Why James Gunn Isn’t Interested in Making ‘Prestige’ Movies

James Gunn sat down for the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, commenting on the primary reason he makes movies.

The interview happened at a strange moment for Hollywood. Just two hours later, Netflix announced a massive $82 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. The news was a clear sign of how fast the industry is changing, especially for someone like Gunn, who is now steering the future of DC.

During the conversation, Gunn made it clear that awards and prestige are not what drive him. He openly said he is not chasing trophies or industry status.

“Would it be cool to be nominated for Best Director or something? Yeah … But it’s not really my concern.” He explained that while he sometimes thinks about smaller, more independent projects, his heart is in big, mainstream movies. “I like making the kind of movies that I make, and I like making pop cinema, for lack of a better term.”

For Gunn, the size of the movie does not mean it lacks meaning. He said the goal is to reach people on an emotional level, even while working within blockbuster worlds. “If I can have those things also be something that are emotionally resonant to people, or affect people in a deeper, more spiritual way… then that’s fantastic.”

He pointed to reactions he has heard from audiences about “Superman” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” as proof that big movies can still matter deeply.

He also talked about what he enjoys most about making large-scale films. It is not just the visuals or the characters, but the process itself. “There’s an artistry to it, the creative flow.” At the same time, he likes the challenge of building something complex that works as a whole. “I like the part of it that’s putting the big puzzle together and creating this machine that works for an audience to elicit a reaction from them.”

Whether that reaction is laughter, tears, or excitement, Gunn says that is where the real fun is. For him, making movies is not about prestige labels. It is about connection, emotion, and giving audiences a reason to feel something when they sit in a theater.

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