By the time 2014 rolled around, the force to be reckoned with. They had achieved massive success with their Phase One build to 2012's The Avengers. Things were going so well that 2013's Iron Man 3 ed The Avengers by grossing over $1 billion at the box office.
Then, it was time to see what else the MCU could pull off. Enter 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy. The film centered around an obscure group of Marvel heroes. However, it became a huge hit and fans grew to love the ragtag team. A major reason why was the performances of the talented cast through two films. This list will not take their work in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame into .
Sean Gunn
There isn't any actor more unsung in this series, and maybe the entire MCU than Sean Gunn. Brother of director and writer James Gunn, Sean is a jack of all trades. For starters, he plays the role of Kraglin Obfonteri, a loyal member of Yondu's clan of Ravagers.
He gets some emotional shine and an increased role in the sequel. Sean Gunn also handles a lot of the motion-capture work for Rocket Raccoon. Set photos depict him crouched down around the rest of the cast, showing the work he puts into the role. To top it off, he also did some motion-capture work as Thanos in the first film.
Pom Klementieff
Fans have come to truly adore Pom Klementieff as Mantis. She first made her debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as an empath who lives with Ego. Klementieff had great chemistry with the rest of the cast, which was especially true alongside Dave Bautista.
Klementieff nailed every aspect that you want from a character who has never experienced social interaction before. She made Mantis one of the highlights of a fantastic sequel and immediately blended in with the team. She went on to shine in her two Avengers outings as well.
Vin Diesel
On the surface, you'd probably be confused about why Vin Diesel would rank here. After all, he voices the character of Groot and all he has to say is, "I am Groot," except for one instance of, "We are Groot." However, there's a lot more to the performance than that.
Diesel gets a personalized script from James Gunn that translates every, "I am Groot." It's done so he can perfectly inflict and elicit the right emotion. It's not easy to take one line and deliver in different ways. Plus, he also does all of his dialogue for dubs in different languages.
Kurt Russell
If there was one complaint that Guardians of the Galaxy (and the MCU in the early stages as a whole) got, it was that the villain was weak. Lee Pace was fine in the role but Ronan felt wildly generic. Thankfully, that changed when it came time for the sequel.
Kurt Russell ed the cast as Ego the Living Planet. Unlike the comics, Ego was written to be Peter Quill's father. Russell brought the charisma needed for the character and made Ego feel menacing and heartless when it came to his desires.
Dave Bautista
Had this list been made right after the first movie, Dave Bautista probably would've ranked higher. He stole the show as Drax the Destroyer with his line delivery as someone who was unintentionally hilarious thanks to how literal he took everything.
While Bautista was still a blast in the sequel (and later in Avengers: Infinity War), he had less to do and was relegated to comic relief. Nobody complained about that but it did lessen his impact. Still, Bautista is outstanding and has made Drax a beloved character.
Karen Gillan
On the flip side, Karen Gillan would rank much lower if this was completed after the first film. Gillan plays Nebula, the sister of Gamora and tortured adopted daughter of Thanos. When first seen, she came across as nothing more than a henchwoman with a grudge against her sister.
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, she becomes one of the best parts of the story. Gillan played off of the rest of the team well and showed a ton of vulnerability when fighting Gamora. Her line delivery of, "You were the one who wanted to win and I just wanted a sister!" is heartbreaking.
Bradley Cooper
Similar to Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper stood out despite only having a voice acting role. He takes on the role of Rocket Raccoon, the best friend of Groot. Cooper mostly nails every cackle, insult, and vulnerable moment that Rocket goes through in the franchise.
That is especially true in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, as he struggled with how he drives people away whenever they get too close. The only thing holding his performance back is that there are some cases where it seemed like he was recording his lines separately from the rest of the cast.
Chris Pratt
It's the man who acts as the official protagonist of the series. Chris Pratt was a surprising pick to play the role of Peter Quill/Star-Lord originally. He was mostly only known for his comedic work on Parks and Recreation at the time.
However, Pratt got into phenomenal shape for the role and brought the funny energy needed for this character. He was witty and came across as the right guy to lead the team, even with all of the insecurities that were glaringly obvious. The character started out well but has arguably gotten worse over time.
Zoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana is basically the queen of sci-fi flicks. She starred in the Star Trek series beginning 2009, had a lead role in the blockbuster Avatar, and then signed on to play Gamora in the MCU. Saldana has one of the more subdued performances in these films.
She often has to play the "straight man" to the comedic stylings of everyone around her. Raised as a fierce warrior, she's not as prone to crack jokes as the rest of the team. Saldana is fantastic in that role, delivers when it comes to playing off of others, and has delightful romantic chemistry with Pratt.
Michael Rooker
This one took many audience by surprise. In the 2014 film, Michael Rooker made his debut as Yondu, a Ravager who raised Peter Quill but wasn't very nice to him. He was something of a secondary antagonist in that installment and not someone you'd expect to be a favorite.
Yondu ended up being the heart of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. From the way he's cast out by fellow Ravagers to his bond with Rocket to his emotional scenes with Peter near the end, Rooker was tremendous. The delivery of, "I'M MARY POPPINS, Y'ALL" is spectacular. Rooker made everyone connect with Yondu.
