James Gunn Reveals His TOP 5 Movies Based on Comic Books

Whether you’re a Marvel fan, a DC fan, or both, you know who James Gunn is. This visionary filmmaker gained recognition for writing and directing the original Guardians of the Galaxy movie in 2014. Since then, he worked on two Guardians sequels and one TV special for Marvel. He also executive produced several other MCU movies and directed one scene in 2016’s Doctor Strange (Stan Lee’s cameo in the bus).

In 2018, Gunn was hired to write and direct The Suicide Squad for DC, a movie that spawned a spin-off series Peacemaker which Gunn wrote and directed five out of eight episodes. After completing his work at Marvel Studios with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn is currently working as the co-CEO of DC Studios. His next projects include Creature Commandos, the upcoming DC animated series, and his next blockbuster movie — Superman: Legacy — which is set to be released on July 11, 2025.

In a recent interview with GQ, James Gunn was asked to list his top five favorite movies based on comic books of all time. Gunn, who is a big comic book fan and a filmmaker who worked on so many superhero movies, has found a place for both Marvel and DC, but also comic book movies that are none of those two. Check James Gunn’s favorite comic book movies down below.

5. Deadpool (2016)

James Gunn mentioned 2016’s Deadpool as his fifth-favorite comic book movie, although he also highlighted its 2018 sequel Deadpool 2. Gunn praised Deadpool because, like his Guardians movies, it’s full of comedy but at the same time so heartfelt and fun. Gunn praised the movie’s brilliant way of breaking the fourth wall and talking with the audience, as well as the title star, Ryan Reynolds, which he called one of the three comic book icons next to Christopher Reeve and Robert Downey Jr.

4. Oldboy (올드보이) (2003)

You’d be wrong if you expected that Gunn would only mention Marvel and DC adaptations as his favorite comic book movies. As his fourth favorite comic book movie, Gunn picked Oldboy, a South Korean psychological thriller based on the homonymous Japanese manga. Park Chan-wook, one of the most notable South Korean filmmakers, directed the movie. Gunn particularly praised a hallway action sequence which he used as an inspiration for certain action scenes in The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

3. A History of Violence (2005)

When it comes to comic book movies, James Gunn would give a bronze medal to A History of Violence, a 2005 action thriller based on the 1997 homonymous graphic novel by John Warner and Vince Locke. Directed by David Cronenberg, the movie stars Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, William Hurt, and Ed Harris. The movie was nominated for two Academy Awards; Best Supporting Actor (Hurt) and Best Adapted Screenplay. Gunn also particularly praised Cronenberg’s direction.

2. Superman (1978)

Considering that James Gunn is the writer and director of the upcoming Superman reboot, the fans will like to know that the original Superman movie, directed by Richard Donner and starring Christopher Reeve, is his second-favorite comic book movie of all time. This 1978 superhero classic, according to Gunn, defined his life along with the original Star Wars, which was released a year earlier.

Gunn also shared his thoughts on how he looks at the character of Superman, and if that’s how he’s going to work on Superman: Legacy, the fans of Man of Tomorrow have nothing to worry about. Gunn also praised Reeve’s Superman suit, describing it as simple but working well.

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

And in the end, James Gunn’s top-favorite superhero movie is Sony’s animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The movie was released in 2018 and was an absolute success for Sony Pictures, and the movie received widespread acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Gunn praised the story, emotions, direction, writing, and voice-acting, highlighting that “there’s been a better superhero movie than Into the Spider-Verse.” The sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, is just around the corner.

James Gunn is one of the most-known filmmakers in the world of superheroes. Next year we’ll watch an animated series Creature Commandos which he wrote, then a year after that, we’re getting Superman: Legacy, and Gunn also has Peacemaker Season 2 and who knows how many other DC projects on his to-do list.

Creature Commandos is set to premiere on MAX in 2024, and Superman: Legacy is set to be released on July 11, 2025. Gunn confirmed he wouldn’t start working on Peacemaker Season 2 before completing his Superman: Legacy work.

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