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Is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 the best James Gunn movie ever?

James Gunn’s career in cinema began in 1997 when he wrote the low-budget Troma Studios film Tromeo and Juliet. His subsequent movie scripts included a lesser-known superhero flick, The Specials, two live-action Scooby-Doo movies, and a remake of Dawn of the Dead. In 2006, Gunn was finally given a chance to direct his first movie, Slither, before making his mark on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy eight years later.

Late last year, Gunn was named co-CEO of DC Studios, and he is slated to direct Superman: Legacy. That’s why Gunn’s newest film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, is his final Marvel Studios movie. It’s also the perfect occasion to look back at Gunn’s filmography to date and list them in descending order based on their Rotten Tomatoes rankings.

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6. Super (2010)

Rainn Wilson in Super.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49%

It’s ironic that so many of Gunn’s films have been superhero flicks, since one of his earliest movies, Super, is a dark parody of comic book cinema. Rainn Wilson stars as Frank Darbo, a husband who becomes increasingly unhinged after his wife, Sarah (Liv Tyler), leaves him for a man named Jacques (Kevin Bacon), who fuels Sarah’s drug addiction.

Inspired by a TV superhero called The Holy Avenger (Nathan Fillion), Frank reinvents himself as The Crimson Bolt and tries to impose his comic book morality on the real world. This appeals to Libby (Elliot Page), a female friend who buys into Frank’s warped ideology before becoming Boltie to fight alongside him. But attempting to battle crime without any superpowers is a recipe for disaster in this story.

You can stream Super on AMC+ via Prime Video.

5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy.
Image via Marvel Studios / Image via Marvel Studios

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

Gunn’s most recent film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, is also his swan song at Marvel Studios before joining DC Studios full time. In this sequel, Rocket (Bradley Cooper) is seriously injured during an attack by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter). To save Rocket’s life, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and the rest of the Guardians find themselves on a collision course with Rocket’s deranged creator, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). Peter also reunites with Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the variant of the woman whom he loved deeply.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now playing in theaters.

4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Marvel Studios

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%

In the first Guardians sequel, Peter and Rocket are at odds after the latter brings down the wrath of the Sovereign on the team. The arrival of Peter’s long-lost father, Ego (Kurt Russell), also splits the Guardians in two, while Gamora’s estranged sister, Nebula (Karen Gillan), attempts to end their feud in fatal fashion. But as the truth about Ego’s intentions comes to light, both Nebula and Peter’s former Ravager leader, Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker), side with the Guardians to help save the universe.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is streaming on Disney+.

3. Slither (2006)

Jenna Fischer in Slither.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%

Slither was Gunn’s feature film directorial debut, and you may recognize several actors from his subsequent movies in this one. Nathan Fillion stars as Bill Pardy, the Police Chief of Wheelsy, South Carolina. Pardy’s small town life is upended when a local man, Grant Grant (Michael Rooker), is infected by an alien parasite. And once Grant begins to change, he starts infecting other people in town.

Soon enough, Bill, Kylie Strutemyer (Tania Saulnier), Mayor Jack MacReady (Gregg Henry), and Grant’s wife, Starla (Elizabeth Banks), are the only uninfected humans left. And despite his hideous transformation, Grant is convinced that he can still reclaim Starla’s love.

You can rent or buy Slither at numerous digital outlets, including Prime Video.

2. The Suicide Squad (2021)

The cast of The Suicide Squad standing on a forest.
Warner Bros. / Warner Bros. Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

During a brief period in which he was fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Warner Bros. swooped in to sign Gunn to direct The Suicide Squad, a loose continuation of a previous Suicide Squad movie. Only Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Colonel Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman), and Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) return for major roles in this film, which primarily follows a new team on a suicide mission in Corto Maltese.

Waller blackmails Bloodsport (Idris Elba) into leading a new squad that includes Peacemaker (John Cena), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), and Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior). But the true nature of their mission means that this makeshift team will have to step up and save the world.

The Suicide Squad is streaming on HBO Max.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy walking toward the camera.
Marvel Studios / Marvel Studios

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

Gunn’s career shifted into a higher gear with Marvel’s first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, and it remains his highest ranked film on Rotten Tomatoes. In this origin story, Peter Quill steals an Infinity Stone, but Gamora, Rocket, and Groot (Vin Diesel) want to steal it from Quill before he can sell it.

After the quartet is arrested and sent to space jail, they join forces with Drax (Dave Bautista) to escape and split the money for the Stone. But much to their surprise, they bond as a team and stay together to save the universe from Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace).

Guardians of the Galaxy is streaming on Disney+.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now playing in theaters. Here’s where to watch all the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and TV shows. Also check out DT’s articles on the Guardians movies never needed the MCU to be successful and the best characters in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, ranked.

Blair Marnell
Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek…
Please, Marvel, don’t make a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4
Star-Lord and Gamora talk in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Now that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has hit theaters, there's naturally plenty of speculation about whether a fourth movie is in the offing. Given how successful the first three installments have been, it seems only natural that a fourth film would be in the works. After all, Hollywood loves to run with something until everyone is totally exhausted by it.

In the case of the Guardians movies, though, it might make more sense to just let them go. The only other MCU fourquel, Thor: Love and Thunder, was met with critical derision and stifled yawns from the audience, killing whatever goodwill the character had accumulated from the previous movie, Thor: Ragnarok. But that's just one of many reasons why Marvel should never make a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4.

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Forget Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3; the 2021 video game is better
The Guardians are captured in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.

Like many others this past weekend, I watched Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, After being burned by Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, I was a bit hesitant to see the movie. With its Phase 5 movies and TV shows, Marvel has been dropping the ball in terms of delivering a satisfying time for its longtime fans. Even the good stuff, like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, was depressing, acting more as a somber tribute above all else. So it was with a sigh of relief, and a bit of a surprise, that when Vol. 3 ended, I thought of two things: 1) the movie was good and 2) the 2021 video game was better.

This article isn't to trash Vol. 3, which, at least to me, is one of the most satisfying Marvel movies in the uneven post-Endgame era. Yet as good as the movie is, I couldn't help but be reminded about its video game cousin, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and just how better it is at combing pitch-perfect characterization, a compelling plot, enthralling action sequences, and a kickass soundtrack to create an experience that is uniquely Guardians of the Galaxy. Hell, I'd go far as to claim that it is more true to the spirit of the original Guardians film than any of its sequels were. Here are five reasons why the video game is better and more fun than the movie.

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The best characters in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, ranked
'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Nebula (Karen Gillan), Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), and Drax (Dave Bautista) wearing black and red uniforms, walking along a metal ship hallway.

After a long and winding journey, Marvel Studios has finally released James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. This highly-anticipated film follows the Guardians as they face off against the Rocket’s creator, the High Evolutionary, in their darkest but most beautiful adventure yet.
Since this seems to be the last time we’ll see the Guardians together, now’s a good time to rank all the characters who rocked cinemas in their final tour.
Please note: there are major spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in this article.
13. Ayesha

The Sovereign empress returns to exact vengeance on the Guardians with the help of Adam Warlock and the High Evolutionary. But it is revealed that she and her people were created by the High Evolutionary, and she becomes more subservient in his presence.

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