The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown to become one of the most popular franchises in film history, currently boasting 27 movies spanning over 14 years; with such a long track record, the MCU has inevitably evolved and adapted to maintain and grow its fanbase. Even though the MCU is constantly changing, there is one addition that marked a defining turning point for the franchise: Guardians of the Galaxy.
Guardians of the Galaxy may have been a big risk for Marvel Studios before its release, but it had one of the best payoffs of the franchise up to that point. After its release, Guardians of the Galaxy became the highest-rated MCU movie on Rotten Tomatoes -- second only to the original Iron Man -- and held that title until Spider-Man: Homecoming was released in 2017. Just as importantly, the movie had a positive reception with the MCU's critical fanbase.
Because Guardians of the Galaxy was so well-received, it changed the course of the MCU and became a catalyst for the evolution of the franchise's style. The movie is known for its outlandish characters, style of humor and impressive soundtrack; while many Marvel movies nowadays share similar qualities, Guardians of the Galaxy was not only the trailblazer in these categories but inspired the addition of certain elements in the MCU roster going forward.
Guardians of the Galaxy Took a Risk with Obscure Characters
Before Guardians of the Galaxy, the majority of heroes in the MCU were well-known even by those not typically familiar with the source material -- Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk and Thor are names most people had heard before. However, Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon and Groot were obscure characters even among hardcore fans, and they're not even the original members of the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics. Thus, Marvel Studios took a huge risk by releasing a movie centered around characters the average moviegoer wouldn't have heard of before, much less be familiar with their backgrounds.
After the movie's reception, Marvel was essentially given the creative freedom to explore and utilize characters audiences were unfamiliar with. Heroes like Shang-Chi, the Eternals, Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange might not have found their way into the MCU without the success of Guardians of the Galaxy -- characters the average superhero movie enjoyer may have never known before their appearance on the big screen.
Rocket and Groot Paved the Way for Non-Human Heroes
Two of the unexpected highlights from Guardians of the Galaxy were none other than Rocket Raccoon and Groot. The duo provided comic relief and packed a surprisingly emotional impact during their time onscreen. Not only this, but they were the first non-human heroes that made an appearance in the MCU, excluding characters that may be alien but have a human-like appearance, such as the Asgardians. Guardians of the Galaxy is known for pushing the boundaries of the MCU, and including characters as outlandish-looking as Groot and Rocket certainly broke ground on new possibilities for non-human characters in the future.
Likewise, the usage of other aliens like Gamora and Nebula laid the groundwork for similar characters going forward. The inclusion of Skrulls, the Black Order, Adam Warlock and the Sovereign may be commonplace now, but back before Guardians of the Galaxy was released, aliens had barely been introduced in the MCU, much less made to be main characters. It took the franchise's continuity in an entirely new direction and expanded the scope of what had previously been established as the standard for Marvel movies.
Guardians Became the Template for the MCU's Comedic Style
If there's one element the Guardians of the Galaxy employ better than any group of characters in the MCU, it's humor. The entries predating Guardians of the Galaxy may have contained some comedic beats, but James Gunn's masterful direction beautifully balances a constant stream of both emotion and humor throughout the movie. This decision to employ a comedic tone may have had the largest ripple effect of any of the aforementioned elements; similar to the DC Extended Universe, the MCU in general stuck to a more serious formula up until the release of Guardians of the Galaxy. Movies such as Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and The Incredible Hulk had a darker tone, and there were few lighthearted moments within their stories.
After Guardians of the Galaxy proved employing more consistent humor could be successful, the MCU began incorporating a similar style of goofy quips and one-liners Guardians of the Galaxy is notorious for. The difference between Thor's character before and after the release of Guardians of the Galaxy is perhaps the most notable example -- in Thor, Chris Hemsworth's iteration of the character was serious and brooding, whereas Thor: Ragnarok gave Thor a fun-loving, hilarious side previously unseen by audiences. And given the difference in reception between the first Thor and the third, it's clear that creative choice was for the better. Therefore, it's no surprise the movies appearing after the first Guardians of the Galaxy began emulating its style of humor, which is still seen in the MCU today.
While introducing the Guardians of the Galaxy was a huge risk for Marvel Studios at the time, it has no doubt paid off, and the previously unknown group of space-dwellers has now become one of the MCU's most celebrated crimefighters. Guardians of the Galaxy may have started as an underdog entry in the franchise's canon, but its unique direction made it stand out and allowed the MCU to head into new territory. And with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 slated to arrive in theaters in 2023, fans won't have to wait long to see them again, no doubt accompanied by over-the-top visuals and a head-thumping soundtrack.