James Gunn has spent years behind the camera bringing his outrageous ideas to life. He's shown skill in directing everything from comedy to action and has also shown exceptional storytelling skills that ensure originality will be present when he turns in a script. As a result, he has become one of Hollywood's best directors.
With The Suicide Squad coming to theaters this August, now is a great time to look at the director's filmography. However, rather than exploring at them in chronological order, this ranking will be done by averaging the critic scores from both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.
6. Movie 43 (Beezel Segment) - 6 Percent
While Movie 43 isn't entirely directed by Gunn, he does take part in the comedy anthology with his own segment called Beezel. The short tells the story of a couple being driven apart due to an animated cat named Beezel. The girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks) believes the cat is too attached to his owner (Josh Duhamel), and the pair engage in Tom and Jerry-like antics against one another. In typical Gunn fashion, the segment's conclusion ends violently, but not without humor. Sadly, the rest of the film didn't fare as well as it was critically panned by critics and audiences alike.
5. Super - 49.5 Percent
Super is a comedic deconstruction of superhero films and vigilantism starring Rainn Wilson. The movie is about a man who takes on a secret identity to defend his neighborhood and save his ex-girlfriend from drug dealers. In premise, the film shares some similarities to Kick-Ass but is far more realistic in story and tone. The film's conclusion even juxtaposes the hero's victory by having him save the girl in the end, but never end up with her. While it wasn't a massive box office or critical success, it's a film with a lot of heart and showcases some of Gunn's best storytelling.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - 76 Percent
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the follow-up to Gunn's massively popular first film that continues the story of the Guardians as they survive from mission to mission. The film steps up the character interactions and shows that it's easier to form a family than maintain it. The movie plays on the themes of fatherhood with Star-Lord's father coming into the picture and what it truly means to be a parent, culminating in a tear-jerking final scene. It also showcases some amazing visuals and action sequences. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 did amazing with both critics and the box office, and Gunn is currently working on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
3. Slither - 77.5 Percent
Slither is a 2006 creature feature that is equal parts sci-fi horror and gross-out humor. It wears its inspirations on its sleeve as it harkens back to classic monster and alien films like The Blob, The Fly and The Thing. The story follows a man infected by an alien parasite that controls his body, using it to spread with even more worm-like parasites engulfing a small town. The film wasn't a blockbuster, but its clever story and amazing effects helped it garner the attention and praise it deserves as a love letter to classic monster films.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy - 84 Percent
2014's Guardians of the Galaxy was Gunn's first major blockbuster, and he made sure to leave an impression. The film features a stellar cast that is forced together to find an item that could destroy planets when in the wrong hands. What makes the film so entertaining and full of heart is how the humor helps showcase how each character has flaws that can't be solved alone. As a result, the Guardians form both a team and a family. Its success has helped grow Marvel Studios and the Guardians franchise to heights no one could have expected a decade ago.
1. The Suicide Squad - 88.5 Percent
The Suicide Squad is Gunn's latest outing and his first film for the DC Extended Universe. Compared to the 2016 Suicide Squad, this one amps up the violence by having the squad take on an alien starfish known as Starro. The film features a cast of little-known villains from the DC universe and, like Guardians, brings out the characters' best qualities. Early reviews place the film as one of DC's and Gunn's best entries. However, it won't be until Aug. 6 that fans will be able to decide if it deserves the title of Gunn's best film.