Writer and director James Gunn at Los Angeles premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'

Writer and director James Gunn at Los Angeles premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'

Writer, director and producer James Gunn is one of the most popular filmmakers working today!

Gunn began his career writing such popular movies as 'Scooby-Doo' and Zach Snyder's 'Dawn of the Dead,' and would eventually go on to direct his own movies like 'Slither' and 'Super' before taking on the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise for Marvel Studios and 'The Suicide Squad' for DC.

Gunn is also the new co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios along with producer Pater Safran, and will soon be writing and directing 'Superman: Legacy.' Meanwhile, his final film in the 'Guardians' trilogy, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' is currently in theaters now.

In honor of his new film, Moviefone is counting down every movie James Gunn has ever made from worst to best. Fort this list, we are including any movie Gunn either wrote, directed, produced, or some combination of the three, but we are not including his TV work, such as the 'Peacemaker' series or 'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.'

Let's begin!


13. 'Tromeo & Juliet' (1997)

Written by Gunn, 'Tromeo & Juliet' is a modern, punk adaptation of Shakespeare's classic. Told irreverently, this film attempts to impact the viewer in the same way theatre-goers were effected in Shakespeare's time. Bawdy, Violent, Humorous, and Romantic.

Tromeo & Juliet

Tromeo & Juliet

"Body Piercing, Kinky Sex, Dismemberment. The Things That Made Shakespeare Great"
60
Not Yet Rated1 hr 47 minFeb 28th, 1997


12. 'The Belko Experiment' (2016)

Orion Pictures

Orion Pictures

Written and produced by Gunn, a group of eighty American workers are locked in their office and ordered by an unknown voice (Gregg Henry) to participate in a twisted game.

The Belko Experiment

"Just another day at the office."
62
R1 hr 29 minMar 17th, 2016
Showtimes & Tickets


11. 'The Specials' (2000)

Written by Gunn, America's 7th Best Superhero Team, the Specials, are a group of geeks and oddballs (including Thomas Haden Church and Rob Lowe). We get to see one day in their lives as fan and new member Nightbird (Jordan Ladd) joins the group, just in time for the group to get a new line of action figures. But the members' extreme personalities and personal issues threaten to rip the group apart.

The Specials

The Specials

54
R1 hr 22 minSep 22nd, 2000

America's seventh best superhero team, the Specials, are a group of geeks and oddballs. Lifelong fan Nightbird joins the group just in time for the group to get... Read the Plot


10. 'Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed' (2004)

Written by Gunn, when Mystery, Inc. (Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mathew Lillard and Linda Cardellini) are guests of honor at the grand opening of the Coolsville Museum of Criminology, a masked villain shows up and creates havoc before stealing the costumes of the gang's most notorious villains...Could it be that their nemesis, mad scientist Jonathan Jacobo (Tim Blake Nelson) has returned and is trying to recreate their deadliest foes?

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

"Doo the fright thing."
61
PG1 hr 33 minMar 26th, 2004


9. 'Slither' (2006)

Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures

Written and directed by Gunn, a small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters.

Slither

"Horror has a new face."
65
R1 hr 35 minMar 31st, 2006


8. 'Brightburn' (2019)

Sony Pictures Releasing

Sony Pictures Releasing

Produced by Gunn, what if a child (Jackson A. Dunn) from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister?

Brightburn

"What if Superman was an evil little boy?"
61
R1 hr 31 minMay 24th, 2019


7. 'Super' (2011)

IFC Midnight

IFC Midnight

Written and directed by Gunn, after his wife (Liv Tyler) falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt (Rainn Wilson), a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills.

Super

Super

"Shut up, crime!"
65
R1 hr 36 minApr 1st, 2011


6. 'Scooby-Doo' (2002)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures

Written by Gunn, the Mystery Inc. gang (Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mathew Lillard and Linda Cardellini) have gone their separate ways and have been apart for two years, until they each receive an invitation to Spooky Island. Not knowing that the others have also been invited, they show up and discover an amusement park that affects young visitors in very strange ways.

Scooby-Doo

Scooby-Doo

"Be afraid. Be kind of afraid."
61
PG1 hr 26 minJun 14th, 2002


5. 'Dawn of the Dead' (2004)

Written by Gunn, a group of survivors (including Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames and Ty Burrell) take refuge in a shopping mall after the world is taken over by aggressive, flesh-eating zombies.

Dawn of the Dead

"When there's no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth."
71
NR1 hr 41 minMar 19th, 2004
Showtimes & Tickets


4. 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' (2023)

Karen Gillan as Nebula, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.'

Walt Disney Studios

Written and directed by Gunn, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.


3. 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' (2017)

Walt Disney Studios

Walt Disney Studios

Written and directed by Gunn, the Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill's (Chris Pratt) true parentage.


2. 'The Suicide Squad' (2021)

(L to R) David Dastmalchian, John Cena, Idris Elba and Daniela Melchior in 'The Suicide Squad.'

Warner Bros. Pictures

Written and directed by Gunn, welcome to Belle Reve, the prison where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out, even join the super-secret Task Force X. Today's assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), and everyone's favorite psycho, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie).

Now arm them heavily and drop them on the enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) on the ground to make them behave, and Amanda Waller's (Viola Davis) government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement.

The Suicide Squad

"They're dying to save the world."
75
R2 hr 12 minAug 6th, 2021
Showtimes & Tickets


1. 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014)

Zoe Saldaña, Chris Pratt, Rocket, Dave Bautista and Groot in 'Guardians of the Galaxy.'

Walt Disney Studios

Written and directed by Gunn, light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace).

Guardians of the Galaxy

"All heroes start somewhere."
79
PG-132 hr 1 minAug 1st, 2014
Showtimes & Tickets