There is a definite rivalry being set up in the year 2012: Superhero blockbusters vs. big and/or bold sci-fi offerings.
You have mega-heavyweights like The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises holding it down for comic book superheroes, with flicks like Ghost Rider 2 or Amazing Spider-Man potentially weakening the cause. Sci-fi is touting serious clout thanks to Ridley Scott's return to the genre with Prometheus - but there are also boldly original sci-fi titles like Rian Johnson's Looper on the horizon. Other films like Total Recall or Battleship could go either way (good or bad) toward distinguishing the genre.
One thing is for sure though: with so many great sci-fi (Star Trek into Darkness, Pacific Rim) and superhero flicks (Man of Steel, Iron Man 3) due out in 2013, the answer to THIS question may be a while coming.