It seems like the end of the world has been anticipated in the big screens this summer.
A mix of big sequels, crazy teddy bears, 3-D effects and a lot – and let’s emphasize a lot – of superhero movies are coming to the theatres between May and August this year.
Here is a preview of the top 10 movies to watch for this summer:
The Avengers
The first Marvel movie distributed by Walt Disney Pictures not only gathers a big selection of super heroes but also real life Academy Award nominees, including Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo and cinematographer Seamus McGarvey.
In the movie, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow unite their forces to save the world from destruction.
Release Date: May 4
Dark Shadows
After playing Edward Scissorhands, Jack Sparrow, and the Mad Hatter, Johnny Depp has added a new bizarre character to his extensive list of parts. In Dark Shadows, he is Barnabas Collins, a former imprisoned vampire from the 18th century, who has to deal with a brand new lifestyle – and dysfunctional descendants – when he returns home after being buried alive by a bitter witch for more than 200 years.
The movie is Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s eighth collaboration, Burton’s seventh with Helena Bonham Carter and his fifth with Christopher Lee.
Stars: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Eva Green
Release Date: May 11
Snow White and the Huntsman
There’s more action and less romance in this remake of the iconic fairy tale. When the evil Queen Ravenna finds out that Snow White was the only person in the land fairer than she, she sends a huntsman to kill the girl. He ends up becoming Snow’s protector and trainer to make her a warrior capable to challenge the queen’s power.
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron
Release Date: June 1
Prometheus
The movie tells the story of a group of explorers in a journey to search for life in the darkest corners of the universe. The team ends up being trapped in an alien world where they fight to save the human race.
Directed by Ridley Scott, Prometheus takes place in the same universe as Alien, which Scott also directed in 1979.
Stars: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron and Patrick Wilson
Release Date: June 8
Rock of Ages
Surrounded by the heavy metal “hair bands” from the late ’80s, Drew and Sherrie meet, fall in love and are forced to overcome the challenges of attempting to make it big in the music world. This romance tale takes second place to their music and the consequences of fame.
The film is based off the 2006 Broadway musical.
Stars: Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise and Russell Brand
Release Date: July 18
Brave
The 3-D computer animated movie, set in a mythical Scotland, tells the story of Princess Merida. After bringing chaos to her kingdom with a reckless decision, the girl relies on her archery skills and bravery to fix a curse and trace her own destiny in life.
Princess Merida will be the first Pixar character to be included in the Disney Princess line.
Release Date: June 22
The Amazing Spider-Man
In the movie, Peter, a high school teenager finds answers in a briefcase for his father’s disappearance. He ends up finding Dr. Curt Connor’s lab, where as Spider-Man he will face Connor’s alter ego, The Lizard. Dealing with the power Parker gains as Spider-Man will shape his destiny as a rising hero.
The movie will be the first Hollywood production filmed with the RED Epic camera.
“For the first time in digital cinematography, small size doesn’t come with a resolution penalty, as a matter of fact there isn’t a higher resolution camera available other than IMAX,” commented John Schwartzman, the movie cinematographer, in the online forum RedUser.net.
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans
Release Date: July 3
Ted
A child’s dream becomes an adult’s nightmare when John has to deal with his grown up, brought to life teddy bear, whose inappropriate behavior is destroying John’s relationship.
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane
Release Date: 13 July 2012
The Dark Knight Rises
Eight years have passed since The Joker’s and Two Face’s crimes in The Dark Knight. Now Batman faces Bane, a new terrorist in Gotham City, while dealing with his torn reputation.
The iconic character Catwoman will make an appearance after Anne Hathaway let slip in an interview she would put on her character’s alter ego costume for the movie.
The movie has already sold out its IMAX midnight premiere in New York six months in advance.
Stars: Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gary Oldman
Release Date: July 20
The Expendables 2
After things go wrong and one of their men is murdered during a mission, the Expendables, a group of elite mercenaries, made a decision that puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.
The sequel to the 2010 action ensemble film was not filmed without tragedy. A stuntman died and another was injured while filming one of the movie’s action scenes in Bulgaria, which included an explosion on a boat.
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Liam Hemsworth, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, Chuck Norris and Randy Couture
Release Date: August 17