James Gunn only has 2 movies with bad Rotten Tomatoes scores before Superman

by

Under the direction of James Gunn, Superman seems to be a hit that can’t go wrong: it has earned a fresh certification on Rotten Tomatoes, further bolstering his string of successes. Yet, there are two films in his previous work that didn’t receive favorable reviews.

James Gunn’s latest film with Superman is proving to be a home run, as it has received Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes and continues his impressive record of success. However, there are two films in his back catalog that didn’t fare so well with critics.

The success of Superman is crucial, not just because Warner Bros hopes it will earn a billion dollars and rank among the top-grossing films ever made. More importantly, given the divisive history of the DC Extended Universe with Henry Cavill, what really matters is that it’s excellent quality.

In its four-star review, TopMob stated, “This isn’t an ordinary Superman movie; it’s something extraordinary. By the finale, you’ll find yourself convinced that James Gunn’s DCU can soar. Keep your eyes skyward and anticipate what lies ahead.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but echo the consensus: the Rotten Tomatoes rating of this masterpiece stands tall at an impressive 85%, based on more than 150 expert reviews. While Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn boasts an unrivaled knack for comic book adaptations, his filmography does bear two minor blemishes, much like a couple of green splats in an otherwise pristine canvas.

James Gunn movies ranked by Rotten Tomatoes scores

This list showcases the movies James Gunn has directed, arranged according to their Rotten Tomatoes ratings. It’s important to note that this doesn’t account for films he produced such as Brightburn and The Belko Experiment, nor does it encompass his work with Troma, since they don’t provide critic scores.

By the way, just wanted to mention that the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which runs for approximately 42 minutes and can only be streamed, isn’t part of the mix as well.

  1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) – 92%
  2. The Suicide Squad (2021) – 90%
  3. Slither (2006) – 87%
  4. Superman (2025) – 85%
  5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – 85%
  6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) – 82%
  7. Super (2010) – 50%
  8. Movie 43 (2013) – 5%

Among the disappointing picks, Super and Movie 43 stand out. The first one, featuring Rainn Wilson and Elliot Page, tells the story of a deranged vigilante known as Crimson Bolt who uses a wrench to attack people. His goal is to save his wife from a drug dealer.

Super, with actors like Rainn Wilson and Elliot Page, focuses on a violent and unhinged character called the Crimson Bolt. He’s on a mission to save his wife from a drug dealer, using a wrench as his weapon of choice.

This movie, although overlooked, is quite somber and intense, but unfortunately, it came out at the same time as Kick-Ass, leading to unwarranted comparisons and accusations that it plagiarized the other film. However, they are two distinct productions with unique stories.

From my perspective as a gamer, I’d like to clarify that Movie 43 wasn’t entirely Gunn’s masterpiece. He was responsible for directing just one segment titled Beezel, which featured Elizabeth Banks portraying a woman with an irrational fear of her boyfriend’s animated cat. Unfortunately, this particular segment didn’t live up to expectations.

In a light-hearted exchange on Facebook, Gunn playfully attributed the act to Banks, claiming that he was coerced into doing it. He lamented, “I didn’t even have a chance to touch that foolishness,” further stating that he has never laid eyes on it since.

Discover the theater locations showing Superman from July 11th. Additionally, find out about its runtime, streaming availability, and compare its Rotten Tomatoes rating with previous Superman films for an insightful comparison.

Read More

2025-07-09 18:20