James Gunn: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 25
- as director
- 11
- on screen
- 1997–2025
- box office
- $3.32B
- nomination
- 1
- average score
- 78
- Born
- August 5, 1966 (age 60)
- Birthplace
- St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
- Full name
- James Francis Gunn Jr.
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Screenwriter, director, producer, studio executive
- Years active
- 1989-present
- Spouses
- Jenna Fischer, Jennifer Holland
The Best James Gunn Movies
The highest-rated films James Gunn is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) scores highest, at 85. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
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Movie Echo Score: Score 85 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 2017 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 83 The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special 2022 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 78 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 2023 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 74 The Suicide Squad 2021 · Director -
Movie Echo Score: Score 72 Superman 2025 · Director
James Gunn's Career in Numbers
James Gunn's films in numbers — as an actor and a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres James Gunn works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Hamster PSA (1997) to Superman (2025), and the 2000s were the busiest decade.
James Gunn Movies by Decade
- 1990s 1
- 2000s 6
- 2010s 5
- 2020s 5
The 2000s were James Gunn's busiest decade, with 6 films.
James Gunn Movies by Genre
- Action 6
- Comedy 6
- Sci-Fi 3
- Family 1
Action is the genre James Gunn has worked in most, with 6 films, ahead of comedy (6).
James Gunn Career Milestones
- First film
- Hamster PSA 1997
- Biggest box office hit
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 $864M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Movie Echo Score 85
- Newest film
- Superman 2025
James Gunn Filmography: Every Movie
Every film James Gunn is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 11 as director and 6 as actor. Rated films average a score of 78. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by James Gunn
11- 2025
Superman Action Worldwide box office: $619M Movie Echo Score: 72 - 2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Action Worldwide box office: $846M Movie Echo Score: 78 - 2022
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Sci-Fi Movie Echo Score: 83 - 2021
The Suicide Squad Action Worldwide box office: $169M Movie Echo Score: 74 - 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Action Worldwide box office: $864M Movie Echo Score: 85 - 2014
Guardians of the Galaxy Action Worldwide box office: $773M - 2013
Movie 43 Comedy Worldwide box office: $32.4M - 2011
Super Action Worldwide box office: $423K - 2008
Sparky & Mikaela Comedy - 2006
Slither Sci-Fi Worldwide box office: $12.8M - 1997
Hamster PSA Comedy
James Gunn Movies as an Actor
6- 2022
I Am Groot: Groot’s Pursuit as Wrist Watch Voice (voice) · Family - 2017
Guardians Inferno Sci-Fi - 2008
Humanzee! as James · Comedy - 2004
LolliLove as James Gunn · Comedy - 2003
Melvin Goes to Dinner as Scott · Comedy Worldwide box office: $4.17K - 2003
Doggie Tails, Vol. 1: Lucky’s First Sleep-Over as Riley (voice)
James Gunn in Documentaries & Specials
8- 2023
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as Self - Writer / Director · Documentary - 2020
VHS Massacre Too as Himself · Documentary - 2014
Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe as Self · Fantasy - 2009
Tromatized: Meet Lloyd Kaufman as Himself - 2007
30 Even Scarier Movie Moments as Himself · Documentary - 2006
Done the Impossible as Self · Documentary - 2004
Tales from the Crapper as Himself · Horror - 2002
Apocalypse Soon: The Making of ‘Citizen Toxie’ as Self · Documentary
James Gunn: Awards & Nominations
1 nomination across 1 award body. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
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51st Saturn Awards- James Gunn: Nominated Best Film Direction Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Who Is James Gunn?
James Gunn was born in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. in 1966 and is 60 years old. Credited on films since 1997, as both an actor and a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
James Francis Gunn Jr. (born August 5, 1966) is an esteemed American screenwriter, director, and producer. He started his career as a screenwriter in the mid-1990s and made his name at Troma Entertainment with Tromeo and Juliet (1996). He further established his identity as a director in the horror-comedy genre with Slither (2006) and then ventured into the superhero genre with Super (2010), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), The Suicide Squad (2021), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). In 2022, Gunn along with Peter Safran were appointed as co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios under Warner Bros. Discovery, responsible for producing and executive producing every film and series under the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) media franchise.
Apart from his successful career in mainstream cinema, James Gunn is also known for writing and directing the web series James Gunn's PG Porn (2008–2009), HBO Max original series Peacemaker (2022–present), and Disney+ original special The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022). He wrote for the remake of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978), Scooby Doo (2002) and its sequel, and produced the horror-action film The Belko Experiment (2016), all of which established and solidified his reputation as a versatile filmmaker. Gunn faced controversy over past tweets in 2018, leading to his temporary dismissal from Disney, but was reinstated in 2019 after significant public appeal. He has also contributed to game design, with his narrative work for the 2012 hack-and-slash video game Lollipop Chainsaw.
Who James Gunn Makes Movies With
The actors and directors James Gunn shares the most films with. Chris Pratt comes first, with 7 films together, followed by Michael Rooker (7).
James Gunn: Questions & Answers
How many movies James Gunn has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has James Gunn been in?
James Gunn is credited on 25 films, from 1997 to 2025. 6 of them as an actor and 11 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is James Gunn's highest-grossing movie?
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) is James Gunn's biggest box office hit, with $864M worldwide, ahead of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) ($846M). Across every film with box office figures, James Gunn's movies have made $3.32B.
James Gunn's biggest hits What is the best James Gunn movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, James Gunn's best-rated film is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) with a score of 85, followed by The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) (83).
Best James Gunn movies, ranked Has James Gunn won an Oscar?
James Gunn has not been nominated for an Oscar. Across every ceremony in the awards database, James Gunn has 0 wins from 1 nomination.
How old is James Gunn?
James Gunn is 60 years old, born on August 5, 1966 in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S..
What is James Gunn's newest movie?
The most recent film on James Gunn's filmography is Superman (2025), which James Gunn directed.
Who does James Gunn work with most often?
James Gunn shares the most films with Chris Pratt (7 films), Michael Rooker (7 films) and Lloyd Kaufman (7 films).
The Best James Gunn Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 25 credits.
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