<P> Guardians of the Galaxy was released in 42 international markets and grossed $66.4 million on its opening weekend . The biggest debuts came from Russia ($13 million), the United Kingdom ($10.8 million), Mexico ($6.5 million), Brazil ($6.5 million) and South Korea ($4.7 million). The film topped the weekend box office two times, in its first and second weekends . In its eleventh weekend, the film opened in China, earning $29.8 million, its largest, and became the third highest opening in the country for any Disney release, behind Iron Man 3 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and was an all - time industry record opening in October . The following weekend saw an additional $21.3 million from China, making China the highest grossing market with $69 million . The film's three biggest markets in total earnings were: China ($96.5 million); the UK ($47.4 million); and Russia ($37.5 million). </P> <P> The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 91% approval rating with an average rating of 7.8 / 10 based on 288 reviews . The website's consensus reads, "Guardians of the Galaxy is just as irreverent as fans of the frequently zany Marvel comic would expect--as well as funny, thrilling, full of heart, and packed with visual splendor ." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100, based on 52 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". CinemaScore audiences gave Guardians of the Galaxy an "A" grade rating on an A+ to F scale, while earning an "A +" among under - 18 and 25 - to 34 - year - old viewers . </P> <P> Scott Foundas of Variety said "James Gunn's presumptive franchise - starter is overlong, overstuffed and sometimes too eager to please, but the cheeky comic tone keeps things buoyant--as does Chris Pratt's winning performance", and praised the film's look created by cinematographer Ben Davis, production designer Charles Wood, and special effects makeup designer David White . Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter also praised the film's look, and felt "A well - matched ensemble rises to the challenge of launching a heroic origin film with distinctive style, abundant thrills and no shortage of humor ." The Daily Telegraph's Robbie Collin said, "A brand new summer family blockbuster this may be, but it plays by old, half - forgotten rules; trimming out the clutter and cross-referencing for snappy, streamlined, Saturday - cartoon fun". Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times said, "Blessed with a loose, anarchic B - picture soul that encourages you to enjoy yourself even when you're not quite sure what's going on, the scruffy Guardians is irreverent in a way that can bring the first Star Wars to mind, in part because it has some of the most unconventional heroes this side of the Mos Eisley Cantina ." Manohla Dargis of The New York Times said, "While Guardians takes you down one after another crazy narrative turn, it also pulls you into--and, for the most part, keeps you in--a fully realized other world ." Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun - Times said, "Guardians of the Galaxy is a late summer treat--a mostly lighthearted and self - referential comic - book movie with loads of whiz - bang action, some laugh - out - loud moments and a couple of surprisingly beautiful and touching scenes as well," calling it "a refreshing confection of entertainment ." Jim Starlin, creator of Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, and Thanos, said it "might be Marvel's best movie yet". </P> <P> Jake Coyle of the Associated Press was more critical of the film, calling it "terribly overstuffed and many of the jokes get drowned out by the special effects...The pervasive movie references detract from the stab at freshness, and Guardians depends all too much on the whimsy of' 70s anthems for an original beat ." He also felt that Close, Reilly and del Toro were underused in the film . Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle said, "In place of wit, Guardians offers a sort of generalized willingness to be amusing, an atmosphere of high spirits that feels like lots of people pumping air into a tire that has a hole in it . Everyone is clearly working, but nothing is really happening--and yet the effort is so evident that there's an impulse to reward it ." Kyle Smith of the New York Post also had a negative response to the film, comparing it to Howard the Duck and Green Lantern, and criticizing the dialogue, villains, soundtrack, lack of suspense, and the characters of Quill, Rocket, and Drax . The film received mixed reviews in China, where viewers complained that the film's "poor subtitle translation not only spoiled the fun of watching it, but also made it difficult to understand its humor ." </P>

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