Marvel's latest addition to its cinematic universe is being praised left, right and center.
Glowing reviews have flooded onto Rotten Tomatoes and other sites for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 since it dropped into cinemas last week.
Viewers are flocking to social media to congratulate James Gunn, Chris Pratt and the whole team for creating a masterpiece.
Advert
However, it's also received commendation from an unlikely source.
Animal rights and welfare organization PETA believes the third instalment to the franchise is the best in their eyes for a specific reason.
The group says the movie sends a 'powerful message' and is the 'best animal rights movie of 2023'.
Advert
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 does something few movies have ever done: It tells a beautiful and compassionate story about testing on animals to a Marvel-size audience," PETA said in a statement.
"The film features gorgeously animated animals, including Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper, who was awarded an Oscat for his compassionate decision to feature his own animal companion in A Star Is Born), Lylla, Floor, and Teefs, who take moviegoers on an emotional rollercoaster while exposing the evils of animal testing.
"James Gunn’s screenplay doesn’t back away from the tough (but often true-to-reality) subject matter, and we’re thrilled by a story about having empathy for all living, feeling beings.
"For his kind and compelling portrayal of Rocket and his friends and reminding moviegoers that animals tortured in laboratories are sentient beings and not the numbers tattooed on them, PETA is honoring Gunn (who is also the director of the film) with the Not a Number Award."
In Vol. 3, we get to see Rocket's origin story and how he grew up in some pretty grim situations.
Advert
PETA has commended the film for highlighting that this isn't some other-worldly nightmare; this happens on Earth and it happens a lot.
But it's not all sadness in James Gunn's epic film.
The animal rights organization says the movie 'imagines a future when animals can live in peace'.
PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said: "Through Rocket, James Gunn has put a face, a name, and a personality on the millions of vulnerable animals being cycled through laboratories as we speak.
Advert
“PETA is celebrating this as the best animal rights film of the year for helping audiences see animals as individuals and suggesting that just because we can experiment on them doesn’t mean that we should.”
Topics: Guardians Of The Galaxy, Marvel, Animals