SDCC 2026 Must-Watch TV and Film To Prepare for Your San Diego Comic-Con Panels, Chats and Socials

SDCC 2026 Must-Watch TV and Film To Prepare for Your San Diego Comic-Con Panels, Chats and Socials

As San Diego Comic-Con approaches, those who want to be in the zeitgeist of the conversation need to be familiar with the predecessors of the entertainment stories that will be previewed, the clips that will be shown, and the futures that will be speculated about.

Here’s our list of what you need to watch, or watch again, before you head to the hallowed halls and floor of the San Diego Convention Center.

Did we miss anything? Let readers know in the comments!

SDCC 2026 Must-Watch TV and Film

Superman

I know, but with the Lanterns‘ coming-out party at SDCC, Superman really becomes fun homework. And it will give you some superness to reflect on with you missed Milly Allcock’s take on Supergirl, which was excellent, even if the film proved an exercise in narrative drift.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

This is a must-see. I’m Trekkie, so, well, of course. For years Trekkies have longed to see a bridge built between prequelks and the beloved. Let’s see if the trailing tail of the Kurtzman Trek era can land the starship.

The Testaments

I know it’s hard, but in a world that sometimes seems like it’s trying hard to become a bizarro version of Atwood’s

Big Bang Theory

Stuart isn’t going to save the universe, but that is no reason not to watch him try. Harken back on Stuart’s supporting role that now seems to be supporting the future of humankind.

A few select episodes to watch:

1. “The Hofstadter Isotope” (Season 2, Episode 20). Why It’s Essential: This marks Stuart’s first appearance. Surprisingly confident, he actually asks Penny out on a date and successfully charms her before Sheldon completely derails the evening with comic trivia. 

2. “The Toast Derivation” (Season 3, Episode 17). Why It’s Essential: Fed up with his usual group, Sheldon tries to build a new circle of friends and invites Stuart, Zack, and Barry Kripke over for hot water and karaoke. It highlights how desperate and broke Stuart is at this point in his life. [

3. “The Countdown Reflection” (Season 5, Episode 24). Why It’s Essential: At Howard’s pre-wedding bachelor party, Stuart delivers an incredibly dark, hilarious “toast” that perfectly summarizes his life, claiming he has “the bone density of an 80-year-old man”

4. “The Locomotion Interruption” (Season 8, Episode 1). Why It’s Essential: During the “Mrs. Wolowitz era,” Stuart moves in with Howard’s mother. Howard returns home to find Stuart living a cushy, spoiled life taking care of her, leading to a hilarious dynamic shift between the two. 

5. “The Procreation Calculation” (Season 12, Episode 3). Why It’s Essential: Stuart’s relationship with the comic book store employee Denise blossoms. This episode is pivotal because Stuart finally grows a backbone, pushing past his insecurities to move in with her.

Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049

I don’t know what to expect from Blade Runner 2099, but I know if you don’t know your Replicant mythology your going to miss out on some key elements of this future’s future.

Dune I and II

Denise Villeniue is dusting it up again with Paul Atreides, this time to the death (maybe). An excellent cast with a solid vision for how to turn most of Frank Herbert’s galaxy-spanning philosophical tale into something consumable in, what nine-hourish?

The Hunger Games

The return to Panem for the backstory on the rise of the Hunger Games. If you don’t know the world, catch up with the five previous films.

Here’s the list of films to get you ready for Sunrise on the Reaping.

• The Hunger Games (2012)
• Catching Fire (2013)
• Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
• Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)
• The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

BTW, I’m more interested in what happened after. We know how bad it was getting to the dystopia; I’d like to see how they dig their way out.

Spider-man: No Way Home

Getting ready for your post-Comic-Con fix of Marvel goodness while you can still smell the aroma of Auntie M’s pretzels and the odor of a rubber cosplay suit at the end of a summer day? See this classic crossover that will likely do more than set up the next Spider-Man movie; it will also tie into Doomsday and the future of Marvel. It’s one of the fun romps through the multiverse that so far as proven more multi and verse. But now, it’s a brand new day.

Avengers: Endgame

Sure you saw Endgame one or dozen times. But its about to come out again, reworked and refashioned. Memory is a funny thing. A good clean copy of the data will prepare you for the nuanced changes introduced by the Russo brothers when you see it again this Fall on the big screen.

Wanda Vision and Agatha All Along

Remember when Marvel television was an intriguing glimpse into a future filled with superheroes and the supernatural. We all feel a little distanced from that longing future now; in some ways, Marvel has managed many of its properties with the aplomb of a reflecting pool repair team.

3Body Problem

Weird and wonderful and coming back for another mind-blowing season. Wow, a lot of clichés for a show that is the opposite of cliché.

Silo

Apple’s excellent adaptation that touches upon some of the most frightening thoughts about the future of technology and humanity. Has surviving in a world without agency proven the right choice for the future of humankind? We’ll see what Apple has to say about season 3.

Widow’s Bay

The surprise hit of Spring 2026 and new Emmy darling. Catch up ahead of whatever Apple is going to say for 2 hours before Marvel takes over Hall H.

Star City

The For All Mankind prequel explores the ruthlessness of a Soviet Union emboldened by beating America in the space race, yet perhaps losing the cultural marathon. A look at how dehumanizing authoritarian governments can become when the survival of ideology becomes the focus of politics, and how people try to retain their humanity behind personal curtains they dare never lift.

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