Reception
Box office
As of July 31, 2023,
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has grossed $359 million in the United States and Canada, and $486.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $845.3 million.
[3][4]
In the US and Canada,
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was projected to gross around $110 million from 4,450 theaters in its opening weekend.
[218] The film made $48.2 million on its first day,
[219] including $17.5 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut with $118.4 million, topping the box office.
[220] In its second weekend,
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 retained the top spot at the box office with $62 million,
[221][222][223] a 48% decline from its opening weekend and the best second-weekend hold of any sequel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a notably smaller second-weekend decline than those of the franchise's recent releases, including
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (70%),
Thor: Love and Thunder (68%), and
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (67%).
[223][224] The film made $32 million in its third weekend, being dethroned by
Fast X.
[225]
Outside the US and Canada, the film grossed $168.1 million in its opening weekend.
[226] In its second weekend, the film grossed $92 million for a drop of 40% from its opening weekend. As of May 27, 2023, the highest grossing territories were China ($77.4 million), the United Kingdom ($36 million), Mexico ($30.8 million), South Korea ($26.7 million), and France ($24.3 million).
[227]
Critical response
The
review aggregator website
Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 82% based on 384 reviews with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "A galactic group hug that might squeeze a little too tight on the heartstrings, the final
Guardians of the Galaxy is a loving last hurrah for the MCU's most ragtag family."
[228] On
Metacritic, the film has a
weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on 63 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
[229] Audiences polled by
CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, the same as the previous two
Guardians films, while
PostTrak reported that moviegoers gave the film a 91% positive score, with 79% saying they would definitely recommend it.
[220]
The Independent found it was "the best Marvel movie in years"
[230] as did
Vox[231] and the
CBC.
[232] In mixed reviews,
Peter Bradshaw of
The Guardian[233] and Nicholas Barber of the
BBC agreed the film was overlong, Barber opining that "the film's saving grace is that, just as Gunn has been allowed to unleash his gonzo imagination, he has also been allowed to pour out his emotions."
[234] Wendy Ide of
The Observer lauded the films for its emotional weight and deemed it a satisfying conclusion, stating that "What elevates Vol 3 (supposedly the final film in the
GOTG series) is the way it keeps that personality, nodding to the irreverent swagger that is a crucial component of the
Guardians USP while delivering a series of devastating emotional sucker punches along the way."
[235] Matt Singer from
ScreenCrush praised the film for concluding Rocket's arc story stating that "a character tells Rocket that the events unfolding onscreen have been
his story all along — and with
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it does feel like Marvel has spent $200 million on a movie about a melancholy space raccoon looking for love and acceptance."
[236] Writing for
The Verge, Charles Pulliam-Moore praised the film's action sequences and storyline and commented that "
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 tells the action-packed, flashback-filled story of how Rocket Raccoon's (Bradley Cooper) life being gravely endangered gives the rest of the Guardians a reason to come together and really start working on some of the emotional issues that've been haunting them since
Endgame."
[237] The Hindustan Times praised Gunn's direction and writing, commenting that "As James Gunn concludes his journey with these characters he clearly cares so deeply about, you can't help but reflect on your own. Walking out, I had my own little flashback montage playing in my head of all the adventures we've been on and foes we've faced with this lovable group of galaxy-saving idiots."
[238] Nathan Durr of
CBS News praised the film's soundtrack and stated that "There's no exception here regarding the soundtrack as Gunn and company cleverly implement songs that add weight to the complexities and emotions of the characters."
[239]
