# The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
**The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special** is a 2022 American television special written and directed by James Gunn for Disney+, based on the [Marvel Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-comics) superhero team the [Guardians of the Galaxy](https://www.edgepedia.org/guardians-of-the-galaxy), in which the team travels to Earth to give Peter Quill a memorable Christmas. It was released on November 25, 2022, as the conclusion of Phase Four of the [Marvel Cinematic Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-cinematic-universe) (MCU), and Marvel Studios billed it under a "Special Presentation" label.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13623136/) • [2](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | November 25, 2022, on Disney+ (United States)[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13623136/) |
| Runtime | 42 minutes (listed as 44 minutes by Rotten Tomatoes)[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13623136/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_guardians_of_the_galaxy_holiday_special) |
| Director and writer | James Gunn[4](https://press.disney.co.uk/press-kit/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special) |
| Main cast | Chris Pratt (Peter Quill/Star-Lord), Dave Bautista (Drax), Karen Gillan ([Nebula](https://www.edgepedia.org/nebula-marvel-cinematic-universe)), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, with Kevin Bacon as himself[4](https://press.disney.co.uk/press-kit/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special) |
| Franchise role | Concluded Phase Four of the MCU, ahead of *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania*[2](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special) |
| Reception | 95% Tomatometer from 64 reviews; 81% Popcornmeter from 2,500+ ratings on Rotten Tomatoes[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_guardians_of_the_galaxy_holiday_special) |
| Signature song | "I Don't Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here)", written by James Gunn and Rhett Miller, performed by Old 97's[5](https://a.cdnv2.artofthetitle.com/title/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special/) |
## Production
[Kevin Feige](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-feige), president of [Marvel Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-studios), announced at [The Walt Disney Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-walt-disney-company)'s Investor Day that James Gunn would return to write and direct the special for Disney+, ahead of *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3*.[6](https://www.marvel.com/articles/movies/james-gunn-holiday-special-guardians-of-the-galaxy-3?mobile-app=true&theme=dark%2F1000) Gunn had pitched the idea to Feige years earlier and later said he had "bugged Kevin Feige endlessly about" a story he described as "one of my favorite stories ever"; he reported writing the script in a few hours.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13623136/)
The special was shot during production of *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3*, using the same cast, crew, and sets.[7](https://www.avforums.com/reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special-disney-movie-review.20350/) John Murphy composed the score, Henry Braham was cinematographer, and Beth Mickle served as production designer.[8](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special/cast/2000503875/) Its production included a three-story spaceship build with one of the largest pilot bays Marvel had constructed, according to a statement from the production designer.[9](https://britishfilmdesigners.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-Holiday-Special-Combined-Pages-1.pdf)
## Plot
The Guardians are now living on Knowhere and have taught the locals about Christmas. When Kraglin ([Sean Gunn](https://www.edgepedia.org/sean-gunn)) recounts a Christmas that went wrong for Peter Quill as a child, Drax ([Dave Bautista](https://www.edgepedia.org/dave-bautista)) and Mantis ([Pom Klementieff](https://www.edgepedia.org/pom-klementieff)) resolve to restore Quill's holiday spirit by finding him the greatest gift possible.[10](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special) Remembering that Quill idolizes the actor Kevin Bacon, they travel to Earth and abduct him.[11](https://time.com/6276775/guardians-of-the-recap-before-vol-3/) Bacon plays an easygoing version of himself, described by Common Sense Media as "delightfully game" in the role.[10](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special)
The abduction plan goes awry but ends well, and the special gives Mantis, previously a secondary character, substantial focus on her kinship with Peter Quill.[14](https://www.tvline.com/news/guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special-mantis-quill-sister-1234898889/) In its closing scenes, Mantis tells Quill that Ego, the Celestial who fathered Quill, is also her real father, making her Quill's half-sister, a fact established in *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2*.[11](https://time.com/6276775/guardians-of-the-recap-before-vol-3/) A mid-credits scene shows Groot serving as a [Christmas tree](https://www.edgepedia.org/christmas-tree).[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13623136/) [Kevin Bacon](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-bacon)'s backstory in the MCU was already established in the first *Guardians of the Galaxy* film (2014), in which Peter Quill calls Bacon "a great hero" for saving the day through dance.[12](https://www.marvel.com/articles/tv-shows/kevin-bacon-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special)
