Something I love to do personally is make ranked lists of genres, years, countries, directors, etc. It's just a hyperinterest of mine. And so, what I've decided I want to start doing is that, every year, I want to put a bit of a focus on certain genres so that by the end of the year, I can be familiar enough with that genre to make such a ranked list.

And so, for 2026: Superheroes! I love superheroes, I really do, but they've become such a huge part of our current culture that they're impossible to escape. Still, I love the potential they hold, and I want to watch a wider range of them. So this year, I'll watch 52 new ones so I can make a Top 100 List at the end of the year! Anyone is free to join but this is really just for my own personal interest.

I particularly used the following three megalists for references:
Superheroes are super awesome!
With Great Power, Comes the Greatest Superhero Movie List of All-Time…
Comprehensive chronological list of superhero movies

For those who would prefer, in previous years, I created challenge lists for the following genres instead:
Musicals
Westerns
Documentaries

As for the rules:
1. Please tag the lists and reviews with either "annual genre challenge 2026" or "agc2026"
2. The films must be a superhero film. This is a very difficult genre to fully define, so it's up to personal preference. For my part, I will be using the definition used on the Comprehensive Chronological list:

Qualities of a superhero:
1. Superhuman powers or abilities (either natural or granted by advanced technology or supernatural forces)
2. A double identity (although said identity may or may not be secret)
3. An identifiable (and toyetic) uniform or appearance
4. Fights the forces of evil

3. The films can be watched in any order.
4. The films must be first time watches. Whole point of the challenge is to be better familiarized with each theme.

Disclaimer: For previous Genre Challenges, I liked to pull from a lot of different Letterboxd lists. Unfortunately, with this one being more of a specific subgenre, there's less lists available for references. So, there aren't as many linked references, but I tried to keep the prompts simple enough to find.

And the Challenges!
1. A superhero film starring your favorite hero
2. A superhero film starring one of IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes
3. A superhero film starring one of IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Villains
4. A Pre-1970s Superhero Film
5. A 1970s Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
6. A 1980s Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
7. A 1990s Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
8. A 2000s Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
9. A 2010s Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
10. A 2020s Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
11. A DC Comics Superhero Film (DC, DC Comics)
12. A Marvel Superhero Film (Marvel, Marvel)
13. An Image Comics Superhero Film (Films based on Image Comics, Image Comics, Image Comics)
14. A Dark Horse Comics Superhero Film (Dark Horse Comics, Dark Horse Comics Adaptations)
15. An IDW Comics Superhero Film (IDW, IDW Publishing)
16. A Superhero Film based off an independent comic book series (RC Ranks: Independent Comic Book Adaptations, Independent Comic Book Movies, Indie Comic book movies)
17. A Superhero Film based off a TV Show (List of Superhero Television Series)
18. A Superhero Film based off an anime/manga (Superheroes in Anime and Manga)
19. A Superhero Film based off a radio show (Radio Superheroes)
20. A Superhero Film based off pulp fiction (Characters in Pulp Fiction)
21. A Superhero Film based off a comic strip (Superhero Comic Strips)
22. An Original Superhero Film (Original Superheroes, Original Superheroes)
23. A stand alone Superhero Film (any Superhero film without sequels or not part of a larger franchise)
24. A Superhero Film part of a franchise you've never seen
25. A Tokusatsu Superhero Film (Tokusatsu, Tokusatsu, Tokusatsu)
26. A Non-American or Japanese Superhero Film
27. A Documentary on Superheroes (SASA, WGP, CCL)
28. An Animated Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
29. A Horror Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
30. A Comedy Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
31. A Family Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
32. A Fantasy Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
33. A Science-Fiction Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
34. A Western Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
35. A Made-For-TV Superhero Film (SASA, WGP, CCL)
36. A Parody Superhero Film (superhero parodies and comedies, superhero parodies and metacommentaries, superhero parodies to binge)
37. A Diesel/Steampunk Era Superhero
38. A Radioactive Superhero
39. A Magic Superhero
40. An Antihero
41. A Superhero Team
42. A Superheroine
43. A Non-White Superhero
44. A Child Superhero
45. An Animal Superhero
46. An Alien Superhero
47. Rotten Tomatoes' The 100 Best Superhero Movies of All Time
48. Collider's 35 Best Superhero Movies of All Time
49. Rolling Stones' 50 Greatest Superhero Movies of All Time
50. Letterboxd Top 100 Superhero Films
51. Oscar Nominated Superhero Film
52. Any Off Watchlist

Participants:
Nick Atkins//SoRefined//Alex Simeon//evilchachouuu

Progress: 14/52