The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

TV Special
2022
TV-14
42m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

99K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:15

Holiday Comedy Superhero Action Adventure Comedy Holiday Sci-Fi

Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans in an all-new original special created for Disney .Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans in an all-new original special created for Disney .Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans in an all-new original special created for Disney .

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

99K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,211

181

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 4 wins & 7 nominations

Videos6

Trailer 1:15

Official Trailer

Clip 4:18

The Rise of Dave Bautista

Clip 4:18

The Rise of Dave Bautista

Clip 1:35

A Guide to the Films of James Gunn

Featurette 1:16

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special: A Christmas Present (UK Featurette)

Featurette 1:16

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special: A Christmas Present (Australia Featurette)

Featurette 1:16

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special: A Christmas Present (Featurette)

Photos91

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
James Gunn called the Holiday Special "one of my favorite stories ever," with a story "as crazy and fun as can be" that he had "bugged Kevin Feige endlessly about over the years." Gunn finished the script in April 2021, after initially writing the treatment "years ago." It took Gunn a few hours to write the script, and he noted featuring Kevin Bacon was a quick inclusion once he had figured out the story for the special.

Goofs
When the band is performing at the end of the film, the singers are singing into the wrong side of the microphone.

Quotes
Mantis: We're looking for the legendary Kevin Bacon.
Drax: We're looking for the legendary Kevin Bacon!
Mantis: I just said that, Drax!
Drax: But your voice is small and mousey, I think maybe he didn't hear you.

Crazy credits
There is a post credit scene in which Groot is used as a Christmas tree.

Connections
Edited into Marvel Studios: Legends: Peter Quill (2023)

Soundtracks
Fairytale of New York
Written by Jem Finer (as Jeremy Max Finer) and Shane MacGowan (as Shane Mac-Gowan)
Performed by The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl
Courtesy of Warner Music UK Ltd.
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User reviews235

Review

Featured review

9/10

Heartwarming festive fun

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special ends phase 4 on a satisfying high, delivering a short piece of festive fun that still has all the humour and emotional weight expected of a James Gunn project and a reminder that he is/was one of the best filmmakers Marvel had.

The Guardians are all great in their small roles but it's absolutely Pom Klementieff's show and she finally gets to shine as Mantis, bringing new layers to her character and still having a really funny rapport with Dave Bautista. Kevin Bacon fits in perfectly, more than ready to indulge in the silliness and send up.

James Gunn's direction is excellent, it has more in common with his direction on Peacemaker and Super than the previous films and returns the MCU to a practical and lived in feel not properly seen since phase 1, which nicely counterbalances the shoddy CG. The soundtrack is terrific too, a solid selection of festive tunes that are implemented really well.