James Gunn: ‘A History of Violence’ and ‘Oldboy’ Are Two of the Best Comic Book Movies Ever Made

Ranking superhero movies is something I’ve done in the past. Despite only liking only half a dozen from the MCU, there are some treasures to be found elsewhere.

James Gunn, who is an absolute comic book nerd, is now the co-chair of the DCEU. A dream job. While there's no doubt that audiences enjoy his ‘Guardians’ movies, fans can now get to know which superhero films he considers the cream of the crop.

In a video for GQ, Gunn ranks his favorite comic book movies. What I find interesting is that he lists “Oldboy” and “A History of Violence” in his top 5.

Gunn acknowledges that most people don't know that 2003's “Oldboy "is a comic book film," saying,

It’s based on a manga, and it's a Korean film. It reinvented action and it really ushered in the new era of Korean cinema, which has continued to this day.

As for David Cronenberg's “A History of Violence,” on his first viewing of the 2005 film, Gunn admits that he didn’t know it was a graphic novel adaptation.

I really was influenced by 'History of Violence.' I was influenced by the way that it didn't play like an action movie. You don't look at it and say, 'Oh, that's an action movie.' But if you watch the way Cronenberg shoots the action sequences in the movie, it's really spectacular and really deft.

I consider both films to be masterpieces. Maybe I should start adding them to my own list, but it would be akin to cheating because they are not, in no way shape or form, what one would constitute modern-day comic book movies.

Gunn’s personal Top 3 adheres more to the genre: “Deadpool,” “Superman” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”

According to Gunn, he doesn’t think there’s been a better superhero movie than ‘Spider-Verse.’ He adds that the film "does not have a bad beat in it.”

He also adds as honorable mentions “Iron Man” and “V For Vendetta.”

Ok, my turn, and yours, here’s my top 10: “The Dark Knight,” “Logan,” “Spider-Man 2,” “The Incredibles,” “Batman,” “Superman II,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Unbreakable” and “Darkman.”