2026 Saturn Awards Winners See THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Beat SUPERMAN As Best Cinematic Film Adaptation

2026 Saturn Awards Winners See THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Beat SUPERMAN As Best Cinematic Film Adaptation

The winners are in for this year's Saturn Awards, and the big news is that The Fantastic Four: First Steps took down Superman in one of the award show's biggest categories.

By JoshWilding - Mar 09, 2026 11:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four

UPDATE: We've now received the full list of winners, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps picked up a second prize for "Best Film Production Design."


The 53rd Saturn Awards took place last night. Hosted by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, the honour the best in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other genres belonging to film, television, and home entertainment.

The full list of winners hasn't been published as we write this, but many of the biggest categories have leaked directly from the ceremony itself.

The biggest talking point for us here has to be the fact that The Fantastic Four: First Steps defeated Superman to earn the prize for "Best Cinematic Film Adaptation (From Another Medium)." The MCU movie was the better-reviewed of the two, but the DC Studios blockbuster grossed more at the box office.

Still, DC bounced back in the TV category, where Peacemaker Season 2 topped Daredevil: Born Again, Ironheart, Gen V, Invincible, and The Sandman to be named "Best Superhero Television Series."

"The Fantastic Four is an exceptional introduction to the MCU’s First Family," we shared in our review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps"and thanks to a Jack Kirby-infused feel that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before, it proves to be a quintessential superhero movie with Marvel Studios at its brilliant best."

Reviewing the first DCU movie, we wrote, "Superman is an indescribable joy, and a beautiful, moving thrill ride. David Corenswet is the perfect Man of Steel in a movie packed full of ideas, but under James Gunn’s expert direction, those all work, creating a rousing experience that flies higher than DC has in a very long time."

Peacemaker Season 2, however, did not receive quite as glowing a verdict. "Peacemaker season 2 feels like a wholly superfluous addition to the new DCU, and lacks the stakes and emotion that made season 1 so special. Fortunately, it’s buoyed by some fun surprises for fans and another exceptional turn from John Cena."

Find the current list of winners below. We'll update this post when the rest become available.

FILM

Best Science Fiction Film
Avatar: Fire and Ash – WINNER
Bugonia
Jurassic World: Rebirth
Predator: Badlands
The Running Man
Tron: Ares

Best Horror Film
Frankenstein – WINNER
28 Years Later
The Conjuring: Last Rites
Final Destination Bloodlines
The Monkey
Weapons

Best Cinematic Film Adaptation (From Another Medium)
Black Phone 2
Captain America: Brave New World
The Fantastic Four: First Steps – WINNER
A Minecraft Movie
Superman
Thunderbolts: The New Avengers

Best Thriller Film
Highest 2 Lowest
The Housemaid
The Long Walk
Marty Supreme
Sinners – WINNER
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Best Action/Adventure Film
Ballerina
F1: The Movie
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – WINNER
Novocaine
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t
One Battle After Another

Best Actor in a Film
David Corenswet, Superman
Tom Cruise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – WINNER
Tom Hiddleston, The Life of Chuck
Oscar Isaac, Frankenstein
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Pedro Pascal, The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Sam Worthington, Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Actress in a Film
Rachel Brosnahan, Superman
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good
Elle Fanning, Predator: Badlands – WINNER
Julia Garner, Weapons
Vanessa Kirby, The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Zoe Saldaña, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Emma Stone, Bugonia

Best Supporting Actor in a Film
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein - WINNER
Edi Gathegi, Superman
Jeff Goldblum, Wicked: For Good
Stephan Lang, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Mads Mikkelsen, Dust Bunny
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Best Supporting Actress in a Film
Oona Chaplin, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Mia Goth, Frankenstein
Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good
Amy Madigan, Weapons
Hailee Steinfeld, Sinners
Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts: The New Avengers
Sigourney Weaver, Dust Bunny – WINNER

Best Younger Performer in a Film
Miles Caton, Sinners
Jack Champion, Avatar: Fire and Ash – WINNER
Maia Kealoha, Lilo & Stitch
Madeleine McGraw, Black Phone 2
Sophie Sloan, Dust Bunny
Mason Thames, How to Train Your Dragon

