James Gunn is one of the best superhero movie directors in the business, so much so he was tapped to spearhead DC Studios and its now-acclaimed Superman film, which released this year on the 2025 movie schedule. To that point, confirmed a sequel is already confirmed. But those who've followed Gunn for some time know he first rose to superstar status with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Arguably his most beloved character is from the Guardians trilogy, and I was shocked to find out how much money Gunn actually makes off Baby Groot-related sales.
What do people love more than their favorite character? A miniature version. This isn’t uncommon with beloved characters. Yoda has always been a Star Wars fan favorite, but people absolutely lost their minds with the introduction of Grogu in The Mandalorian. Baby Yoda merchandise were flying off the shelves, and was even the top-selling toy in 2019.
