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Pulling together this list of the 10 best James Gunn movies and shows entailed a fair bit of debate on what to include and what to leave out. The Superman director has been involved with a huge number of different projects over the years, meaning that some things would naturally be left out (sorry James Gunn's PG Porn). At the same time, we wanted to acknowledge that some of his best work has been on the small screen, with TV shows like Creature Commandos and Peacemaker.
So, for this list, we've taken an all-encompassing approach. There are films that Gunn directed and a couple where he was just the screenwriter, as well as the aforementioned TV shows. Fans of 2010's Super, we're sorry, but that movie didn't make the cut this time (if we expand the list out in future, it'll no doubt appear there), but hopefully fans of underrated shocker The Belko Experiment will be pleased.
So join us now as we look back over 10 of James Gunn's best films and shows. And when you're done here, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies, as well as our guide to how to watch the DC movies in order.
10. The Belko Experiment
Gunn wrote the screenplay for this tense workplace horror drama. In The Belko Experiment, a group of office workers are trapped inside their corporate building and forced to murder each other while sinister forces observe the action from behind the scenes. There are unmistakable echoes of films like Battle Royale and The Hunger Games in the setup here, but that's no bad thing. The gruesome action sequences are capably directed by Wolf Creek's Greg McLean, who does a solid job of wringing the tension from this high-concept scenario. It's all played surprisingly straight compared to much of Gunn's work, but still bears some of his MO in its inventive brutality. While far from a classic, this is a solidly entertaining genre thriller.
9. Slither
Gunn pays homage to his roots working for B-movie studio Troma with this gloopy, gruesome monster movie. Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks both star in a riotous horror comedy that sees a race of extraterrestrial slug monsters crash to Earth on a meteorite. They quickly set about possessing and mutating the townsfolk of Wheelsy, South Carolina, with Fillion's Police Chief Bill Pardy leading the fight back against the invaders. While some of the digital special effects haven't aged well, Slither remains an entertainingly gross modern-day B-movie. OK, so it didn't "change the face of horror," as its trailer boldly promised, but it is a good time for those with a strong stomach.
8. Dawn of the Dead
James Gunn may have replaced Zack Snyder as the head of the DC movies, but the two are actually friends (as evidenced by their recent appearance on Rick & Morty). In fact, Gunn's career got a boost when he wrote the screenplay for Snyder's breakout movie, Dawn of the Dead – a 2004 remake of the iconic George Romero movie. For many fans, the idea of remaking a timeless classic seemed foolhardy, but the rebooted Dawn was actually a perfectly decent action-horror movie. Gunn's script was tight and witty – inspired by, but not beholden to, Romero's original movie. When combined with Snyder's muscular filmmaking, it made for a strong addition to the early '00s zombie movie revival.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The weakest installment of the Guardians trilogy is still a very good movie. Buoyed by the glowing reception to the first film, Vol. 2 radiates confidence from the off, opening with a hyper-kinetic sequence that sees the gang battle a giant monster, while Groot dances to 'Mr Blue Sky.' The main plot tracks Star-Lord connecting with his biological father, Kurt Russell's alien Ego. What initially seems like a happy meeting quickly takes a turn for the sinister, however. Meanwhile, Yondu's Ravagers are hired to bring the Guardians in. The film sags a little, with a bloated running time and a slight sense that Gunn is re-playing the first film's hits. Still, the characters are never less than likable, and we have this movie to thank for the introduction of Pom Klementieff's Mantis.
What did we make of the sequel back in 2017? Find out in our Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 review.
6. Creature Commandos
The first official entry into the new DCU was not the new Superman movie, but instead this entertaining animated series. The format is pure Gunn: a team of mismatched anti-heroes – this time a literal monster squad that includes the Bride of Frankenstein (Indira Varma), a robot from World War II (Sean Gunn), and Weasel from The Suicide Squad – is assembled by Amanda Waller and plunged into a violent scenario where they must fight to survive. Very much for adults only, this is scabrously filthy and blood-soaked, but also doesn't forget the importance of characterization. Weasel quickly emerged as a fan favorite character, while the story of Frankenstein's hunt for the Bride was effectively twisted. A second season is currently in development.