Best Film Direction
James Cameron, Avatar: Fire and Ash – WINNER
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein
James Gunn, Superman
Christopher McQuarrie, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Dan Trachtenberg, Predator: Badlands

Best Film Screenwriting
Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver; story by Josh Friedman, Shane Salerno – WINNER
Dust Bunny, Bryan Fuller
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer
Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendresen
Sinners, Ryan Coogler
Weapons, Zach Cregger

Best Visual/Special Effects
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon – WINNER
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Scott Stokdyk, Daniele Bigi, Lisa Marra
How to Train Your Dragon, Christian Manz, Andy Kind, François Lambert, Glenn Melenhorst, Glen McIntosh
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Alex Wuttke, Jeff Sutherland, Ian Lowe, Kristin Hall, Dave Newton
Superman, Stephane Ceretti, Guy Williams, Enrico Damm, Stephane Nazé
Wicked: For Good, Pablo Helman, Dale Newton

Best Film Music
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Simon Franglen
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Michael Giacchino
Frankenstein, Alexandre Desplat
Sinners, Ludwig Göransson
Tron: Ares, Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross) - WINNER
Wicked: For Good, John Powell & Stephen Schwartz

Best Film Production Design
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Dylan Cole & Ben Procter
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis - WINNER
Frankenstein, Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau
Sinners, Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne
Superman, Beth Mickle
Wicked: For Good, Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales

Best Film Make-up
28 Years Later, John Nolan
Frankenstein, Mike Hill, Megan Many - WINNER
Sinners, Mike Fontaine, Siân Richards
Tron: Ares, Donald Mowat, Zabrina Matiru
Weapons, Jason Collins, Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat
Wicked: For Good, Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier

Best Film Editing
Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron, John Refoua, Steve Rivkin, Nicolas De Toth, Jason Gaudio
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Jeffrey Ford
Frankenstein, Cam McLauchlin
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Eddie Hamilton
Predator: Badlands, Stefan Grube, Dave Trachtenberg
Sinners, Michael P. Shawyer - WINNER

Best Film Costume
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Alexandra Byrne
Frankenstein, Kate Hawley - WINNER
Predator: Badlands, Ngila Dickson
Sinners, Ruth E. Carter
Superman, Judianna Makovsky
Wicked: For Good, Paul Tazewell

Best Independent Film
Adulthood
Eden
Dust Bunny – WINNER
Good Boy
The Rule of Jenny Pen
The Plague
The Toxic Avenger

Best International Film
40 Acres
Bring Her Back
Dead of Winter
Night Call
The Ugly Stepsister
Sisu 2: Road to Revenge - WINNER

Best Animated Film
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
The Bad Guys 2
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters
The SpongeBob Movie: Search For Squarepants
Zootopia 2 - WINNER

Best International Animated Film
Attack on Titan the Movie: The Last Attack
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
The Colors Within
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinite Castle – WINNER
Ne Zha 2
Stitch Head

TELEVISION

Best Science Fiction Television Series
Andor – WINNER
The Ark
Foundation
Severance
Silo
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Best Fantasy Television Series
Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches
Ghosts
The Librarians: The Next Chapter
Outlander – WINNER
Stranger Things
Wednesday

Best Horror Television Series
Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order
The Institute
It: Welcome to Derry – WINNER
The Last of Us
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Yellowjackets

Best New Genre Television Series
Alien: Earth
Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Pluribus – WINNER
Robin Hood
Spartacus: House of Ashur
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Best Action/Adventure Television Series
Cobra Kai
Duster – WINNER
Paradise
Reacher
Squid Game
Twisted Metal

Best Thriller Television Series
Dark Winds
Dexter: Resurrection – WINNER
The Lowdown
MobLand
The Rainmaker
Your Friends and Neighbors

Best Superhero Television Series
Daredevil: Born Again
Gen V
Invincible
Iron Heart
Peacemaker – WINNER
The Sandman

