalova. Newcomers to the cast include Will Poulter, Chukwudi Iwuji, and Daniela Melchior and Nico Santos. With its combination of humor, heart, and action, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has proved to be a hit with both critics and audiences alike.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now streaming on Disney+.