The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the biggest film franchise of all time. Many of the movies, such as the Iron Man, Captain America, and Spider-Man titles, are about a human on Earth learning what it takes to become a hero. However, some of the other installments focus on different types of characters and settings.
Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy are two epic movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that have a lot of differences when compared to other films in the franchise. But which one is better?
10 Thor: The Settings Are More Iconic
Though Guardians of the Galaxy has a lot of interesting planets that the characters travel to, none of them are as memorable as Asgard from Thor. This realm is where the titular character, along with his family and friends, lived. It's one of the most interesting settings in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The characters had also gone to Jotunheim and Earth. Due to how different these three worlds are, it's very easy to remember what took place in which area, while the planets in Guardians of the Galaxy are quite forgettable.
9 Guardians Of The Galaxy: The Protagonists Are Better
Though Thor is one of the strongest heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has a lot of great character traits, the protagonists from Guardians of the Galaxy offer a lot more as there are five heroes rather than just one.
Their personalities often conflict as some are more laidback while others are stubborn. There are moments where they can be reckless, serious, or hilarious, and while Thor can also be all of these things, it works better when there are multiple characters like this, making them a great team.
8 Thor: Loki Is One Of The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Best Antagonists
While Thor may not be as good of a protagonist, Loki is certainly a better antagonist than all of the villains in Guardians of the Galaxy. The God of Mischief is one of the best characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the franchise wouldn't be as enjoyable if he wasn't in it.
He especially served as the biggest threat in Phase One, with Thor being the film where he was first introduced. Due to how much fans enjoyed him, he'd go on to have some of the best moments in other movies before having his own TV series on Disney+.
7 Guardians Of The Galaxy: The Jokes Are Funnier
Even though Thor has a good amount of comedic moments, especially once the God of Thunder traveled to Earth, it's not as funny as Guardians of the Galaxy.
Due to the interactions between characters like Rocket and Drax, fans can find humor throughout most of the movie. In fact, many consider it to be the funniest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and some even see it as more of a comedy than a superhero film.
6 Thor: There Are Better Plot Twists
There were a lot of interesting plot twists in Thor, with most of them being a result of Loki's methods of manipulation. Not only was it revealed that he brought the Frost Giants to Asgard at the beginning of the movie but it also turned out that it was all part of a greater plan to make Odin think highly of him.
Though Guardians of the Galaxy also had its own twists and turns, they weren't nearly as good as the ones from Thor.
5 Guardians Of The Galaxy: There Are Really Sad Moments
Even though Guardians of the Galaxy is a comedy, there are a few scenes that are sadder than anything in Thor. At the beginning of the movie, Peter has one final conversation with his mother before witnessing her die at a hospital.
The end of the film also brought tears to some fans' eyes as it was believed that Groot had sacrificed himself, though the pain subsided once it was revealed that he was reborn.
4 Thor: A Better Post-Credits Scene
When the credits roll in many films, there are a lot of people that unfortunately stop watching. However, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe know by now that it is usually worth it to watch the credits so they can see one last scene.
Unfortunately, the post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy wasn't interesting except for fans of Howard the Duck. On the other hand, Thor had a great post-credits scene that led right into The Avengers and revealed that Loki's story was far from over.
3 Guardians Of The Galaxy: The Soundtrack Is Amazing
A lot of popular songs from the 1960s and 1970s appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy, making it one of the best soundtracks out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
It was a delight to hear songs like "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone, "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, "Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie, "Cherry Bomb" by The Runaways, and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. This isn't just one of the most iconic soundtracks from a superhero movie, but from a film of any genre.
2 Thor: A Great Introduction To Norse Mythology
Though he may be a popular superhero that fights alongside groups like the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy these days, Thor actually isn't an original Marvel character. He is based on the God of Thunder from Norse Mythology.
There are quite a few differences between the movie and the original stories of the Norse God, but fans of the film will certainly enjoy other stories that he is in as well. Norse Mythology isn't as popular as it deserves to be, so it's great that the popularity of Marvel's portrayal of the character can get fans more interested in it.
1 Guardians Of The Galaxy: It Made The Series Popular
Before the movie released, Guardians of the Galaxy wasn't that popular, at least not compared to other superhero groups like X-Men or the Avengers. However, due to how they were included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they have become a lot more popular and fans cannot wait for the third installment in the series.
Not only have the movies made the comics more successful, but Guardians of the Galaxy has since had an animated series, amusement park attraction, and even an upcoming video game. After decades since the Guardians of the Galaxy made its first appearance, the franchise has finally received the success it deserved.