Best Television Presentation or Limited Series
The Beast in Me
Black Mirror
Murderbot
Nautilus
The Pitt
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – WINNER

Best Animated Television Series or Event
Creature Commandos
Harley Quinn
Marvel Zombies
Predator: Killer of Killers – WINNER
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow

Best Actor in a Television Series
Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
John Cena, Peacemaker
Michael C. Hall, Dexter: Resurrection
Sam Heughan, Outlander
Diego Luna, Andor
Norman Reedus, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – WINNER
Adam Scott, Severance

Best Actress in a Television Series
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things
Sydney Chandler, Alien: Earth
Britt Lower, Severance
Melissa McBride, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
Jenna Ortega, Wednesday
Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus – WINNER

Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series
Jack Alcott, Dexter: Resurrection
William Fichtner, Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order
Jude Law, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
James Marsden, Paradise
Babou Ceesay, Alien: Earth
Ethan Peck, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Stellan Skarsgård, Andor – WINNER

Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series
Christina Chong, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Denise Gough, Andor
Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
Jennifer Holland, Peacemaker
Genevieve O’Reilly, Andor
Uma Thurman, Dexter: Resurrection
Karolina Wydra, Pluribus – WINNER

Best Guest Star in a Television Series
Dave Dastmalchian, Dexter: Resurrection – WINNER
Peter Dinklage, Dexter: Resurrection
Linda Hamilton, Stranger Things
James Remar, It: Welcome to Derry
Bill Skarsgård, It: Welcome to Derry
Samba Schutte, Pluribus
Paul Wesley, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Best Younger Performer in a Television Series
Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew – WINNER
Arian S. Cartaya, It: Welcome to Derry
Joe Freeman, The Institute
Noah Schnapp, Stranger Things
Jaz Sinclair, Gen V
Sadie Sink, Stranger Things
Clara Stack, It: Welcome to Derry

HOME VIDEO

Best 4K Home Media Release
Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Nightmare Alley
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Thunderbolts – The New Avengers
When Evil Lurks
Wicked - WINNER

Best Home Media Collection Release
007: James Bond – Sean Connery 6 Film Collection
A Nightmare on Elm Street 7 Film Collection
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy
Terror in the Fog: The Wallace Krimi at CCC
The Abbott and Costello Horror Film Collection
The Pink Panther Peter Sellers Comedy Collection – WINNER

Best Television Home Media Release
Chucky: The Complete Series - WINNER
Creepshow Complete Series
Knight Rider: The Complete Series
Peanuts 75th Ultimate TV Specials
The Huckleberry Hound Show
The Penguin Season 1

Best Classic Film Home Media Release
Dead of Night
Frailty – WINNER
Kingdom of Heaven (Director’s Cut)
Night of the Juggler
Night of the Living Dead 1990
The Re-Animator 40th Anniversary
Tombstone

About The Author:
JoshWilding
Member Since 3/13/2009
Comic Book Reader. Film Lover. WWE and F1 Fan. Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and ComicBookMovie.com's #1 contributor.
FANTASTIC FOUR Star Michael Chiklis Reveals Fox Considered HULK VS. THE THING Spin-off Movie
Related:

FANTASTIC FOUR Star Michael Chiklis Reveals Fox Considered HULK VS. THE THING Spin-off Movie

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS BTS Photos Reveal Another Amazing Practical Galactus Scene
Recommended For You:

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS BTS Photos Reveal Another Amazing Practical Galactus Scene

