James Gunn’s recent endeavor into the superhero canon, Peacemaker, has been met with praise from comic book fans and casual audiences alike, as it’s quickly become one of HBO Max’s most watched properties. The John Cena led, DCEU, series takes a deconstructive approach to the genre, similar to The Boys or HBO’s Watchmen, with most of its characters being anti-heroes or morally ambiguous.
This sort of genre bending is new neither to James Gunn’s filmography, nor to action movies as a whole. There’s plenty of options to choose from when it comes to similar movies for fans to seek out.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
The obvious recommendation is the introductory film to the Peacemaker character. If you haven’t seen James Gunn’s Suicide Squad reboot, The Suicide Squad, then this is the place to start. The movie features a hilarious roster of characters, backing returning cast members in Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag and Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller.
One of the main highlights of the film is the banter between Peacemaker and Idris Elba’s Bloodsport. For fans of Cena’s performance, the movie has some of his greatest moments in the Peacemaker suit. The film became one of James Gunn’s top ranked films on IMDB.
Escape From New York (1981)
John Carpenter famously directed some of the most iconic films of the 70s and 80s. He kickstarted the Halloween franchise, and created many cult classics such as Escape From New York. Carpenter’s filmography is padded with the inspiration for many modern action, horror and science fiction movies.
Similar to Chris Smith in Peacemaker, Snake Plissken fits the bill for an unsuspecting hero. Similarly to Peacemaker, Snake is a criminal who is turned to by the government to carry out a mission in a time of need.
Deadpool (2016)
The first Deadpool film was lightning in a bottle for what could be accomplished in terms of using mainstream comic book characters to make awesome R-rated action comedies. Though there have been hits and misses, this was the beginning of the trend that led to The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.Â
Like Peacemaker, Deadpool is willing to kill those who stand in his way, but he is easy for audiences to support due to his witty humor and the fact that there are much more bad bad guys out there. Both projects have a more comedic, meta approach to the world of comic book movies, and are willing to point out how silly heroes in tights can truly be.
Super (2010)
James Gunn’s first superhero project wasn’t Guardians of the Galaxy, as one might expect. 2010’s Super, starring Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler and Elliot Page was the project that established Gunn as a director with a particular style. Though the film has a far lower budget, there are clear elements of Gunn’s signature humor that can be enjoyed in this work.
As recent episodes of Peacemaker have revealed, Chris Smith is a more complex character than just a funny brute. Peacemaker is a victim of abuse, and is someone who self destructively pushes people away to the point where he has a feeling of isolation. Similarly, Frank Darbo in Super suffers from mental health issues that cause his vigilante alter ego to take form.
Mystery Men (1999)
Between Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo and William H. Macy, there are many memorable performances in this 1999 film. If you like those actors, and love the humor of a superhero comedy, Mystery Men is the way to go.
Like with Peacemaker, Mystery Men is about being an underdog in a superhero world, trying to make a name for one’s self. In this case, it’s a team of goofy, underappreciated, costumed heroes. Like with Peacemaker, their arsenal doesn’t allow for a Superman-like display of crime fighting, and the results are equally hilarious.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
The first major James Gunn comic book project is still considered by many to be his best work. A large part of Marvel’s success formula has been taking underappreciated or lesser known comic book heroes and making them mainstream, and Guardians of the Galaxy was a huge part of that movement.
Though Guardians is far more family friendly than Peacemaker, Gunn’s sense of humor is still a prevalent factor in the success of the project. The film shows how Gunn is able to take misfit and often laughable characters and turn them into popular elements of pop culture.
Watchmen (2009)
The Watchmen graphic novel, often considered one of the greatest comics of all time, is the primary example of the deconstruction of the superhero genre. Without Watchmen there would be no The Boys, no Injustice, and certainly no Peacemaker.
The masterful book by Alan Moore and the film adaptation by Zack Snyder are a huge reason for the comic book media we have today, and the style could be the direction taken to prolong the superhero hype phase. Though not comedic, Watchmen shows the darker and more violent side of heroism, similar to Peacemaker.
Kick-Ass (2010)
Kick-Ass is another example of lightning in a bottle original action flick. Following a character who, inspired by comic books, decides to take the law into his own hands and become a vigilante. Though he isn’t quite as skilled as Peacemaker, his makeshift scuba diving costume and baton weapons make for some hilarious moments.
The movie offers a similar approach to Peacemaker and Deadpool with bloody violence and dark comedy. Kick-Ass is essential viewing for fans of Peacemaker. For further viewing, here are some movie suggestions for fans of Kick-Ass.
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