## Music
Although not an official musical, music plays a central role, including [The Pogues](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-pogues)' "Fairytale of New York" and new original songs by [Old 97's](https://www.edgepedia.org/old-97s), whose lead singer Rhett Miller also voices the character Bzermikitokolok.[10](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special) • [8](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special/cast/2000503875/) The best-known original is "I Don't Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here)", credited to [James Gunn](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-gunn) and Rhett Miller and performed by Old 97's.[5](https://a.cdnv2.artofthetitle.com/title/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special/) The song, performed in the film by an alien band, explains Christmas to the citizens of Knowhere through a chain of garbled misunderstandings.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13623136/)
## Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the special holds a 95% Tomatometer from 64 reviews and an 81% Popcornmeter audience score from more than 2,500 ratings. The critics consensus calls it "more of a stocking stuffer than a fully-rounded parcel" and a showcase for Drax, Mantis, and "a very game Kevin Bacon"; the audience summary advises viewers not to expect a full-fledged Marvel movie.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_guardians_of_the_galaxy_holiday_special) Commentators noted that it fills the gap between *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* (2017) and *Vol. 3*, and several observers highlighted the special as a self-aware homage to retro television holiday specials, most notably *The Star Wars Holiday Special*.[2](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special)
The special carried a TV-14 rating, with Common Sense Media citing fistfights, drunk characters, and kidnapping as content concerns while calling it a warm, family-friendly holiday romp for viewers aged about 12 and up.[10](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special)
## Place in the MCU
The special is set between the Guardians' appearances after *Avengers: Endgame* and *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3*, and Gamora does not appear in it; after *Endgame*, that version of Gamora, who never met the Guardians, went out on her own.[11](https://time.com/6276775/guardians-of-the-recap-before-vol-3/) Its Mantis revelation and the Knowhere setting carry into *Vol. 3*, whose newspaper headline about Kevin Bacon's alien abduction serves as a nod back to the special.[13](https://time.com/6277241/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-post-credits-explained/)
## References
1. [The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (TV Special 2022), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13623136/)
2. [The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special review, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special)
3. [The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_guardians_of_the_galaxy_holiday_special)
4. [The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Disney+ Press Kit](https://press.disney.co.uk/press-kit/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special)
5. [The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022), Art of the Title](https://a.cdnv2.artofthetitle.com/title/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special/)
6. [James Gunn Returns to Write and Direct 'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special', Marvel.com](https://www.marvel.com/articles/movies/james-gunn-holiday-special-guardians-of-the-galaxy-3?mobile-app=true&theme=dark%2F1000)
7. [The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (Disney+) Movie Review, AVForums](https://www.avforums.com/reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special-disney-movie-review.20350/)
8. [The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special/cast/2000503875/)
9. [Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, production designer statement, British Film Designers Guild](https://britishfilmdesigners.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-Holiday-Special-Combined-Pages-1.pdf)
10. [Parents' Guide to The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special)
11. [What to Remember Before Seeing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Time](https://time.com/6276775/guardians-of-the-recap-before-vol-3/)
12. [Introducing the Greatest Marvel Hero: Kevin Bacon, Marvel.com](https://www.marvel.com/articles/tv-shows/kevin-bacon-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special)
13. [Breaking Down the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Post-Credits Scenes, Time](https://time.com/6277241/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-post-credits-explained/)
14. [Guardians Of The Galaxy Star Talks Disney+ Holiday Special Reveal, How It Affects Vol. 3 Movie Sequel - TVLine](https://www.tvline.com/news/guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special-mantis-quill-sister-1234898889/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Episodes and serial chapters › Episodic-form concepts › Special and themed episodes*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license