Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 marks the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Writer director James Gunn gives us more backstory to Rocket (Bradley Cooper) as the group rallies together after an attack from Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), the son of Ayesha (a sovereign god first seen in a post credit scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2), leaves Rocket unable to be healed because of a kill switch put in place by his creators.

The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) is in search of creating a perfect society as he conducts experiments by enhancing lifeforms for his Counter-Earth. Some of the previous animals he experimented on end up being Rocket’s first friends. The otter Lylla, the walrus Teefs and the rabbit Floor dream of a day when they are able to join the others in Counter-Earth. Unfortunately, the High Evolutionary becomes obsessive on how Rocket is able to solve something he couldn’t, killing his friends during an escape attempt and leading Rocket to steal a ship and fly away.

Meanwhile, Nebula’s (Karen Gillan) plan is to get the help of the Ravagers, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) being among them, by wearing uniforms that match those of Orgocorps employees to infiltrate the headquarters. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Gamora and Nebula go and search for Rocket’s file from the scientists responsible that would have a clue to the code necessary to turn off Rocket’s kill switch. They do an incredible space jump popping with color. Filled with a few cameos, the team is successful in locating Rocket’s file but it does not have the code they need.

The team heads to Counter-Earth and thanks to a friendly family of anthropomorphic bat inhabitants, the group is able to form a plan. Quill, Nebula and Groot drive and pay The High Evolutionary a visit and he decides to leave Counter-Earth. Lifting his ship out of the planet starting a series of explosions. Gamora is able to escape with Rocket, crash landing and picking up Quill and Groot after their escape with the hard drive. They are able to implement the code, but not before a heart stopping scene of Rocket flatlining.

With the group split Nebula, Drax and Mantis discover imprisoned humanoid children that Drax is able to communicate with. In an attempt to rescue those on board, a now awake and alert Rocket, is done running from his past. Rocket confronts The High Evolutionary, they’re able to evacuate everyone onboard crossing into Knowhere.