There are now over 30 Marvel movies in the MCU, and new ones are added every year. One of the faces of the universe is probably Robert Downey Jr. The actor of Iron Man had a clear favorite back in 2014 that will probably surprise some fans.
What is Robert Downey Jr.’s favorite Marvel movie? In 2014, he spoke in an interview with the Toronto Sun and answered the question of what his favorite movie in the MCU is.
Instead of choosing one that he stars in, he picked Guardians of the Galaxy from 2014: Galaxy is in a way the best Marvel movie of all time. And it’s strange that someone with – occasionally – such a big ego like me actually says that
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Even 12 years later, Guardians of the Galaxy is a special film in the entire MCU.
A surprising success
What makes Guardians of the Galaxy so special? The 1st Guardians of the Galaxy was an immediate success for Marvel. With a budget of $170 million, the film grossed over $770 million according to Box Office Mojo. Although Marvel was in a peak phase back then, it’s not a given that a group of underdogs would work so well.
The previous movies in the MCU were about heroes whose names you might know, even if you weren’t into comics: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk. The members of the Avengers had a long history and were already known in pop culture.
With the Guardians of the Galaxy, it was different. Although the name already appeared in 1969 in Marvel Super-Heroes No. 18, the Guardians on which the film is based were only established in 2008 in the comic Annihilation Conquest No. 6. At that time, the team included Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Gamora, and Drax.
So at the time of the film, the team was more like comic underdogs, and there was hardly any link to the previous MCU to ride on the success of another hero. It was a big risk for Marvel.
This risk paid off. The first film that takes place entirely in space was well received, and the quirky members of the team became pop culturally relevant figures. This was probably also due to the director. James Gunn created a film with his focus on cult music that fits into the atmosphere of the MCU but always retains its own identity.
Moreover, the series kept this identity even in the 3rd part in 2023. They made standalone films that didn’t have to be a forced crossover with other heroes – for that, there was Infinity War and Endgame.
But what do you think? What is your favorite MCU movie and why? Feel free to share your opinion with us in the comments. One of the most well-known and powerful Avengers is the Hulk, but he can also be defeated, and some have already achieved that: 10 characters who have defeated Hulk in battle
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