Marvel and DC comic fans have been taking potshots at each other for decades, and it's only grown since the Marvel Cinematic Universe started in 2008.

Since then, DC movies have paled in comparison to Marvel's offerings in terms of box office and, for the most part, critical acclaim, but Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn thinks any rivalry between the two comic giants on the big screen is a bit silly.

"You guys are never going to convince each other — it's just a bunch of wasted energy," he wrote in a Twitter thread. "As Marvel and DC super fans you have way more in common with each other than you do with the rest of the world. So why do you spend so much time raging at each other?"

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. 5 As Marvel and DC super fans you have way more in common with each other than you do with the rest of the world. — James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 28, 2017

Still, that hasn't stopped some of the people involved in making the Marvel and DC movies from throwing some shade at the competition, and here are seven of the best.

1. Samuel L Jackson – "Some of them are good"

ABC

Despite having been with the MCU since the very beginning, Samuel L Jackson is still trying to work out how Marvel films are so successful and while he's doing it, he's going to throw a subtle dig at DC.

"The genre has grown and it has grown inside this one place. Sure, there's that other company that makes movies that are like this... some of them are good," he told Slash Film. "There's something that [Marvel] know, or they find that makes it work... These people find a common goal or they're all working toward the common good, which brings them together in a very unique and interesting way."

2. Chris Pine – "We need more war for all time?"

Warner Bros.

We have a feeling that Chris Pine didn't quite get what Avengers: Infinity War was about before he referenced it in an interview for Wonder Woman with ScreenSlam, but that doesn't make it any less hilarious.

"Within this genre it's difficult to do something new and usually you just see a bunch of people killing one another in outfits and blowing up cities," he explained. "Like I know there's a thing called Infinity War coming out, which is like, really? Infinity War? We need more war for all time?"

3. Christopher Markus – 'DC throwing spaghetti at wall'

Greg Doherty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Speaking to Kevin Smith on his 'Fat Man on Batman' podcast, Avengers: Infinity War co-writer Christopher Markus offered his take on what DC movies are doing wrong and he doesn't sound like the best fan of their approach, thinking they should learn from Marvel's use of lesser superheroes.

"I might put Batman and Superman and everybody else – I mean, Wonder Woman is doing fine – aside for a second, go through the vast world and go, 'That guy' or 'That girl,' and go, 'Let's just make a really good movie and not a universe and see what happens'. There's a lot of spaghetti being thrown at the wall," he outlined.

4. David Ayer – "F**k Marvel"

Mireya Acierto Getty Images

Suicide Squad director David Ayer was a naughty boy at the world premiere of his DC offering when he responded to a crowd member's anti-Marvel insult with "f**k Marvel". Needless to say, it went everywhere and he apologised for his remark on Twitter: "Someone said it. I echoed. Not cool. Respect for my brother filmmakers."

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Sorry about getting caught up in the moment and saying f*ck Marvel. Someone said it. I echoed. Not cool. Respect for my brother filmmakers. — David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) August 2, 2016

His apology was good enough for Marvel Entertainment's Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada, who called on Marvel fans to give Ayer a break over his dig. "It was all in good fun," he wrote on Twitter, leading Ayer to joke how just "two words can bite back so hard".

5. Josh Brolin – "Total failure"

20th Century Fox

Josh Brolin has had experience of both DC and Marvel after starring in notorious flop Jonah Hex and portraying two major Marvel characters in Thanos and Cable. So who better to ask about the differences between the two and his response was absolutely savage: "Total failure and massive success."

He did add that he still likes DC though and would love to play Jonah again if they can film it as a "gritty kind of guerrilla Western". The comments came at a press conference for Deadpool 2, but sadly Ryan Reynolds – who has also performed in a notable DC flop with Green Lantern – declined to compare the two companies.

6. Ben Affleck – 'DC is less glib than Marvel'

Warner Bros.

Back in 2015 before the release of Batman v Superman, Ben Affleck said that DC movies are a "little more realistic" than Marvel offerings, adding that "these films can't be as funny or as quick or as glib as Marvel movies". Of course, he's not wrong that DC movies are more serious, but "glib" was a pointed choice of word.

Maybe he was just following the company line though as Warner Bros CEO Kevin Tsujihara had previously said that DC outings were a "little bit edgier than Marvel's movies", while WB President Greg Silverman has claimed that DC aren't "making superhero movies" which means they're tackling "interesting philosophies and character development". Bet they all feel a bit foolish now after Avengers: Infinity War's devastating climax.

7. Deadpool 2 – No-one is safe

20th Century Fox

We can't have a piece about Marvel and DC insulting each other without a bit of Deadpool and the sequel managed to take potshots at both, given that even though it's a Marvel character, it's not technically part of the MCU... yet.

So whether it was throwing shade at DC's tone – "so dark, you sure you're not from the DC universe" – or at Hawkeye's lack of powers, no one was safe from Deadpool's aim and we wouldn't have it any other way.

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