James Gunn Reveals the “Greatest Living American Filmmaker”

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Inquire about a filmmaker’s top choice among their peers, and you often receive a cautious response. However, James Gunn bucked this trend. Instead of treading carefully when asked to name his favorite living American director, Gunn presented a definitive answer that continues to be a popular topic of discussion among fans.

At that point, during the ongoing discussion about the relationship between comic book movies and cinema, Gunn decided to address some criticisms. Yet, he maintained a cordial tone throughout, emphasizing that he was capable of having differing opinions without belittling a respected figure.

Later, he asserted without a doubt who Martin Scorsese considered as the preeminent American filmmaker alive today. “Martin Scorsese,” he stated, “is arguably the world’s top filmmaker currently active.” This statement, undoubtedly, stood out amidst the crowd and was attributed to Gunn himself.

He didn’t just halt at that point; instead, he elucidated the reason behind such passionate acclaim. It was as if the passionate admirer and skilled analyst were both expressing themselves. “I adore and delve into his movies, and I will persist in doing so.

James Gunn openly shares his candid opinions about defending comic book movies amid Martin Scorsese’s criticisms, oh boy!

— Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz) August 4, 2021

Gunn explicitly allowed for differences of opinion and clearly stated his disagreement. His assertion was concise: “I have a single point of disagreement with him: I don’t share his view that films based on comic books are not truly cinema.” This subtle yet significant statement shifted the tone of their conversation from a dispute to an appreciation-filled exchange.

This wasn’t just a momentary outpouring of praise. At around the same time, Gunn referred to Scorsese as “one of the greatest filmmakers who have ever lived,” and stated that he had no trouble watching his films. Even while criticizing the broader discussion, Gunn consistently demonstrated respect for Scorsese in his words.

Ultimately, Gunns’ choice seemed both daringly straightforward and undeniably evident. It was daring because he openly acknowledged individuals when others often tiptoe around such matters. The straightforwardness of it was also apparent due to the immense influence Scorsese wields in cinema, a fact that is difficult to overemphasize. What particularly resonated was how Gunns articulated his sentiments. He began with praise, then voiced disagreement, and concluded by reminding us that the most enlightening film discussions stem from a shared passion for movies.

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2025-09-02 09:44