We said that "the DCU is in good hands" in our Creature Commandos review.
5. The Suicide Squad
Gunn's first film for DC was this surprise sequel to 2016's largely unloved Suicide Squad. He sets out his intentions from the start, killing off a huge swathe of characters in a brutal, hilarious opening sequence that follows through on the key premise of this team: that most of its members don't last very long. From there, the film takes in a rampaging alien starfish, military intrigue, and a subplot where Harley Quinn almost marries a dictator. At times, The Suicide Squad feels like a cynical rejoinder to his work on the Guardians films, that team's snark and rogue-ish tendencies replaced here with something meaner and nastier. At the same time, there's still a strong core of emotion at work in the film too. Appropriately enough, The Suicide Squad died at the box office, but has found a strong fan following since, and it opened the door to the Peacemaker TV show, for which we should all be thankful.
Find out what we made of the film with our full The Suicide Squad review.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy
Even with so many hits behind them, Guardians of the Galaxy felt like a gamble for Marvel Studios. Although beloved by comics fans, the team was largely unknown by the general public, and abandoning the MCU's Earth-based plots for something set entirely in outer space added to the sense of risk surrounding the project. Well, it certainly paid off. Audiences fell in love with this gang of intergalactic a-holes from the moment Peter "Star-Lord" Quill strutted his way across planet Morag to the sounds of Redbone's 'Come and Get Your Love.' The Guardians brought a touch of anarchy to the previously squeaky-clean MCU, but as ever with Gunn's work, it was the depth of emotion lurking just beneath the surface that made the film such a success.
3. Superman
Gunn's high-stakes reinvention of the Man of Steel is – at the time of writing – the biggest film on the planet. It's easy to see why: Gunn ditches the gloom that had come to surround Superman by looking back to the character's comic book origins and making a film that's full of warmth and wit as well as exciting action set pieces. David Corenswet is superb in the lead, occasionally recalling Christopher Reeve's iconic performance, but largely doing something fresh and new. Nicholas Hoult, meanwhile, gives us a definitive screen Lex Luthor. The plot is an episodic jumble of space prisons, rampaging kaiju, and warring nations, but it successfully reinvents Superman for the 2020s, and sets the stage for many more DCU adventures to come.
Find out why we called the new film a "triumphant reinvention" in our Superman review.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The third entry in the Guardians trilogy ends the series on a high. Vol. 3 manages to combine the epic scope of Vol. 2 with sharper characterization and a darker edge. When the team is attacked by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), Rocket is left critically injured. Star-Lord and the gang set out to save his life, but soon come face to face with amoral scientist, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) and his apocalyptic schemes. Vol. 3 is as warm and funny as the first two movies, but also darker and sadder – it's a film that looks into Rocket's tragic backstory and finds a history of animal cruelty. Despite this, the film is still wildly entertaining, wrapping up the trilogy and providing a satisfying conclusion that also sets the stage for further adventures to come.
Back in 2023 we called this film a "rousing conclusion." Find out more with our Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 review.
1. Peacemaker season 1
Do you really wanna taste it? Peacemaker's first season does a remarkable job of taking John Cena's fun, but slightly one-note villain from The Suicide Squad and transforming him into a fully developed and hugely likable character. Chris "Peacemaker" Smith has recovered from the injuries he sustained towards the end of that movie and is assigned to a mysterious black ops division, tasked with defeating an apparent alien invasion of Earth. At the same time, he's grappling with some... complex feelings towards his distant father (brilliantly – and hatefully – played by Robert Patrick). Along the way, Smith genuinely bonds with his teammates, notably Amanda Waller's daughter Leota (Danielle Brooks) and Freddie Stroma's goofy, psychotic Vigilante. It's funny, it's violent, and it's unexpectedly genuinely very moving. All this and an instantly iconic opening sequence. We can't wait to see what Gunn does with season 2...
