The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (Original Soundtrack) accompanies the 2022 Marvel Studios Christmas special The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, written and directed by James Gunn and featuring the Guardians cast including Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff. The soundtrack features the original score composed by John Murphy, known for The Suicide Squad and Kick-Ass, together with original holiday songs performed in the special that blend festive and action-comedy tones.
The soundtrack album was released November 23, 2022, via Hollywood Records / Marvel Music. It contains 12 original tracks — including score cues and original songs like I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here) by Old 97’s and Here It Is Christmastime by Kevin Bacon & Old 97’s — with a total runtime of approximately 22 minutes, available on platforms such as Apple Music.
Murphy’s music emphasizes festive orchestration with light action cues that mirror the special’s blend of holiday warmth and Guardians-style adventure, while the original songs and selected holiday tracks enhance the celebratory, off-beat tone of the story.
In addition to the official score and featured songs on the soundtrack, the special includes various licensed holiday and rock tracks — such as Fairytale of New York by The Pogues, Just Like Christmas by Low, Christmastime by The Smashing Pumpkins, and Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses — heard in the special but not included on the score album.
Composer: John Murphy
Release Date: November 23, 2022
Label: Hollywood Records / Marvel Music
Tracks: 12
Genre: Score / holiday themed soundtrack
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special: Tracklist
- “Christmastime” — The Smashing Pumpkins
- “Just Like Christmas” — Low
- “Dead by X-Mas” — Hanoi Rocks
- “Christmas Treat” — Julian Casablancas
- “Mrs. Claus” — Little Jackie
- “Fairytale of New York” — The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl
- “Christmas Wrapping” — The Waitresses
- “Is This Christmas?” — The Wombats
- “I Want An Alien For Christmas” — Fountains of Wayne
Score Soundtrack
- Old 97’s – I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here)
- John Murphy – How Yondu Ruined Christmas
- John Murphy – Telekinesis
- John Murphy – Kevin at Home
- John Murphy – Chasing Kevin
- John Murphy – Mantis Fights Back
- John Murphy – He’s an Actor!
- John Murphy – The Best Christmas Present
- John Murphy – Kraglin Explains
- John Murphy – How the Story Really Ended
- John Murphy – Mantis Reveals Her Secret
- Kevin Bacon – Here It Is Christmastime
