'Superman' and 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Dominate at the Box Office

James Gunn is an American filmmaker known for his distinctive blend of dark humor, emotional depth, and genre filmmaking, particularly in the superhero and sci-fi domains. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1966, Gunn developed an early interest in storytelling and filmmaking, creating Super 8 films from the age of twelve. He began his career in independent cinema with Troma Entertainment, co-writing the cult film *Tromeo and Juliet* (1996) and later directing the horror-comedy *Slither* (2006), which gained critical acclaim[1][5]. Gunn rose to mainstream prominence as the writer and director of Marvel’s *Guardians of the Galaxy* franchise. The first film (2014) was a major critical and commercial success, grossing over $773 million worldwide and establishing Gunn as a major creative force in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He continued to write and direct its sequels, *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* (2017) and *Vol. 3* (2023), with the latest installment earning over $835 million globally, further cementing his reputation[3][6][8]. In 2021, Gunn transitioned to DC Studios, where he serves as Co-Chairman and CEO alongside Peter Safran. At DC, he wrote and directed *The Suicide Squad* (2021), which was notable for revitalizing the franchise with a fresh, irreverent tone. Gunn is also the writer-director of the upcoming *Superman* film, scheduled for release in July 2025, marking a significant step in his leadership of DC’s cinematic universe[3][7][8]. Beyond filmmaking, Gunn has been involved with music, founding the band The Icons in the late 1980s and composing songs for some of his films. His career reflects a unique ability to blend genre conventions with humor and heart, making him a defining figure in contemporary superhero cinema[1].