James Gunn Directed Movies Ranked
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
The finale to Gunn’s decade-long Guardians of the Galaxy narrative was exciting, unexpectedly tear-jerking, and wholly satisfying. What a way to go out.
Centring more firmly on the group’s beloved angry sidekick Rocket Raccoon, and telling with great grace of his creation and trauma, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was everything that brought this film series to the dance, packed with intention and lots to read into.
An on-the-nose allegory for animal cruelty, and an effective one at that, Gunn took his last swing at Marvel Studios by creating the feature film most true to Gunn’s filmmaking sensibilities: the story of misfits being celebrated, and of uniformity being poisonous.
Just as his heroes fight a villain who wants everything to be the same, look the same, and sound the same, Gunn fought the studio to ensure his film was none of those things. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was meaningful, powerful, and oh-so rock ‘n’ roll.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
What James Gunn achieved with Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014 has gone down in history as a special moment for Marvel Studios and fans of the MCU alike, the relatively inexperienced but passionate filmmaker putting together a group of rag-tag next-to-nobodies to create one of the most immersive, hearty and spectacular comic book movie adaptations of all time.
With moments as deeply moving as the death of Groot, as uplifting as the team defeating the bad guy hand-in-hand in the climactic battle, and as funny as the genre-busting dance-off presented just moments before, Guardians of the Galaxy was a plethora of not only memorable moments, but moments that felt intrinsic to the very fabric of the project.
Where this film surpassed its sequel was in the handling of said moments, and how naturally they came to pass, as well as how characters like Drax the Destroyer were given the scope to not only be incredibly funny but also believably threatening.
This was a movie in the comic book universe that felt natural, like the decisions of the characters were understandable, and it acted as a breakout moment that both the MCU and James Gunn needed (though for vastly different reasons), Gunn being propelled to superstardom as a result, Guardians 1 setting the benchmark for the rest of his career.
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What do you think of James Gunn’s directorial work thus far? Do you agree with our order? Which James Gunn film do you like the most? Let us know in the comments below, and in the meantime make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Updated to include Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 10th January 2024. Originally published 24th February 2020.
