The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
  • Network: Disney+
  • Series Premiere Date: Nov 25, 2022
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 123 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 91 out of 123
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 123
  3. Negative: 18 out of 123
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User Reviews

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  1. Berfeito
    Nov 28, 2022
    7
    I guess cringe comes with the season special, not optional. As a one off is funny. The Mantis/Drax duo is great.
  2. Dubeau
    Nov 26, 2022
    8
    That was short and somewhat funny, but more in terms of smiling then big laugh. I like that we get to see more of Mantis and what she can do. Even the musical pieces were acceptable. I give it 78%. I think it's fun to watch because of the familiarity of the characters and how they interact in and outside their world.
  3. Kai82
    Nov 27, 2022
    8
    Might not be the most original idea but it is charming has good humor and a heartwarming final. The Guardians of the Galaxy have purchased “Knowhere” from the Collector but have to put a lot of work into just keeping things running. Meanwhile Christmas which is basically unknown outside Earth is coming. The Guardians are told how years ago Yondu ruined Christmas for a young Peter Quill.Might not be the most original idea but it is charming has good humor and a heartwarming final. The Guardians of the Galaxy have purchased “Knowhere” from the Collector but have to put a lot of work into just keeping things running. Meanwhile Christmas which is basically unknown outside Earth is coming. The Guardians are told how years ago Yondu ruined Christmas for a young Peter Quill. Because of this Mantis and Drax want to give him a great Christmas present to restore Christmas for him. They come up with the idea to get him the great Earth hero Kevin Bacon who saved a whole town by dancing. For clarification: Peter told them that and it happened as actor in the “Footloose” movie. So they went to Earth to put their plan in motion. I stop here to avoid spoilers. The story is entertaining and funny. Drax and Mantis do basically know nothing about Earth or even that Kevin Bacon is “just” an actor. While I repeat that it is not that original the humor, actors and conclusion made up for this. The Guardians aka their actors fully deliver and Kevin Bacon completes the good cast. Overall it is a good Christmas special I liked to watch. I translate this to an 8/10 rating and would recommended it for all MCU fans.… Expand
  4. linkdk59
    Nov 26, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A good surprise! Great production value for a holiday special, and an actually engaging story, if not a little goofy. But the characters are still on point an faithful to themselves in this silly premise. And it's not even that silly. Perhaps only the Guardians of the Galaxy could have pulled this off. This is canon to me!

    Although, I am still a bit confused about the timeline regarding Groot, since he was still a teenager a couple months ago in Thor 4.    … Expand
  5. Bostonceltz
    Nov 27, 2022
    7
    It’s good, just don’t go in expecting greatness. Some of the humor is lame, some hits the mark. There are enough touching moments and it does build some lore and drive the narrative a tad towards Guardians 3.
  6. Dasjjh
    Nov 29, 2022
    10
    Dieses Special ist lustig und sehr unterhaltsam.
    Groot ist breit geworden, aber warum
  7. PiskoWK
    Nov 28, 2022
    9
    This was a great fun romp through space with the guardians we needed the most character development with.
  8. SoulWarfare
    Nov 26, 2022
    7
    Kevin Bacon truly was the centre of our universe!

    A great fun little special!
  9. JayQuiroz
    Nov 25, 2022
    9
    Should not work or be as good as it was but Drax, Mantis, and good ol Kevin Bacon make this a nice short special with some surprises along the way and introduces someone that we've all been waiting for. Watch it with the family or alone, it's a hilarious and heartwarming special.
  10. 19Ian66
    Nov 26, 2022
    9
    Finally a Marvel movie that doesnt suck. Quirky BUT lots of fun. A movie with tons of aliens and yet very human. Sure miss movies like this from Marvel, movies that entertain and not play any kind of politics. Too bad James Gunn is now at DC, maybe he could show Marvel what they are doing wrong.
  11. remyzerofan
    Nov 25, 2022
    10
    I had so much fun watching this special. It felt like a thoughtful holiday treat from an old friend. I am still smiling even though I finished watching it a while ago. Thank you to everyone who helped create it. I haven't laughed so much in a long while.
  12. vgmkyle
    Nov 28, 2022
    7
    The singing segments were just too much, too long and hard to listen to. Everything else about this holiday special was fun. There were a few touching scenes, but I doubt it would leave anyone crying.
  13. jaredwallace91
    Nov 26, 2022
    6
    I'm usually extra lenient with MCU properties, but this felt like a 5 minute premise stretched out to 40 minutes
  14. DolphinReviews
    Nov 25, 2022
    7
    It's pretty good. Feels like the canceled Mantis and Drax movie we never got.
  15. MetacriticOnur
    Nov 25, 2022
    8
    excellent
    [ ek-suh-luhnt ]

    adjective
    possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good.

