From SLU to Superman: James Gunn Urges Grads to 'Be Good'

ST. LOUIS, MO – May 19, 2026 – In a speech that blended his signature humor with profound vulnerability, visionary filmmaker and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn returned to his alma mater, Saint Louis University, to deliver a commencement address that challenged conventional wisdom and called on the Class of 2026 to lead lives of purpose, connection, and service. Before an audience of more than 6,500 in Chaifetz Arena, the St. Louis native traced his path from a student discovering his passion to one of Hollywood’s most influential storytellers, culminating in a simple, powerful directive: “In all senses of the word, be good.”

Gunn, who graduated from the university in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts, received an honorary degree during the May 18th ceremony, marking a poignant homecoming for the director. He described his time at the Jesuit institution as foundational, the very starting point for a career that has since generated over $3.3 billion at the global box office.

A Homecoming of Storytelling

For Gunn, the return to Saint Louis University was more than a ceremonial appearance; it was a “full-circle moment.” He spoke with deep affection for the place where his creative ambitions first took root, specifically crediting his coursework for setting him on his life's path. “I found my voice at SLU, my calling — storytelling,” Gunn told the graduates. “The birth of everything I've done, 'Guardians of the Galaxy' through 'Superman' through DC Studios was here.”

This personal history formed the emotional core of his address. He connected the themes in his blockbuster films directly to the lessons he learned and the values he honed long before stepping onto a film set. He referenced the fan-favorite character Rocket Raccoon from his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy as a prime example of his narrative focus. “I spent 10 years of my life telling the story of a raccoon realizing that not only does he matter,” Gunn said, “but so does every single one of us.” This message of inherent worth and interconnectedness, he implied, was a story that began for him in the classrooms of SLU.

Four Rules for a Life Beyond Dreams

Moving from the personal to the practical, Gunn shared what he termed his “four general all-purpose rules for success,” a set of principles that notably diverged from typical graduation platitudes. His first rule was deceptively straightforward: finish what you start. “This sounds mundane and obvious,” he admitted, “but you can never be successful if you don't finish whatever task you set out to do.”

His second piece of advice, however, was designed to provoke. “Don't follow your dreams,” he stated, a counterintuitive command in a setting usually filled with such encouragement. He quickly clarified the point, urging graduates to pivot from chasing abstract passions to identifying concrete contributions. “Instead of following your dreams, find out what you're good at doing and what contributes to society,” he explained. “Don't chase something. Be it.”

The third rule, be of service, directly echoed the Jesuit values underpinning the university's mission. Gunn framed it as an antidote to a world often driven by negative impulses. “We live in a world where many people are driven by greed and fear,” he observed. “There is only one thing you can do about this, and that is not be one of those people.”

Finally, Gunn shared his fourth and most personal lesson: view obstacles as opportunities. In the speech’s most emotional moment, he reflected on a period of intense professional turmoil where he believed his career was over. Instead of being a moment of defeat, it became one of profound discovery. “In the moment where I thought I had lost everything, I actually found what it was I was looking for,” he shared. “I felt loved for the first time, really ever. That was the happiest moment of my life.” This reframing of failure as a catalyst for finding genuine connection and happiness offered a powerful lesson in resilience.

A Message for the Moment

Gunn's address fits within a modern trend of celebrity commencement speeches that favor authenticity and vulnerability over hollow motivational clichés. By sharing his own struggles and offering pragmatic, if unconventional, advice, he provided a message uniquely tailored to a generation entering a complex and often uncertain world. His speech acknowledged the pressures graduates face, from economic instability to social polarization, and offered a value system focused on contribution rather than just acquisition.

The call to “be of service” and to find work that “contributes to society” acts as a powerful counter-narrative to the pervasive “hustle culture” that can lead to burnout and a sense of purposelessness. It encourages a more holistic definition of success, one that encompasses personal well-being, community impact, and ethical integrity. By tying his own blockbuster success back to these foundational principles of compassion and connection, Gunn made a compelling case that doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive pursuits.

As he concluded his remarks, he left the graduates with a final, encompassing thought that tied all his advice together. He urged them to embrace the full spectrum of the human experience as they move forward into their futures. “The future is yours, and the world's future is you,” he said, pausing before delivering his ultimate charge. “In all senses of the word, be good.”