Summer 2011 movie preview
Stop me if you've heard this one before: A Norse god, a pirate and a Smurf go into a local theater.
In what's become a summer tradition, movies released between now and the beginning of September are predominantly sequels or based on comic books or other popular characters. We look at the films – big and small – that will attempt box office gold this summer.
Release date: Released May 6
Director: Luke Greenfield
Cast: Kate Hudson , Ginnifer Goodwin, John Krasinski
The 411: A talented attorney goes from helping her friend prepare for her wedding day to sleeping with the groom.
Release date: Released May 6
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman
The 411: Thor's kicked out of Asgard and must live with humans. It's here that the Norse god finds the humanity to be a hero.
Release date: Released May 6
Director: Salim Akil
Cast: Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso
The 411: Worlds collide when two families get together in Martha's Vineyard for a wedding.
Release date: Friday, May 13
Director: Scott Stewart
Cast: Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Lily Collins, Maggie Q
The 411: A legendary warrior priest must save his niece after she's abducted by vampires.
Release date: Friday, May 13
Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, Jon Hamm
The 411: A woman agrees to be her best friend's maid of honor and the trip down the aisle becomes an expensive and strange adventure.
Release date: Friday, May 20
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane
The 411: Captain Jack Sparrow is forced on a journey to find the fabled fountain of youth.
Release date: Thursday, May 26
Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan
The 411: Po's dream job is disrupted by an enemy who wants to destroy kung fu.
Release date: Thursday, May 26
Director: Todd Phillips
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms (his hosting gig), Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong
The 411: Four friends travel to Thailand for a wedding. Despite advance planning, things go wrong.
Release date: Friday, June 3
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender (his 2009 war film), Rose Byrne, Kevin Bacon
The 411: A look at how the "X-Men" saga started.
Release date: Friday, June 10
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Gabriel Basso, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney, Ron Eldard
The 411: A group of young filmmakers captures a strange supernatural event in their small town.
Release date: Friday, June 17
Director: Martin Campbell
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively (her new hair color?), Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong
The 411: The latest comic book-based story features a hero with a super ring.
Release date: Friday, June 17
Director: Mark Waters
Cast: Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino (her HBO show), Angela Lansbury
The 411: A driven businessman inherits six penguins.
Release date: Friday, June 24
Director: John Lasseter
Cast: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine
The 411: Race car Lightning McQueen and Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car.
Release date: Friday, July 1
Director: Tom Bezucha
Cast: Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Cory Monteith
The 411: Three graduates discover the true magic of friendship.
Release date: Friday, July 1
Director: Tom Hanks
Cast: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Bryan Cranston
The 411: A man heads back to college after his job is eliminated.
Release date: Friday, July 1
Director: Michael Bay
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson
The 411: The Autobots race the Decepticons to the moon to find a spacecraft.
Release date: Friday, July 8
Director: Frank Coraci
Cast: Kevin James, Rosario Dawson
The 411: Zoo animals break their code of silence to help their zookeeper get the attention of a woman.
Release date: Friday, July 15
Director: David Yates
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
The 411: The battle between good and evil forces spins the Wizarding world into full-scale war.
Release date: Friday. July 15
Directors: Stephen Anderson, Don Hall
Cast: John Cleese, Jim Cummings
The 411: Owl sends the Hundred Acre Wood gang on a quest to save Christopher Robin.
Release date: Friday, July 22
Director: Will Gluck
Cast: Justin Timberlake (his upcoming hosting gig), Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson (see photos), Jenna Elfman
The 411: A couple decides to see what happens if they leave emotion out of a relationship.
Release date: Friday, July 22
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones (played a villain), Stanley Tucci
The 411: Steve Rogers is an ordinary soldier who's turned into a super soldier.
Release date: Friday, July 29
Director: Raja Gosnell
Cast: Hank Azaria, Katy Perry, Jonathan Winters
The 411: Gargamel chases the Smurfs into the real world.
Release date: Friday, July 29
Director: Jon Favreau
Cast: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde
The 411: A desolate city in the New Mexico territory is attacked by marauders from the sky.
Release date: Friday, Aug. 5
Director: David Dobkin
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann
The 411: Two best friends switch bodies and lives.
Release date: Friday, Aug. 19
Director: Craig Gillespie
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
The 411: A high school student believes his new neighbor is a vampire.
Release date: Friday, Aug. 19
Director: Marcus Nispel
Cast: Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, Rose McGowan
The 411: Conan goes on a quest to avenge the murder of his father.
Release date: Friday, Aug.26
Director: Steven Quale
Cast: Emma Bell, Nicholas D'Agosto
The 411: Death tries to keep order in the next installment in the series.
Source:Specials