Every James Gunn Superhero Movie & TV Show, Ranked

However, James Gunn's history with superhero projects goes back further than his MCU debut in 2014, with the filmmaker releasing an original story in the genre in 2010. That means that he has a wide array of movies and shows that cover superheroes and they all come with a pretty high ceiling, as most have been met with strong critical acclaim. It gives him a filmography that's hard to rank because he really hasn't had a single miss when it comes to superheroes.

To figure out Gunn's best works, we're only looking at projects where he was a writer or director (or both), which means the latest DC movie release, Supergirl, won't be considered since he's only on as a producer. The same goes for the upcoming Lanterns and the dark Brightburn from 2019. Even without those, Gunn's resume is remarkable.

9 Super (2010)

The least famous superhero project from James Gunn is also one of his earliest films. At the time, Gunn had only directed Slither and this was his sophomore effort. Super is a small-scale movie that was made for around $2.5 million and is one of the few Gunn projects to receive mixed reviews.

Super follows an ordinary guy who dons a mask and becomes a vigilante called the Crimson Bolt. However, the man uses excessive violence and shouldn't be considered a hero. Rainn Wilson delivers a solid performance, though this is not your typical superhero film and is more of a deconstruction of the genre.

8 The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

A lot of the standalone specials in the MCU that were released directly to Disney+ have been overlooked by far too many people. Among them is The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which also doubles as a rare Christmas project within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Gunn wrote and directed this, which acts as something of a bridge between the second and third Guardians of the Galaxy films. It sees Drax and Mantis go to Earth to bring Kevin Bacon as a present for Peter Quill, who was in a sad mood. It features Gunn's signature comedy and is a fun way to spend 42 minutes.

7 Creature Commandos (2024-)

As part of James Gunn's new DC Universe, he started in an unexpected place. Creature Commandos is an adult animated series focusing on a black ops team of monsters put together by Amanda Waller, feeling like a version of the Suicide Squad. However, this kind of setup is where Gunn shines.

He's an expert at making us care about weird characters and Creature Commandos does that. Characters like The Bride, G.I. Robot, and even Weasel get some great episodes to make viewers love them. The voice cast is also great, featuring Alan Tudyk, Zoë Chao, David Harbour, and more.

6 Peacemaker (2022-2025)

When James Gunn directed his first DC project, he introduced the world to John Cena's Peacemaker. Nobody expected that relatively unknown character to get his own TV series and even fewer people expected that show to be good, but Peacemaker is actually great.

Peacemaker follows the titular character and a team that includes Amanda Waller's daughter Leota, Adrian Chase's unhinged Vigilante, and A.R.G.U.S. agent Emilia Harcourt, among others, as they battle intergalactic threats and cross into a different universe. It's clear that James Gunn is behind this, as it feels like exactly his kind of story.

5 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

You can tell how high the quality of James Gunn's superhero movies and shows are when you consider that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ranks this low. All three films in the franchise are great and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits harder emotionally than most would expect.

The film expands on Peter and Gamora's romance, shines a light on Rocket Raccoon's personality, brings Gamora and Nebula closer, and features a tremendous redemption arc for Yondu. With those emotional elements, a great villain, and some legitimate laughs, the film works well.

4 The Suicide Squad (2021)

James Gunn was a fantastic choice to take over for The Suicide Squad because he proved that he can tell a great story centered around characters who aren't traditional heroes. The first film was a critical disaster, yet Gunn's follow-up remains some of the best stuff ever put out by DC.

He kept Margot Robbie's spectacular Harley Quinn and surrounded her with wild characters like Polka-Dot Man, Peacemaker, King Shark, and Ratcatcher. It's colorful, wild, and surprisingly heartfelt, with the end result being a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

3 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

James Gunn had a lot to live up to with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The first two installments were really good and it was also Gunn's return to the MCU after being fired and working on a DC movie. Gunn lived up to the hype and delivered a third great entry in this standout MCU trilogy.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has some issues, like a few too many fake-outs for character deaths, but it does so much else right. Every character gets a fitting ending to their story, putting the focus on Rocket Raccoon and his history gave it the emotional weight it needed, and the High Evolutionary was a truly detestable villain.

2 Superman (2025)

The history of Superman movies isn't great. Most people agree that the first Christopher Reeve one is a classic and the sequel is solid, but the next entries were disappointing, Superman Returns is dull, and Zack Snyder's take on the character didn't feel true to the comic book counterpart.

James Gunn's Superman was everything the character should be, as a beacon of hope, a genuinely good person, and someone who loves his human side. The film does try to include a few too many elements in its story, yet the overall theme is ideal and it's exactly what Superman is all about.

1 Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

In a lot of ways, Guardians of the Galaxy is what put James Gunn on the map. The movie had no business becoming a hit, as it followed a group of D-list characters, yet it grossed over $700 million. Positive word of mouth helped the film become more popular as time went on and Gunn's style was a big reason for that success.

His visual style, his now-famous choices for needle drops, and his ability to write these complex, off-the-wall characters made Guardians of the Galaxy something special. Reviews were also sparkling, with the movie sitting at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and Guardians of the Galaxy is still considered by many to be one of the greatest entries in the entire MCU. It's peak James Gunn.