    [Watched in Cinema]
  16. bertobellamy
    Nov 26, 2022
    5
    Funny at times, but not that exciting. Kevin Bacon jokes were unfunny, and Mantis and Drax are very annoying. Hope GOTG 3 is better.
  17. Dantequinn
    Nov 25, 2022
    0
    It is so bad
    The mcu has lost its essence We don't need **** like this
    ATP marvel should just cancel their mcu
  18. Daniel_Endure
    Nov 27, 2022
    1
    Marvel comedy, writing, and acting is officially at an all-time low. Even at its short length, it’s still a hard pass.
  19. InTrippyEntropy
    Nov 26, 2022
    2
    I guess it was sort of sweet, but I really only think an 8 year old would enjoy it. The jokes are not funny at all. Also, no one's looking for portly Drax
  20. ammaaya
    Nov 29, 2022
    0
    Bringing the annoying raccoon whose entire gag is making ableist jokes about ripping disabled people's limbs off of them and putting it together with the amputee POW who's constantly gets his prosthetic arm turned the butt of jokes (when he's not being frames as morally damaged for the crime of getting enslaved by MCU's in-universe Nazis) all into one joke, then adding to the mix a toxicBringing the annoying raccoon whose entire gag is making ableist jokes about ripping disabled people's limbs off of them and putting it together with the amputee POW who's constantly gets his prosthetic arm turned the butt of jokes (when he's not being frames as morally damaged for the crime of getting enslaved by MCU's in-universe Nazis) all into one joke, then adding to the mix a toxic twitter troll of a director (who should've been fired for those p3d0 cosplay parties he attended) laugh it up on twitter about how funny it is to imagine a disabled person getting beat up and getting his arm ripped off.

    All in all, it's quite **** seeing everyone laugh at the "hilarious" joke of brandishing a dismembered arm as if it's hilarious that who used to be one of the best and strongest characters in early MCU gets watered down, nerfed and belittled to just some "crazy" dude who keeps getting his ass beat and getting his arm ripped off of him.

    And I know people wouldn't find the joke funny or be making memes of if it was a non-amputee's arm, but since it is a disabled person's arm, it's somehow is hilarious to get it chopped off? What a hack of a director. Disney should've never rehired him after all those jokes about r*ping babies resurfaced.    … Expand
  21. Mal81
    Nov 30, 2022
    10
    Only Christmas special I’ve ever wanted to watch again right away. James Gunn is the best part of the MCU
  22. tremault
    Mar 13, 2023
    10
    I rated this really badly when I first watched it, but I realised why. I intensely hate being forcefed festivity so that time of year is bad for me and This compounded that. When I decided to watch this with a friend recently though, it was my decision and it honestly changed my life. I know what Christmas is to me and I love it and I wish I could have it back. The season has been ruinedI rated this really badly when I first watched it, but I realised why. I intensely hate being forcefed festivity so that time of year is bad for me and This compounded that. When I decided to watch this with a friend recently though, it was my decision and it honestly changed my life. I know what Christmas is to me and I love it and I wish I could have it back. The season has been ruined for me by the commercial nature of it, but I know the true Christmas lies within my heart and that is all about love and caring. Unfortunately, I can't experience my own Christmas these days but maybe one day society will change and I will be able to have Christmas again. We'll have singing and dancing and we'll do nice things for each other and just enjoy being with our loved ones.
    I have so many emotions, I can't say enough about this. I will keep this as precious to me. I will watch this whenever I want to feel that Christmas spirit. It probably won't be in October, November or December.    … Expand
  23. Djaries
    Dec 2, 2022
    2
    I legitimately do not understand how anyone could give this anything above a 3. It was a phoned in garbage musical with maybe one or two slight chuckles.
  24. Gaming_Bear
    Feb 3, 2023
    1
    Cringe comedic timing. Weak story. Disney Being Disney. Only one element of important story element in the special and even then it wasn't that big.
  25. Monsterskill
    Jan 2, 2023
    5
    It was ok. Not great. Some of the jokes were lame. It felt pretty forced. Maybe I'm too old and not the target demographic. But it's not like kids know who Kevin Bacon is...
  26. geewah
    Dec 21, 2022
    8
    A rather fun and entertaining ride that has just the right amount of heart, from arguably MCU's best heroes.
  27. WatchinMovies
    Dec 6, 2022
    9
    A very fun movie that was truly a Christmas movie. It had all one needs, except romance, but who needs romance when Christmas is so much more fun. Just ask Kevin Bacon. We give this a "well worth your time to see it."
  28. Fixer84
    Mar 15, 2023
    9
    The calm before the storm. Up to a certain point, because James Gunn wants to remind us what we're going to lose this year and what's at stake for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. An almost nostalgic Christmas special. But also nothing short of wonderful.

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Best TV Season of 2022
25
#25 Most Discussed TV Season of 2022

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Empire
    Reviewed by: Chris Hewitt
    Apr 26, 2024
    60
    The odd line about Mrs. Claus and poles aside, perhaps it lacks the acerbic edge of Gunn’s Guardians movies to date, and there’ll be some for whom the whole thing is simply too silly, but even the most hardened of hearts couldn’t fail to be softened a little by Drax beating the living crap out of a man dressed as a robot. Merry freakin’ Christmas.
    Read full review
  2. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Nov 30, 2022
    90
    This Marvel-ous treat from writer/director James Gunn proves an entertaining enough diversion regardless of the degree of your devotion to the MCU.
    Read full review
  3. Decider
    Reviewed by: Brett White
    Nov 28, 2022
    100
    I loved it. ... The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special delivers in every single way.
    Read full review
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