The Green Hornet

UK film release date: 14 January 2011

Seth Rogen and Michel Gondry – together at last! The Green Hornet is a goofy and imaginative take on a creaky old comic series. If you like your superhero films light on the self-important posturing, you’ll have fun with this one.

I am Number 4

UK film release date: 23 February 2011

I am Number 4 is a family-friendly superhero film about the fourth of a bunch of teens with superpowers to be hunted down by a deadly enemy. The other three didn’t make it. Will Alex Pettyfer? Probably. His hands glow.

The Eagle

UK film release date: 25 March 2011

In Roman-ruled Britain, a young Roman soldier honours his father’s memory by setting out across Hadrian’s Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia in order to confront its savage tribes and regain his lost legion’s golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth. Is this really a superhero film? Yes. If we cheat. But we want to cheat, because Roman soldiers freaking well ARE superheroes. Marcus, the Roman soldier in question, probably had his powers bestowed upon him by Odin, or something. Hey, it worked for Thor (although Marvel’s Thor was actually an alien Asgardian – see below).

Sucker Punch

UK film release date: 1 April 2011

If you’re a girl with superpowers, a groovy moniker and an outlandish but hot costume, you’re clearly a superhero. This much-anticipated film (which has divided critical opinion on its release) has 5 of them. Babydoll is held in an asylumn by her mad father and the only way for her to escape is to bend reality and fight evil with her sassy, super-sexy, be-weaponed chums Rocket, Blondie, Amber and Sweet Pea… And look, they have a big friendly robot painted to look like Hello Kitty with a mouth…

Thor

UK film release date: 29 April 2011

If we were feeling brutally elitist, which we’re clearly not, we wouldn’t let Thor into the superhero club because he’s actually a Norse god (or, if you prefer, an alien Asgardian) wearing a clubbing top with giant metal nipples. But we’ll let it slide. Just this once. Twice, if you include The Eagle. Thrice, if you include Sucker Punch. Will Kenneth Brannagh succeed as an action director? Will the God of Thunder live up to the promise of release date positioning as precious as that honouring Tony Stark in Iron Man? Let us see if his hammer Mjölnir can aid him now…

X-Men: First Class

UK film release date: 2 June 2011

This prequel to one of the biggest franchises ever for the superhero films genre does look pretty juicy, and we were exceedingly hyped about the trailer too. Professor X and Magneto are youthful friends just getting to grips with their superpowers – so what causes the rift between them? With Matthew Vaughn directing we should be in safe hands. We’re also looking forward to the inclusion of diamond-skinned uberbitch Emma Frost.

Green Lantern

UK film release date: 17 June 2011

Green Lantern is one of the most anticipated superhero films of the year. Good news for the Best For Film staff who are increasingly obssessed with Ryan Reynold’s torso career. Let’s hope Green Lantern withstands hype; as superhero films go, it isn’t an easy sell. “A guy gets a really cool magic ring that’s allergic to the colour yellow” seems rather weak when held up to manly origin stories like “A guy was tortured to the point of invulnerability” or “A guy becomes so rich and mental he wanders around the streets at night dressed as a bat”.

Captain America: The First Avenger

UK film release date: 29 July 2011

I’ts WWII. Soldier Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret project to turn him into Captain America, the Sentinel of Liberty – a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals. This means he will fight lots and lots of Nazis. I’m interested in this particular superhero film for three reasons. Firstly, to find out what America currently thinks its ideals are. Secondly, Joss Whedon is one of the co-writers, and as a writerly superhero himself, he should keep the story arc and dialogue fresh once he’s injected it with his secret super formula. Thirdly, the holy Hugo Weaving will be playing the Red Skull. Enough said.

Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World

UK film release date: 19 August 2011

Another superhero film for kids! That seems fair – they were the ones who were meant to read comics in the first place. Why should they be pushed out of the superhero arena by overgrown sumo fanboys? Robert Rodriguez reboots his family spy saga for Dimension Films, and will no doubt get all his famous actor chums to do cameos in it as before. We cross our fingers for the return of Machete…

Super

UK film release date: Late 2011

Ah. Super. Super, super, super. Due for release on an unconfirmed date in late 2011, this superhero film by James Gunn (whose geek cred went sky-high with horror comedy Slither) is an indie comedy more in the vein of Kick-Ass than Spiderman.

Hush, now. Let’s not spoil this moment with words. View this Super clip instead…

Lastly, you may have noticed a lack of Spiderman and Batman going on, in spite of all the hype already building for them. Fear not. We give you…

Superhero films to see in 2012

G.I Joe 2
Iron Man 3
John Carter of Mars
Superman: Man of Steel (Reboot)
Ant-Man
Hancock 2
Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall
Wanted 2
Wolverine 2
The Amazing Spiderman (4)
The Dark Knight Rises (Batman 4)

And you thought we didn’t love you.

Now read: Top 20 films to see in 2011