Special Phase 4 — Multiverse Opens (2024–2025)

GOTG Holiday Special

Name: GOTG Holiday Special
Released: 2022-11-25
Duration: 44 min
Rating: 7.1
Cast: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel

"The perfect present is a galaxy away."

Released November 25, 2022 0h 44m ★ 7.1TMDB ★ Essential to the MCU

On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill, the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present.

Watch note

Mantis is revealed as Peter's half-sister. The Guardians have bought Knowhere from the Collector as their new home. Fun — but zero Doomsday relevance.

Watch These First

22 titles lead into GOTG Holiday Special — 48 hours in total. 2 of the 22 are essential.

Captain America: The First Avenger Recommended 2h 4m ★ 7.0
Captain Marvel Recommended 2h 4m ★ 6.8
Iron Man Recommended 2h 6m ★ 7.7
Iron Man 2 Recommended 2h 4m ★ 6.9
The Incredible Hulk Recommended 1h 52m ★ 6.3
Iron Man 2 (Post-Credit Scene) Recommended 0h 2m
Thor Recommended 1h 55m ★ 6.8 +2 before this
Captain America: The First Avenger (Credits) Recommended 0h 2m
Thor (Post-Credit Scene) Recommended 0h 2m
The Avengers Recommended 2h 23m ★ 8.1 +2 before this
Iron Man 3 Recommended 2h 10m ★ 6.9
Thor: The Dark World Recommended 1h 52m ★ 6.5
Captain America: The Winter Soldier Recommended 2h 16m ★ 7.7 +3 before this
Guardians of the Galaxy Essential 2h 1m ★ 7.9
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Essential 2h 16m ★ 7.6
Avengers: Age of Ultron Recommended 2h 21m ★ 7.3
Captain America: Civil War Recommended 2h 27m ★ 7.5 +1 before this
Eyes of Wakanda (Season 1) Recommended 2h ★ 6.2
Black Panther Recommended 2h 14m ★ 7.4
Spider-Man: Homecoming Recommended 2h 13m ★ 7.3
Doctor Strange Recommended 1h 55m ★ 7.4
Thor: Ragnarok Recommended 2h 10m ★ 7.6 +2 before this
Avengers: Infinity War Recommended 2h 29m ★ 8.2 +5 before this
Captain Marvel (Post-Credits Scene) Recommended 0h 2m
Avengers: Endgame Recommended 3h 2m ★ 8.2 +10 before this
Avengers: Endgame Encore Recommended 3h 5m +10 before this
Thor: Love and Thunder 1h 59m ★ 6.4 +3 before this

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Where It Fits in the MCU

GOTG Holiday Special sits at position 132 of 158 in the MCU's story-chronological order, placing it within the Phase 4 — Multiverse Opens (2024–2025) era. It is rated Essential — later MCU titles build on it. Watching in story-chronological order provides the most coherent character development experience — individual arcs build naturally toward the franchise's major crossover events, with each film's post-credits scenes carrying forward into what follows.