James Gunn might now be best known for reigniting the DC Universe with Superman, or delivering the MCU’s best trilogy: The Guardians of the Galaxy. But years before he touched a comic book movie, James Gunn got his start adapting one of the most beloved spooky franchises of all time. With Halloween right around the corner, countless horror movies are jumping back up the streaming charts. But, for those who enjoy Halloween but don’t like horror movies, James Gunn’s seemingly forgotten cult classic is the perfect Spooktober viewing. We’re, of course, talking about the live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doobi, which is currently a hit on streaming.
23 years after it first opened in theaters, the live-action Scooby-Doo movie has made a streaming comeback on HBO Max. Scooby-Doo is currently the sixth most popular movie on HBO Max. Released in 2002, Scooby-Doo is undeniably a cult classic. Gunn penned the screenplay with Craig Titley and Raja Gosnell, with the latter of the three directing the film. The cast have since become inseparable from their characters, with Matthew Lillard playing Shaggy, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, and Linda Cardellini as Velma. The official synopsis reads:
“Zoinks! Two years after a clash of egos forced Mystery Inc. to close its doors, Scooby-Doo and his clever crime-solving cohorts Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and Velma (Linda Cardellini) are individually summoned to Spooky Island to investigate a series of paranormal incidents at the ultra-hip Spring Break hot spot.”
Scooby-Doo‘s cult status is largely a product of the internet. The film was maligned by critics when it opened in 2002, holding a 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were similarly unimpressed with Gunn’s interpretation of Scooby-Doo, giving it a 40% rating. However, thanks to good ‘ol meme culture, Scooby-Doo has become a classic, thanks to its quotable lines, perfect casting, and infamous deleted scenes.
Will ‘Scooby-Doo 3’ Ever Happen?
Despite poor reviews, Scooby-Doo was a box office hit. The film grossed over $275 million worldwide against a budget of $84 million. Its financial success was enough to encourage Warner Bros. to greenlight a sequel. James Gunn returned for Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed two years later, with Raja Gosnell also returning as director. The entire core cast returned for the sequel, alongside Seth Green and Alicia Silverstone.
However, Scooby-Doo 2 was even more despised by critics than the original. The film holds a significantly worse 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences hated the film just as much as last time, giving it a 42% score on RT. The film made a decent return at the box office, grossing $181 million. But it was far from the blockbuster follow-up Warner Bros. was hoping for.
Unfortunately, Scooby-Doo 2‘s financial shortcomings meant that Warner Bros. immediately canceled plans for Scooby-Doo 3. Two decades after the movies were released, there haven’t been any public conversations about the cast returning for Scooby-Doo 3, as much as the die-hard fan base desperately wants it to happen.
- Release Date
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June 14, 2002
- Runtime
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88
- Writers
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James Gunn, Craig Titley, William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