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2 3
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/9/2026, 11:22 AM
Big Oof for the people still gaslighting themselves into liking Superman.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 3/9/2026, 11:26 AM
@InfinitePunches - I saw it on HBO Max and thought it was a really bad cartoon.
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 3/9/2026, 11:26 AM
@InfinitePunches - if it were that bad, how did it get nominated at all? In fact, how did it beat FF at the box office? In fact, how did it get a "sequel"?
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 3/9/2026, 11:35 AM
@UltimaRex - While I agree with you, the nominations in that category included Cap 4 . . .
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 3/9/2026, 11:37 AM
@Clintthahamster - fair point lol.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 3/9/2026, 11:37 AM
@InfinitePunches - Jesus, dude. People that like movies you don't like aren't gaslighting themselves. People like different things, and it's okay. "Enjoying Movies" doesn't need to be tribalized like everything else has been.
FireGunn
FireGunn - 3/9/2026, 11:51 AM
@InfinitePunches - Even bigger oof for those that have gaslighted themselves into liking F4 when it's arguably worse! Just because it takes itself more seriously doesn't make it less of a parody than Supershit
FireGunn
FireGunn - 3/9/2026, 11:52 AM
@InfinitePunches - Why did the Clint guy block me lmao. People really can't handle disagreeing opinions
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/9/2026, 11:53 AM
@FireGunn - I haven't seen it. But I'm not sure you know what the word parody means.
FireGunn
FireGunn - 3/9/2026, 11:54 AM
@InfinitePunches - All CBM's this year were a parody
FireGunn
FireGunn - 3/9/2026, 11:54 AM
@FireGunn - *Last year
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/9/2026, 12:03 PM
@FireGunn - User Comment Image

^This is a parody. "An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect."

Superman was actually trying to be a good movie, not just poke fun at superhero tropes. That's kind of the problem. You could argue that Peacemaker season 2 was a parody in the vein of Deapool. But referring to Superman as parody doesn't acknowledge the shortcomings of the film, it trivializes them to imply that it was goofy and cringy on purpose. And it's an insult to the fine art of good parody.
FireGunn
FireGunn - 3/9/2026, 12:31 PM
@InfinitePunches - "It trivializes them to imply that it was goofy and cringy on purpose."

It was goofy and cringey on purpose and Gunn even stated as such. He was trying to capture the Silver age nonsense to screen. It's the same with Batman and Robin or Adam West Batman. They're not literal parodies but they're in the vein of them
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/9/2026, 12:55 PM
@FireGunn - The Silver Age was the best era of comic books, so just jot that down.

Nothing is cringey on purpose unless you're talking about something like the Office.

The word you're looking for is "campy." Something that isn't meant to be taken 100% seriously but can still have genuine heart. The Brave and the Bold tv show is a good example. You can have things be wacky and over-the-top without turning characters into jokes. Batman still acts like Batman in that show, and it still has emotionally engaging stories while working in that cartoonish Silver Age style.

I think a genuine, heartfelt Silver Age adaptation is exactly what DC needs after the previous adaptation. But a movie with coarse language and themes of sexual exploitation is not that.
NotMyDiagnosis
NotMyDiagnosis - 3/9/2026, 1:00 PM
@UltimaRex - a lot of people wanted to stick it to the previous universe.
TheNewYorkerr
TheNewYorkerr - 3/9/2026, 1:17 PM
That Superman film was trash 😂
FireGunn
FireGunn - 3/9/2026, 1:57 PM
@InfinitePunches - "I think a genuine, heartfelt Silver Age adaptation is exactly what DC needs after the previous adaptation"

That's what Gunn gave you and it failed. The Silver age works in comics and maybe even animation, but it does not work in live action. Every single time they've tried it it's failed
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/9/2026, 2:13 PM
@FireGunn - Sure, if you ignore Christopher Reeves Superman, Adam West Batman, Lynda Carter Wonder Woman, Superman Returns, the 90s Flash show, Superboy, Lois & Clark, and the eight serials they did in the 40s and 50s, then yeah it's failed the other zero times they've tried it.
ThuthNuke
ThuthNuke - 3/9/2026, 2:21 PM
@InfinitePunches - Snyderverse was terrible btw
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/9/2026, 2:23 PM
@m1doriya - Mhmm. Why do you mention it?
FireGunn
FireGunn - 3/9/2026, 2:25 PM
@InfinitePunches - 1. Funny you mention Reeve. The first 1 is the least like the Silver Age and that worked sure. The 2nd (theatrical cut), 3, and 4 got more sillier, more campier, more goofier, and more silver age and can we guess what the reception to those films are?

