Opening on May 24 at a multiplex near you are a handful of pictures that fairly well encapsulate what’s in store for moviegoers in the summer months to come: For every computer-animated family film (like “Epic”) and every couple of action or comedy sequels (“Fast & Furious 6,” “The Hangover Part III”), there’s also less commercially driven fare for the grown-ups (the romantic “Love Is All You Need,” the drama “What Maisie Knew”) and even an occasional documentary (“Venus & Serena”).
With some 80 films scheduled to open in metro Atlanta between now and the end of August, the big Hollywood studios and smaller indie companies alike are promising something to satisfy practically any and all tastes. Release dates are subject to change, but here’s a breakdown of what audiences can expect.
MAY 31
"After Earth." Will Smith plays father to his real-life son, Jaden, in director M. Night Shyamalan's post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure. It's them against the elements (including aliens).
"Now You See Me." A cat-and-mouse caper with Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson as illusionists who rob from the rich and give to the poor, with lawman Mark Ruffalo in pursuit.
JUNE 7
"The Internship." Out-of-work salesmen Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson compete with younger go-getters for jobs with Google in this buddy comedy, which was filmed in Atlanta.
"The Kings of Summer." A coming-of-age story about three teenagers who spend their summer building a cabin in the woods and otherwise communing with nature.
"The Purge." For one night each year, crime is legal in a "speculative thriller" starring Ethan Hawke as a family man defending his suburban home against crazed intruders.
"Wish You Were Here." Events take an ominous turn for four friends vacationing in Cambodia, when one of them disappears under mysterious circumstances.
JUNE 12
"This Is the End." James Franco, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Emma Watson and co-writer/co-director Seth Rogen more or less play themselves in a comedy about the end of the world.
JUNE 14
"Before Midnight." Co-stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reunite for part three of director Richard Linklater's continuing romance (1995's "Before Sunrise," 2004's "Before Sunset").
"The East." In this espionage drama, a former FBI agent (played by Brit Marling, who also wrote the script) infiltrates a gang of anarchists bent on revenge against corrupt corporations.
"Man of Steel." Director Zack Snyder gives Superman another reboot. Henry Cavill has the title role, opposite Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner as his two fathers.
JUNE 21
"The Bling Ring." Based on a true story about a group of status-obsessed L.A. teens who start burglarizing celebrity homes, writer/director Sofia Coppola's latest stars Emma Watson.
"Monsters University." Rival student monsters join forces to prove themselves in Pixar's animated prequel to 2001's "Monsters, Inc." Billy Crystal and John Goodman provide voices.
"Much Ado About Nothing." Working on a low budget and with relatively unknown actors, director Joss Whedon puts a contemporary spin on Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy.
"World War Z." Brad Pitt plays a U.N. official who's in a race against time to prevent a plague from wiping out humanity in director Marc Forster's intense zombie drama.
JUNE 28
"The Heat." Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy play mismatched cops who team up to bring down a drug kingpin in a raucous comedy from the director of "Bridesmaids" (Paul Feig).
"White House Down." Aspiring Secret Service agent Channing Tatum comes to the rescue of imperiled President Jamie Foxx in this high-octane action movie.
JULY 3
"Despicable Me 2." In a 3-D sequel to the 2010 animated family film, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is recruited to confront a ruthless supervillain (voiced by Russell Brand).
"Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain." A documentary chronicling the comedian's 2012 concert tour.
"The Lone Ranger." Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski, this sharp-shooting Western casts Armie Hammer as the famous masked man, with Johnny Depp as Tonto.
JULY 5
"A Hijacking." A psychological drama from Denmark involving the hostage negotiations that ensue after a Danish cargo ship is hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean.
"Unfinished Song." A grumpy old man (Terence Stamp) finds a new voice when he joins a seniors singing group in this British comedy-drama. Vanessa Redgrave plays his wife.
JULY 12
"Grown Ups 2." Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade are back as antic childhood friends dealing with kids of their own in a sequel to the 2010 comedy hit.
"Pacific Rim." Director Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi adventure features state-of-the-art special effects, and Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi as daring pilots battling giant monsters.
"The Way, Way Back." A teenager (Liam James) comes of age during his summer vacation. Toni Collette plays his mother, Steve Carell her boyfriend, Sam Rockwell an unlikely mentor.
JULY 17
"Turbo." A young snail dreams of a racing career in this 3-D animated family film. Among the voices: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader and Snoop Dogg.
JULY 19
"The Conjuring." A horror movie based on a "true story" about paranormal investigators (Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson) confronting a demonic entity at a secluded farmhouse.
