The Guardians of the Galaxy: First reactions to James Gunn’s Holiday Special are full of festive cheer

Last Updated on November 28, 2022

Santa Claus won’t come to town for another month, but Marvel‘s biggest a-holes, the Guardians of the Galaxy, are ready to bring some holiday cheer to Disney+ with James Gunn‘s The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. While most of us must wait until Friday to roast chestnuts over an open fire with Star-Lord and the gang, the floodgates have opened for critics to share their first reactions to the anticipated celebration packed with superheroes.

If you’re looking for a worthy addition to watch alongside Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special and the Star Wars Holiday Special, Marvel’s latest presentation will serve you a plate of laughs with a side of bacon. Kevin Bacon that is!

Despite collecting various reactions to Marvel’s The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, they all share a common theme. In other words, everyone is over the moon about the movie, saying it’s hilarious, heartwarming, and a perfect film to add to your annual holiday watchlist.

@Guardians #HolidaySpecial is a feel-good blast. I laughed non-stop the entire time I watched it and then watched it again. It doesn’t raise the bar for the MCU but it had me smiling with festive cheer the whole way! #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy

— Alex Maidy (@electricmaidy) November 22, 2022

I love so much that there is a @DCComics reference in the @Guardians Holiday Special. @JamesGunn is bringing peace and love to all us nerds.

— Alex Maidy (@electricmaidy) November 22, 2022

The #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyHolidaySpecial is such a delight. Definitely brings me holiday cheer with each passing moment.

Also, Cosmo is such a good dog. pic.twitter.com/STAP0CqcNd

— Ben F. Silverio (@BSilverio20) November 22, 2022

THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HOLIDAY SPECIAL is so fun. I laughed out loud. I grinned from ear to ear. And, I even got a little misty. Dear Marvel, more specials, please. Drax and Mantis are a hilarious duo, the besties everyone needs. #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyHolidaySpecial pic.twitter.com/6kI8ZIqE9t

— Kit Stone (@bykitstone) November 22, 2022

Wow! My expectations were exceeded by #GuardiansoftheGalaxyHolidaySpecial. There was pure comedy, great music, touching scenes, and even a unexpected surprise. The Drax and Mantis Focus is what I intended! Pom Klementieff outranks Kevin Bacon despite his incredible performance. pic.twitter.com/PHYxCnxfgp

— Malyk Santíago (@malyksantiago) November 22, 2022

#GuardiansOfTheGalaxyHolidaySpecial is everything we didn’t know we needed. It’s absolutely hilarious as @PomKlementieff easily steals the spotlight. Honestly loved every bit of it and would certainly add this to the list of yearly must-watch holiday films. @Guardians @JamesGunn pic.twitter.com/Ms9GiXlBt4

— Alexander Navarro (@AlexNavarro616) November 22, 2022

The #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyHolidaySpecial is everything I hoped for & more. Hilarious, killer music, heartwarming moments (yes, I shed some tears) & even a major MCU reveal. My wish for more Drax & Mantis came true! Kevin Bacon is fantastic but @PomKlementieff steals the show! pic.twitter.com/MgWm57h0J6

— Tessa Smith – Mama’s Geeky (@MamasGeeky) November 21, 2022

I’ve watched the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special!

Pom Klementieff and Dave Bautista are joyous together for laugh out loud moments. The nuance James Gunn brings to emotional beats are great and the little MCU ties are exciting for the hardcore followers. Well done. pic.twitter.com/yqBLXsSaDM

— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) November 17, 2022

#GuardiansOfTheGalaxyHolidaySpecial is festive,touching & sweet. Love the beautiful holiday settings?. #KevinBacon singing is the best part. The Christmas gifts exchange almost brought tears in my eyes.Glad Mantis got a bigger role in this. There is post credit scene too! pic.twitter.com/pV1SnxVEal

— Maggie Ma (@MaggieMa_LA) November 22, 2022

#GuardiansOfTheGalaxyHolidaySpecial is a delightfully weird little day-in-the-life experience & a perfect addition to the holiday film rotation. With this & #WerewolfByNight, I hope this is the beginning of @MarvelStudios branching out, being weird, and delivering small stories. pic.twitter.com/dDPcSGlBZd

— Maggie Lovitt ? (@maggieofthetown) November 22, 2022

James Gunn directed and wrote the special one-off presentation, which he told RadioTimes is “the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“It’s totally ridiculous, and every day we can’t believe that we’re making it. We all completely love it. It is unlike anything that anyone’s ever seen before. I can’t wait for people to see it,” Gunn added.

Do you think Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will live up to the hype? We will find out this Friday when the movie slides down the chimney and onto the Disney+ streaming service on Friday, November 25th. I can’t wait to check it out. I long for the days when A Garfield Christmas Special and Tales From the Crypt: And All Through the House made the holidays extra special, and who better to bring the cheer than Marvel’s misfits of the stars?