While James Gunn has been best known for directing Guardians of the Galaxy, he's actually been involved in a number of other great films over the years. Gunn has not just worked as a film director, but also as a screenwriter and as a producer. And in a turn of events, he has become a co-Chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios. Serving as the studio's creative head, Gunn's new position will certainly keep him busy, and he himself will tackle new projects such as Superman: Legacy.

Gunn's passion and creativity have made him a force to be reckoned with. His signature style has become associated with powerful emotional beats, strong character development, and iconic soundtracks. It's something that has served him well during his more than 20 years in the film industry. As we await his future work, here's a look at James Gunn's highest-grossing movies thus far, ranked.

9 The Belko Experiment (2016) — $11.1M

The Belko Experiment
Orion Pictures / BH Tilt

The Belko Experiment was not directed by Gunn, but it was written and co-produced by him along with Peter Safran. Marketing for the 2016 horror film featured the use of the tagline, "Office Space meets Battle Royale." It was an accurate way of describing the film, as The Belko Experiment trapped 80 American employees in a building and forced them to fight against each other. Although not among Gunn's best work, The Belko Experiment offered the right amount of gory thrills and dark humor to entertain. The film went on to gross over $11 million at the box office.

8 Slither (2006) — $12.8M

Practical effects in Slither
Universal Pictures

Gunn has done sci-fi, dark comedies, and horror, and he did them all at once in his directorial debut called Slither. Nathan Fillion starred as Bill Pardy, a sheriff who discovers a world-threatening alien parasite in his town. The film also starred frequent Gunn collaborators Michael Rooker, Elizabeth Banks, and Gregg Henry. Slither received praise for its script, performances, atmosphere, and particularly for Gunn's direction. Unfortunately it failed at the box office, grossing less than $13 million when Slither had an estimated $15 million budget.

7 Brightburn (2019) — $32.9M

Brightburn
Sony Pictures

When Brightburn was first announced, it was known as the "Untitled James Gunn Horror Project." However, the film was only produced by Gunn, while the script was written by his brother, Brian, and his cousin, Mark. Brightburn centered on a super-powered boy with an upbringing that mirrored that of Clark Kent, but with a major twist: the boy did not become Superman, and instead became a horror-style villain. The film was firmly rooted in the genre of horror, providing a stark contrast to other "evil Superman" stories such as The Boys, which leaned much more towards satire. Against an estimated budget of $6-12 million, Brightburn grossed $32.9 million at the box office.

Related: James Gunn Is Adamant the DCU Plan is Not Just 'Marvel 2.0'

6 Dawn of the Dead (2004) — $102.3M

Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Universal Pictures

Zack Snyder's directorial debut, Dawn of the Dead, was written by Gunn, serving as a remake of the late-70s horror flick of the same name. Set during a zombie apocalypse, the film followed Ana as she joined a group of survivors taking shelter at a local mall. The film was packed with apocalyptic mayhem, horror, and zombie-slaying action, making it a hit with 2000s audiences. With a box office total surpassing $100 million, Dawn of the Dead was the second-highest-grossing horror film of 2004, only behind The Grudge. In the present-day, Dawn of the Dead has continued to receive praise, even being regarded as one of the best zombie films ever made.

5 The Suicide Squad (2021) — $171.7M

Promotional art from The Suicide Squad (2021)
Warner Bros. Pictures 

Not to be confused with 2016's Suicide Squad, Gunn added a "The" to the title of his 2021 spiritual reboot. The Suicide Squad brought back a few familiar faces, including Viola Davis, Margot Robbie, and Joel Kinnaman. At the same time, the film featured many incredible additions to the cast, including Idris Elba, John Cena, Daniela Melchior, David Dastmalchian, and the voice of Sylvester Stallone. Released when people were still hesitant to head back to theaters in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Suicide Squad only managed to gross $171.7 million at the box office — a steep drop from Suicide Squad's $746.8 million. The simultaneous release of The Suicide Squad on HBO Max undoubtedly hurt the film's box office performance.

4 Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) — $181.2M

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Warner Bros. Pictures

Gunn has become so associated with superheroes that people have either forgotten or never realized that he was very involved with the Scooby-Doo films. Indeed, he was the writer behind Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, bringing his style of humor as well as his love for monsters. The film grossed more than $180 million during its theatrical run, and, of course, was watched by many when it was released on DVD and began airing on television. Gunn was set to write and direct a Scooby-Doo 3, but that sadly never came to fruition. During an Instagram Q&A, he revealed that although Monsters Unleashed did well, it "didn't do well enough to warrant a third" (via ComicBook.com).

Related: Sarah Michelle Gellar Casts Doubt on Live-Action Scooby-Doo Return

3 Scooby-Doo (2002) — $275.7M

Mystery Inc. in Scooby-Doo
Warner Bros. Pictures

Scooby-Doo proved that a talking dog solving mysteries with a group of young adults surprisingly worked well outside an episodic cartoon. The film setting of the tropical island resort known as Spooky Island was an interesting one, the site of many bizarre paranormal incidents. Scooby-Doo was a joy to watch thanks to the banter and chemistry between its cast, and the excellent casting of Matthew Lillard as Shaggy. The first live-action Scooby-Doo film was a major part of many people's childhoods. It was also a commercial success, grossing $275.7 million at the box office and leading to the release of a sequel only two years later.

2 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) — $773.3M

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) cast
Marvel Studios
Disney

Before 2014, few people who were not already dedicated comic fans were familiar with the Guardians of the Galaxy. As such, there was doubt that the first Guardians of the Galaxy film would be able to succeed. But in a turn of events, it grossed over $770 million at the box office, surpassing that same year's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and X-Men: Days of Future Past. At the time, Guardians of the Galaxy was the highest grossing non-Avengers film in the MCU aside from Iron Man 3. Gunn quickly turned the cosmic team of misfits into a household name and helped the MCU reach new heights.

1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) — $863.8M

The Guardians of the Galaxy in their first sequel.
Marvel Studios

Following the success of 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, the superhero team returned in a highly-anticipated sequel titled Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Gunn returned as both writer and director, further exploring the theme of family that has been at the heart of the franchise. Like its predecessor, Vol. 2 was the highest-grossing Marvel film of that year, grossing more than 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok. The film was another win for Gunn and Marvel Studios, and was positively received by both critics and fans. It also tied in with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, both of which are among the highest grossing films of all time.