2. The 1960's is a completely different world than today. What worked back when Batman was seen as a joke, would not work now. This worked because the concept of superheores was new and novel in live action. They could get away with the absurdity to casual fans. Now that we've evolved past this point to stuff like The Dark Knight, Daredevil, Avengers, and more it wouldn't work. As i've said, Gunn tried and failed.

3. Lynda Carter's show absolutely was not nearly as wacky and campy as something like Batman 66. That show is more Bronze age if anything.

4. The 90's Flash show isn't even remotely silver age. The tone and style is closer to Batman 89 than the colorful silver age.

5. Same with Superboy

6. Same with Lois and Clark especially which took clear influence from Bryne's MOS run.

7. The 8 serials were terrible.

The irony of this comment is that it proves that the silver age does not work on the screen. To defend them, you gave a bunch of low budget episodic tv shows, serials from the 1940s, and stuff that wasn't even silver age.
ThuthNuke
ThuthNuke - 3/9/2026, 2:34 PM
@InfinitePunches - Snyderverse was garbage btw
dragon316
dragon316 - 3/9/2026, 2:39 PM
@InfinitePunches - to bad fantastic four couldn’t do this well in numbers at box office numbers show what movie they like more
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/9/2026, 3:20 PM
@ThuthNuke - Yes. And?
mck13
mck13 - 3/9/2026, 3:51 PM
@UltimaRex - It was getting a sequel regardless of how it did. Campea was saying that before the movie dropped. That they expected bad #s etc & they didn't care cuz they was "world building"😂🤣😂😂😂😂😂
EskimoJ
EskimoJ - 3/9/2026, 5:09 PM
@InfinitePunches - Not really, the awards don't dictate what someone prefers personally.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/9/2026, 6:20 PM
@UltimaRex - Why is the James Gunn written and directed movie getting a sequel? I don't know, you'd have to ask DC Studios co-CEO and chief creative decision-maker James Gunn why.
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 3/10/2026, 7:47 AM
@mck13 - you're quoting Campea.
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 3/10/2026, 7:50 AM
@ObserverIO - if Superman didn't make target, Gunn wouldn't be DC Studios chief now. Granted, low bar but Superman smashed it anyway so...
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 3/10/2026, 7:56 AM
@ObserverIO - also, does Gunn's position of decision maker help you or me? If we're talking about Gunn staying (are we? I've lost count)?
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/10/2026, 6:08 PM
@UltimaRex - I'm saying that it's his decision whether or not his own film that he loves gets a sequel. You think he's gonna be like 'No it didn't do well enough so no sequel'. Of course not. He's supremely biased.
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 3/11/2026, 8:20 AM
@ObserverIO - and I'm saying if S25 didn't do well he wouldn't even have that decision. WB would have canned him on the spot.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/11/2026, 3:25 PM
@UltimaRex - Maybe if it had flopped.
FireCanon
FireCanon - 3/9/2026, 11:23 AM
Andor mentioned
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/9/2026, 11:25 AM
Congratulations to the 5 writers of Avatar 3 for winning best screenwriting lol
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 3/9/2026, 11:28 AM
@InfinitePunches - aw, I thought the Saturn awards were your new best friend. That lasted long...
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 3/9/2026, 11:50 AM
@UltimaRex - Just started the final season of Smallville! I'm so glad you recommended I watch that show. It really is the best live action adaptation of Superman.
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 3/9/2026, 12:03 PM
@InfinitePunches - oh, you're one of *those*.

Never mind...
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/9/2026, 11:31 AM
Cool , I thought both FF:First Steps & Superman were solid so would have been happy if either won tbh!!.

Also glad to see Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning both win for their respective projects in Andor & Predator:Badlands…

The latter especially was delightful as Thia and also did well as the colder Tessa in that film (which I liked overall).

User Comment Image

Also I had my issues with Final Reckoning tbh but kudos to it winning aswell as Tom Cruise!!.
JackDeth
JackDeth - 3/9/2026, 11:34 AM
So what? It beat 'THUNDERBOLTS*' too. Why is this news?
1 2 3

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder