The Guardians of the Galaxy are arag-tag group of misfitswho formed together to save the galaxy, albeit very reluctantly for some members of the group. One of those such reluctant misfits is none other than Rocket, a genetically altered raccoon voiced byBradley Cooperand played on set by actor Sean Gunn. From the mind of writer and director James Gunn, TheGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise is packed full of iconic scenes, funny dialogue, and beloved characters. A beloved portion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Rocket has also become one of the most beloved characters in the franchise. It is impressive, considering that when the film was first announced, many wondered if audiences would watch a movie with a talking raccoon.
May 2023 saw the end of the Guardians as we know them, with several actors departing the MCU entirely and Gunn leaving Marvel to helm DC Studios.Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3revealed the truth behind Rocket Racoon’s creation and concluded with a new team of Guardians, with Rocket in the lead. With their future in the MCU unclear, let’s revisit some of Rocket Raccoon’s best moments in the MCU.
Update June 16, 2025: This article has been updated by Valerie Parker to include even more great MCU moments from Rocket Raccoon.
15Not Understanding Sarcasm & Talking Behind People’s Backs
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2begins with Rocket and the rest of the Guardians, who are hired by the Sovereign to protect valuable batteries from a space monster. After being rewarded for their help, Rocket insults the Sovereign to their face and shows a complete lack of understanding of sarcasm when he insults them directly to their faces.
“You know they told me you people were conceited douchebags, but that isn’t true at all—Oh s–t, I’m using the wrong eye again, aren’t I? I’m sorry. That was meant to be behind your back.”
14I Would Very Much Like to Go There
InAvengers: Infinity Warwhen the Guardians find Thor floating in space, they quickly discover that Thanos is their shared enemy. After some hilarious banter, Thor eventually reveals his belief that in order to defeat Thanos, he must find a new weapon that he believes will defeat the Mad Titan, and the only place he can do so is Nidavellir. Rocket has heard of the legendary forge. “That place is a legend. They make the most powerful, horrific weapons to ever torment the universe. I would very much like to go there, please.”
Typical Rocket wants the shiny new weapon. Not only that, but despite Thor calling him a rabbit (something all Asgardians do as seen inAvengers: Endgame), Rocket doesn’t mind because Thor appears to not be talking down to him when he calls him a rabbit.
13“Bunch of Jackasses Standing in a Circle”
InGuardians of the Galaxywhen Peter Quill, played by Chris Pratt, calls the group of “losers” together to officially save the galaxy, he gives a moving speech, which of course ends in Rocket adding a bit of crude humor into the mix. As the last one to officially say yes to Quill’s proposition, he says “What the hell, I ain’t got that long of a life span anyway.”
Then the dramatic heroic moment is then hilarious undercut when Rocket says “Now I’m standing, you all happy? We’re all standing up now. Bunch of jackasses standing in a circle.”. This line was actually ad-libbed by Sean Gunn on set and added to the film, becoming one of the best moments in the franchise.
12"This One Here’s Our Booty"
The Guardians first meet when they are all sent to the same prison. Rocket, Groot, Gamora, and Quill are sent to prison after their scuffle — which we will talk more about next — and it’s there that Rocket and Groot stake their claim on Gamora, who is one of the most wanted in the prison due to her connections with Ronan the Accuser and Thanos. One of the prisoners threatens them when Groot puts his hands through the prisoner’s nose prompting Rocket’s speech. “Let’s make something clear. This one here’s our booty! You wanna get to him, you go through us! Or more accurately… We go through you!”
11When He Tries to Capture Quill for the Bounty
Before the Guardians became the Guardians, Rocket, and Groot were a team of bounty hunters obsessed with capturing those with bounties on their heads. When he spots Quill and discovers the bounty Yondu put on him, he immediately goes into capture mode. His efforts are thwarted when Gamora shows up and also sets her sight on Quill for the orb.
Related:Why Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Is an Animal Rights Masterpiece
This scene is the first to introduce Rocket’s love of big guns and slightly sadistic behavior when he says, “I live for the simple things… like how much this is gonna hurt.” In a simple scene, Rocket immediately endured himself to audiences.
10Making Fun of Taserface’s Name
InGOTGVol. 2, Rocket, Baby Groot, and Yondu have been captured by Yondu’s ex-crew. During one of the early scenes, Rocket learns of Taserface’s name. The humorous conversation goes as follows,
“Sorry, I’m so sorry, I just keep imagining you waking up in the morning, looking in the mirror and in all seriousness to yourself saying, ‘You know what would be a really kick-ass name? Taserface!’ That’s how I hear you in my head! What was your second choice? Scrotumhead?!”
The conversation was so funny, Taserface’s men couldn’t help but laugh along with Rocket. Even in the face of death, Rocket could not help but make a joke and mock someone.
9All the Times He Says He Needs Someone’s Prosthetic Body Part
If you haven’t already noticed, Rocket is a bit of a funny guy. He likes practical jokes as much as anyone else. In a few instances throughout the series, Rocket tricks someone into trying to get their prosthetic leg, eye, or arm. Quill falls for it the first time when Rocket says he needs a leg to complete his plan to break out of the prison. Later, he tries to say he needs an eye for another plan, though Quill calls him out on that one, sparing the person from losing their eye.
One of the benefits of a cinematic universe like the one Marvel has created is the ability to carry on repeated jokes throughout the properties. Almost from the first moment that Rocket started asking for different prosthetic body parts in the Guardians films, fans hoped for a meeting between him and Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier.
Avengers: Infinity Wardelivered that moment when the duo met on the battlefield in Wakanda. Rocket first asked how much Bucky would like for the giant gun he was using, and after Bucky informed him it wasn’t for sale, Rocket countered, asking how much for Bucky’s new prosthetic arm, provided by the Wakandans. Bucky didn’t even deign to respond to that one, but Rocket proclaimed, “Oh, I’ll get that arm.” A moment years in the making and easily one of the most memorable moments in all of the MCU.
8Rocket’s Christmas Gift
One can’t mention Rocket’s wish for Bucky’s arm without following that up with the universe follow-up when Nebula makes that wish come true and gifts the arm to Rocket duringThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Rocket’s so overcome he tears up at this beautiful gift. Perhaps the best part of the scene is that there isabsolutely no explanation as to how Nebula obtained the arm, what Bucky’s doing without it, and what Rocket subsequently does with his new toy. The audience is simply left to imagine.
7Trying to Explain How to Work the Detonator to Baby Groot
Rocket and Groot are close friends even before the Guardians get together. When Groot, unfortunately, dies at the end ofGuardians of the Galaxy, Rocket takes a part of him, leading to the growth of Baby Groot. Unfortunately, Baby Groot is just that, a baby, and when he is tasked with setting off the bomb to destroy Ego inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it leads to a hilarious exchange between the duo, where Groot simply cannot seem to understand the directions Rocket is giving to him.
Rocket continues to grow flustered and concerned that Groot is going to kill them all by pushing the wrong series of buttons on the bomb Rocket has created. Eventually, a desperate Rocket exclaims, “Does anyone have any tape out there? I wanna put some tape over the death button.” Thankfully, Baby Groot is able to pull through and sets off the bomb.
6He’s Done Running
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3was very much Rocket’s movie; in the afterlife, Lyla even tells Rocket, “It was his story all along,” similar to how James Gunn always saw the trilogy about Rocket. In the film’s climax, Rocket makes a decision he has been waiting his entire life to do: he is done running.
He loads up his weapon, and goes back down the very hallway he escaped years prior to finally confront his maker while also going to save the lives of other lifeforms. He is joined by his friends, and he cements himself as a true hero and a Guardian of the Galaxy.The hallway fight is also one of the coolest scenes in the entire MCU.
