If you watched Superman, I am certain that you were blown away by the directorial brilliance of James Gunn, which brought Superman to life. However, a few of you might be aware that Gunn was not always a phenomenal director; instead, he started out his career as a screenwriter. Now, while I’m sure that you must have seen movies from Gunn on multiple occasions but are you aware of all the movies he has been a part of in the capacity of a writer? If you’re not, here is a list of all the James Gunn movies and TV shows in which he worked as a writer or as director.
15. The Specials (2000)
- Release Date: September 18, 2000
- Director: Craig Mazin
- Cast: James Gunn, Lowe, Paget Brewster, Thomas Haden Church, Jamie Kennedy, Judy Greer, Kelly Coffield Park, Sean Gunn, Melissa Joan Hart, Jordan Ladd
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 5.7/47%
Before James Gunn became a household name with Guardians of the Galaxy, he quietly slipped into the superhero scene with The Specials (2000), a low-budget, offbeat gem that he wrote and co-starred in. Long before meta-superhero commentary became cool, Gunn was already poking fun at the genre’s tropes with this dysfunctional team of second-tier heroes just trying to get through their lives.
While he didn’t direct it, Gunn’s fingerprints are all over the humanized take on superpowered misfits. In many ways, The Specials feels like the scrappy prototype of what would eventually become Gunn’s signature filmmaking style.
14. Scooby-Doo (2002)
- Release Date: June 8, 2002
- Director: Raja Gosnell
- Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Freddie Prinze Jr., Linda Cardellini, Rowan Atkinson, Isla Fisher, Neil Fanning
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 5.4/32%
Before he redefined the superhero genre, James Gunn took a swing at another pop-culture giant with Scooby-Doo (2002), penning the screenplay for this live-action adaptation that somehow balanced the classic mystery hunting with a hint of edgy humor.
While the final film got a heavy studio polish to make it more family-friendly, Gunn’s original script had a sharper tone, one that leaned into the gang’s quirks and featured unapologetic dark humor. It was an early example of Gunn’s knack for reviving beloved franchises and making them feel fresh.
13. Dawn of The Dead (2004)
- Release Date: March 19, 2004
- Director: Zack Snyder
- Cast: Sarah Polley, Kim Poirier, Michael Kelly, Jake Weber, Ty Burrell, Ving Rhames, Kevin Zegers, Ken Foree, Lindy Booth, Ana de la Reguera, Tom Savini, Scott Reiniger, Mekhi Phifer, Louis Ferreira, Inna Korobkina
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.2/77%
With Dawn of the Dead (2004), James Gunn proved he wasn’t just the quirky guy behind cult comedies and could handle blood, chaos, and emotional stakes like a pro. Tasked with writing the screenplay for Zack Snyder’s directorial debut, Gunn took George A.
Romero’s zombie classic and injected it with a surprisingly grounded sense of dread. His script balanced brutal survival horror with biting social commentary while setting the stage for the modern zombie revival that would follow. While Snyder brought the visual flair, it was Gunn’s writing that gave the film its beating heart.
12. Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
- Release Date: March 26, 2004
- Director: Raja Gosnell
- Cast: Matthew Lillard, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini, Seth Green, Neil Fanning, Neil Fanning, Peter Boyle, Scott McNeil, Kevin Durand, Tim Blake Nelson
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 5.3/22%
By the time Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) hit theaters, James Gunn had leaned even further into the bizarre charm that made the first film a guilty pleasure. Returning as the screenwriter, Gunn doubled down on nostalgia by resurrecting classic villains from the animated series, while also giving the Mystery Inc. gang a bit more emotional depth, particularly Shaggy and Velma, who got arcs that went beyond just running from monsters.
Although still bound by the PG leash of a family-friendly franchise, Gunn’s voice peeked through in the self-aware humor and a clear love for the absurd. It wasn’t his boldest work, but it was another stepping stone that showed his ability to breathe new life into beloved IPs.
11. Slither (2006)
- Release Date: March 31, 2006
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: Michael Rooker, Elizabeth Banks, Nathan Fillion, Jenna Fischer, Gregg Henry, Tania Saulnier, Don Thompson, Brenda James, Lloyd Kaufman
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.5/87%
Slither (2006) is where James Gunn finally made his directorial debut. The film is a glorious love letter to B-movie horror, blending alien parasites and small-town paranoia with Gunn’s signature cocktail of twisted humor and heart. This was the first time he had full creative control, and you can feel it in every frame, balancing the gross-out gore with genuinely likable characters and offbeat charm. Slither didn’t light up the box office, but it cemented Gunn’s voice as a filmmaker unafraid to get weird.