"Fruitvale Station." The true story of the tragic, senseless death of a 22-year-old black man, who was shot and killed by a subway police officer in Oakland, Calif. Octavia Spencer plays his mother.
"Girl Most Likely." Kristen Wiig is a down-on-her-luck playwright forced to move back home. The comedy co-stars Annette Bening and Matt Dillon (as the eccentric mother and her lover).
"I'm So Excited!" An art-house favorite, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's new comedy involves the passengers and crew of an airplane that's stuck in an interminable holding pattern.
"R.I.P.D." This 3-D action adventure pits a pair of futuristic cops against a host of supernatural spirits. Jeff Bridges plays a grizzled sheriff, Ryan Reynolds an upstart detective.
"RED 2." Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich reunite as retired secret agents in this action-packed sequel to their 2010 hit, here joined by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins.
JULY 26
"The Wolverine." In a spinoff from the "X-Men" blockbusters, Hugh Jackman reprises his role as the steel-clawed comic-book hero, who now finds himself fighting evil in modern-day Japan.
JULY 31
"Smurfs 2." A 3-D sequel to the part-live action, part-animated hit from 2011. Neil Patrick Harris and Sofia Vergara return in human form, Katy Perry in voice only (as Smurfette).
AUG. 2
"2 Guns." Mismatched federal agents Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg become reluctant partners, going undercover to infiltrate a drug ring in this action movie.
"300: Rise of an Empire." Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel "Xerxes," this sequel to 2006's "300" takes to the high seas for an epic battle between the heroic Greeks and the evil Persians.
AUG. 7
"Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters." Another 3-D sequel (to 2010's "The Lightning Thief"). This time, Percy (Logan Lerman) sets sail on a mythic journey to retrieve the Golden Fleece.
AUG. 9
"Elysium." Matt Damon and Jodie Foster star in "District 9" director Neill Blomkamp's sci-fi action drama. The haves live on space stations, the have nots on a scorched Earth. Conflict ensues.
"Planes." In the spirit of its "Cars," Disney's new 3-D animated comedy involves a plucky little plane (voiced by Dane Cook) who dreams of becoming a high-flying air racer.
"The Spectacular Now." A slice-of-life comedy-drama about first love, featuring newcomers Miles Teller ("Rabbit Hole") and Shailene Woodley ("The Descendants").
"We're the Millers." A comedy with Jason Sudeikis as a small-time pot dealer and Jennifer Aniston as a cynical stripper who pose as a married couple in a drug-smuggling scheme.
AUG. 16
"Blue Jasmine." Writer/director Woody Allen's latest ensemble piece features Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett, Bobby Cannavale and Louis C.K., but the film's plot remains under wraps.
"The Butler." Forest Whitaker plays the real-life White House butler who served eight presidents, from Eisenhower (Robin Williams) to Nixon (John Cusack) to Reagan (Alan Rickman).
"Kick-Ass 2." Back in a sequel to their 2010 hit, Kick-Ass (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) welcome Col. Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey) into their crime-fighting fold.
"Paranoia." A corporate thriller with Liam Hemsworth as a hapless underling whose ruthless boss (Gary Oldman) forces him to spy on a former mentor-turned-business rival (Harrison Ford).
AUG. 23
"The Grandmaster." A kung fu action epic from Chinese director Wong Kar Wai ("In the Mood for Love") and co-starring Asian superstars Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang.
"Mortal Instruments: City of Bones." When her mother is abducted, an ordinary teenager discovers an underworld of angels and demons. Based on the popular series of fantasy books.
"The World's End." From the director (Edgar Wright) and stars (Simon Pegg, Nick Frost) of "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" comes a zany comedy about five drinking buddies.
"You're Next." Ax-wielding maniacs crash a family reunion in this home-invasion horror movie.
AUG. 28
"Closed Circuit." Working together on the defense team during a terrorism trial, ex-lovers Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall find their loyalties tested and their lives at risk.
AUG. 30
"Getaway." Ethan Hawke is a washed-up race car driver whose wife is kidnapped, and Selena Gomez plays the computer hacker who helps him foil bad guy Jon Voight.
"One Direction: This Is Us." A 3-D concert documentary featuring the British pop band, directed by Morgan Spurlock.
"Passion." Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace co-star in director Brian De Palma's erotic suspense drama as two highly competitive rising executives at the same multinational corporation.
ABOUT THE COVER
A dream assignment for our artist
Atlanta Journal-Constitution artist Mike Ritter jumped at the chance to illustrate this year's Summer Movie Guide. A lover of both film and drawing cartoons, Mike worked for 14 years as the editorial cartoonist for the Tribune newspapers in suburban Phoenix. He has lived in Atlanta since 2007.