10. Super (2010)
- Release Date: April 1, 2011
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: James Gunn, Rainn Wilson, Elliot Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, Linda Cardellini, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Gunn, Sean Gunn, Michael Rooker, Andre Royo, Steve Agee, Zach Gilford, Mikaela Hoover, Rob Zombie
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.7/49%
With Super (2010), James Gunn explored the psyche of a wannabe superhero, and the result was as disturbing as it was oddly heartfelt. Written and directed by James Gunn, the film strips away the glossy myth of heroism and dives headfirst into the uncomfortable reality of vigilante justice.
It’s brutal, and laced with pitch-black humor, the kind only Gunn could pull off while still making you care about the chaos. Super is a spiritual predecessor to Peacemaker and even The Suicide Squad, showing Gunn’s evolving obsession with flawed characters trying to do the right thing in the worst ways possible.
9. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Release Date: August 1, 2014
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: James Gunn, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Vin Diesel, Sean Gunn, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Laura Haddock, Lee Pace, Stan Lee, Nathan Fillion
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 8/92%
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) was James Gunn’s big leap into blockbuster territory, and he stuck the landing better than anyone could have imagined. Taking a group of obscure Marvel misfits and turning them into beloved icons, Gunn brought his signature blend of irreverent humor and emotional vulnerability to the MCU in a way no one saw coming.
As writer and director, he infused the film with a pulsing ‘70s soundtrack and a deep affection for outsiders trying to find family in the chaos. This wasn’t just another Marvel movie but was a James Gunn movie through and through, and it redefined what superhero films could be when you let the weirdos run the show.
8. The Belko Experiment (2017)
- Release Date: March 17, 2017
- Director: Greg McLean
- Cast: Tony Goldwyn, John Gallagher Jr., Michael Rooker, Adria Arjona, Sean Gunn, John C. McGinley, Josh Brener, David Dastmalchian, Melonie Diaz, Owain Yeoman, Benjamin Byron Davis, Brent Sexton, David Del Rio
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.2/55%
With The Belko Experiment (2017), James Gunn took corporate culture and twisted it into a blood-soaked psychological nightmare. While he didn’t direct this one, Gunn wrote the script. Set inside a locked-down office building where employees are forced to kill each other or be killed, the film plays like Battle Royale meets Office Space, only way more savage.
Gunn’s influence shines in the way the story balances pitch-black humor with genuine existential dread. It’s mean and uncomfortable and exactly what you’d expect from Gunn when he goes a bit cynical with his pen.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- Release Date: May 5, 2017
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: Chris Pratt, Kurt Russell, Michael Rooker, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Elizabeth Debicki, Bradley Cooper, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Sullivan, Michael Rosenbaum, Laura Haddock
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.6/85%
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) is where James Gunn fully leaned into the emotional core of the team with deeper character work and a celestially problematic father-son relationship. As writer and director, Gunn doubled down on what made the first Guardians movie click with the audience: a killer soundtrack, irreverent humor, and colorful space chaos, but this time, he brought the feels front and center.
Whether it was Star-Lord’s complicated bond with Ego, Rocket’s self-loathing, or Yondu’s unexpectedly heartbreaking arc, Gunn showed he wasn’t just here for the laughs; he was telling stories about broken people trying to fix themselves. It’s way more personal, proving that James Gunn could turn a wild space opera into a full-blown therapy session without missing a beat.
6. The Suicide Squad (2021)
- Release Date: August 6, 2021
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: Nathan Fillion, John Cena, Daniela Melchior, Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, David Dastmalchian, Mikaela Hoover, Joel Kinnaman, Jennifer Holland, Pete Davidson, Peter Capaldi, Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, Storm Reid
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.2/90%
The Suicide Squad (2021) was James Gunn unleashing his talents as a writer and director. No filters, no studio micromanaging, just pure, chaotic brilliance. After his temporary fallout with Marvel, DC handed him the keys to their most dysfunctional team, and Gunn responded with an oddly heartfelt reboot.
As writer and director, he took D-list villains and made them unforgettable, turning Polka-Dot Man into a tragic hero, Ratcatcher 2 into the soul of the film, and giving us a King Shark that somehow balanced gore with adorableness. But at its core, this was peak Gunn. It wasn’t just a comeback; it was a statement that James Gunn could make you go through 10 different emotions in the same scene.
5. Peacemaker (2022—)
- Release Date: January 13, 2022
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: John Cena, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Danielle Brooks, Alison Araya, Robert Patrick, Nhut Le, Annie Chang, Steve Agee
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 8.3/93%
Peacemaker (2022) was James Gunn doubling down on everything that made The Suicide Squad work, and then taking it to the small screen. As the creator, writer, and frequent director, Gunn turned what could’ve been a one-note antihero into one of the most layered and relatable characters in the DCU.
The series picks up right after the events of The Suicide Squad and dives deep into Christopher Smith’s messed-up psyche. Gunn’s fingerprints are everywhere, from the killer opening dance sequence to the emotional gut punches. Peacemaker proved that Gunn wasn’t just great at making misfits lovable; he was redefining how superhero stories could be told on TV.
4. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
- Release Date: November 25, 2022
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: Pom Klementieff, Kevin Bacon, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Chris Pratt, Michael Rooker, Zoe Saldaña, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.9/94%
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) is James Gunn at his most playful and wholesome. Written and directed by Gunn as a festive MCU detour, the special leans fully into the holiday spirit with Drax and Mantis heading to Earth to kidnap Kevin Bacon as a gift for Star-Lord. While it’s meant to be a fun and bite-sized treat, it also reinforces what Gunn does best. In just under 45 minutes, he manages to sneak in character development, original music, and a reminder that even space outlaws can get sentimental around Christmas.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- Release Date: May 5, 2023
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: Chris Pratt, Will Poulter, Zoe Saldaña, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Chukwudi Iwuji, Maria Bakalova, Daniela Melchior, Bradley Cooper
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.9/82%
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) is James Gunn’s grand, emotional farewell to the cosmic crew he turned into MCU icons. As writer and director, Gunn delivers a trilogy capper that’s deeper and more emotionally raw than its predecessors, centering the story on Rocket’s traumatic origin and the fight for his survival.
It’s still packed with irreverent humor and trippy visuals, but this time the stakes feel intensely personal. Gunn ties up character arcs with care, giving closure to broken bonds, evolving dynamics, and even letting some heroes walk away on their terms. It’s moving and unmistakably his proving once again that beneath all the chaos and comedy, James Gunn is a storyteller who never forgets the heart beating underneath the armor, fur, or talking tree bark.
2. Creature Commandos (2024—)
- Release Date: December 5, 2024
- Director: Matt Peters and Sam Liu
- Cast: Indira Varma, Frank Grillo, Alan Tudyk, Maria Bakalova, Sean Gunn, Anya Chalotra, Zoë Chao, David Harbour, Benjamin Byron Davis, Steve Agee, Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Rooker, Viola Davis, Maury Sterling
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.8/ 95%
Creature Commandos (2024) marks the official launch of James Gunn’s new DCU, and true to form, he’s kicking things off with a team of monstrous misfits instead of your typical capes and cowls. As the showrunner and writer, Gunn digs deep into DC’s weirder archives, assembling a squad of bizarre, morally grey characters.
Animated but canon to the live-action universe, the series is classic Gunn and loaded with potential for unexpected character depth. It’s a bold statement that the DCU under Gunn isn’t just about rebooting icons, it’s about celebrating the freaks and the beautifully broken oddballs who fight the good fight in the most chaotic ways possible.
1. Superman (2025)
- Release Date: July 11, 2025
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, Nathan Fillion, Milly Alcock, Isabela Merced, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Mikaela Hoover, Skyler Gisondo, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Frank Grillo, Alan Tudyk
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.5/83%
Superman (2025) is James Gunn’s most ambitious swing yet, not just because he’s rebooting one of the most iconic heroes of all time, but because he’s doing it with his signature balance of hope and humanity. As both writer and director, Gunn isn’t out to deconstruct Superman like ones before him, but he’s here to reframe him for a new era, leaning into the sincerity and optimism that the character has often lacked on the big screen.
The film promises a fresh start for the DCU and introduces David Corenswet as a Man of Steel who’s navigating his dual identity in a world that doesn’t always know what to do with kindness and power wrapped in a cape. It’s not just a reboot, it’s a recalibration of what superhero cinema can be when you let someone who truly believes in these characters lead the charge.
