The Cheat Sheet: Summer Movie Sneaks 2011
Roll over photos for a quick look at the buzz-inspiring films coming this summer. Complete summer movies coverage at latimes.com/sneaks.
Super-Sized Heroes
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'X-Men: First Class'
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'Captain America: The First Avenger'
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'Green Lantern'
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'Thor'
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'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'
Comedies
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'The Hangover Part II'
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'Bridesmaids'
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'Bad Teacher'
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'Crazy, Stupid Love'
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'Friends With Benefits'
Dramas
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'Tree of Life'
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'A Better Life'
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'The Help'
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'Sarah's Key'
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'Everything Must Go'
Family
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'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2'
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'Mr. Popper's Penguins'
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'Cars 2'
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'Kung Fu Panda 2'
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'Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer'
Otherworldly
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'Transformers: Dark of the Moon'
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'Cowboys and Aliens'
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'Super 8'
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'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'
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'Priest'
'X-Men: First Class'
This prequel chronicles the early days of the "X-Men" saga, as superhuman mutants such as the psychic Charles Xavier and the magnetic Erik Lehnsherr discover their powers and face the future. With James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne and January Jones. Written by Jane Goldman, Ashley Miller, Jamie Moss and Zack Stentz. Directed by Matthew Vaughn. (June 3)
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox
'Captain America: The First Avenger'
A military experiment transforms a scrawny soldier into a patriotic superhero who battles the villainous Red Skull in this movie based on the Marvel comic book. With Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, and Hayley Atwell. Written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Directed by Joe Johnston. (June 22)
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
'Green Lantern'
A cocky test pilot imbued with superpowers by a magical ring battles an intergalactic enemy. With Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong and Angela Bassett. Written by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim and Michael Goldenberg. Directed by Martin Campbell. (June 17)
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
'Thor'
The warrior-god Thor is cast out of his magical homeland and sent to live among humans on Earth, where he becomes a hero. With Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Stellan Skarsgård. Written by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz and Don Payne. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. (May 6)
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'
Captain Jack Sparrow returns for another swashbuckling adventure, this time searching for the Fountain of Youth and tangling with the pirate Blackbeard. With Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane and Kevin R. McNally. Written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. Directed by Rob Marshall. (May 20)
Photo credit: Disney Enterprises
'The Hangover Part 2'
On the heels of their wild Las Vegas bachelor party, four pals get into more trouble en route to a pre-wedding brunch in Thailand. With Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms. Written by Scot Armstrong, Craig Mazin and Todd Phillips. Directed by Phillips. (May 26)
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
'Bridesmaids'
As maid of honor, a single woman leads her best friend and a colorful group of bridesmaids on a wild ride. With Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne and Wendi McLendon-Covey. Written by Wiig and Annie Mumolo. Directed by Paul Feig. (May 13)
Photo credit: Universal Pictures
'Bad Teacher'
A foul-mouthed teacher ill-suited to her job begins plotting to secure her meal ticket. With Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch and Jason Segel. Written by Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg. Directed by Jake Kasdan. (June 24)
Photo credit: Columbia Pictures
'Crazy, Stupid Love'
After discovering his unfaithful wife wants a divorce, a straight-laced 40-something tries to readjust to single life under the tutelage of a young ladykiller. With Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore and Emma Stone. Written by Dan Fogelman. Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. (July 29)
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
'Friends With Benefits'
Two platonic friends find that sex complicates their relationship. With Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson and Jenna Elfman. Written by Keith Merryman, David A. Newman and Will Gluck. Directed by Gluck. (July 22)
Photo credit: Screen Gems
'Tree of Life'
The eldest son of a 1950s Midwestern family grows from innocence into adulthood and tries to reconcile his complicated relationship with his father. With Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain. Written and directed by Terrence Malick. (May 27)
Photo credit: Fox Searchlight
'A Better Life'
An illegal-immigrant gardener in Los Angeles works hard to provide a better life for his son. With Demián Bichir, José Julián and Dolores Heredia. Screenplay by Eric Eason. Story by Roger L. Simon. Directed by Chris Weitz. (June 24)
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment
'The Help'
In 1960s Mississippi, three very different women become friends through a taboo secret writing project. With Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer and Emma Stone. Written and directed by Tate Taylor. (Aug. 12)
Photo credit: Disney Enterprises
'Sarah's Key'
Decades after a woman's harrowing childhood experiences during the Nazi occupation of France, her story intertwines with an American journalist researching the past. With Kristin Scott Thomas, Mélusine Mayance and Niels Arestrup. Written by Serge Joncour and Gilles Paquet-Brenner. Directed by Paquet-Brenner. In French and English, with English subtitles.
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company
'Everything Must Go'
After an alcoholic relapses and his life implodes, he holds a yard sale and tries to start over. With Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Michael Peña, Christopher C.J. Wallace and Laura Dern. Written and directed by Dan Rush.
Photo credit: Roadside Attractions
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2'
The series concludes as the battle between good and evil wizards erupts into an all-out war. With Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane. Written by Steve Kloves. Directed by David Yates. (July 15)
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
'Mr. Popper's Penguins'
After receiving a mysterious crate from Antarctica, a New York real-estate mogul has his comfortable life thrown into chaos. With Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino and Angela Lansbury. Written by Sean Anders, John Morris and Jared Stern. Directed by Mark Waters. (June 17)
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox
'Cars 2'
Anthropomorphic automobiles head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix in this sequel to the 2006 animated film "Cars." With the voices of Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer. Written by Ben Queen. Directed by John Lasseter. (June 24)
Photo credit: Disney / Pixar
'Kung Fu Panda 2'
The martial-artist panda Po and his friends must once again protect the Valley of Peace from a formidable villain. With the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Jackie Chan. Written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson. (May 26)
Photo credit: DreamWorks Animation
'Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer'
When her carefully laid summer plans go awry, an imaginative young girl gets creative about her vacation adventures. With Jordana Beatty, Heather Graham and Parris Mosteller. Written by Kathy Waugh and Megan McDonald. Directed by John Schultz. (June 10)
Photo credit: Rogue Pictures
'Transformers: Dark of the Moon'
Humans and their giant shape-shifting mechanical allies, the Autobots, once again clash with the evil Decepticons and defend the world. With Shia LaBeouf, John Turturro, Josh Duhamel and Patrick Dempsey. Written by Ehren Kruger. Directed by Michael Bay. (July 1)
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
'Cowboys & Aliens'
In the Old West, an amnesiac gunslinger stumbles into a tough town and tries to fend off an extraterrestrial invasion. With Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell. Written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof. Directed by Jon Favreau. (July 29)
Photo credit: DreamWorks
'Super 8'
A group of kids making a movie in a small Ohio town in 1979 witness a disastrous train derailment and begin to notice unusual disappearances and inexplicable events. With Gabriel Basso, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney and Ron Eldard. Written and directed by J.J. Abrams. (June 10)
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'
Genetic experiments on primates lead to their developing intelligence and eventually battling humans for supremacy. With James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow and Brian Cox. Written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Directed by Rupert Wyatt. (Aug. 5)
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox
'Priest'
In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by wars between humans and vampires, a warrior priest goes on a quest to rescue his kidnapped niece. With Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Cam Gigandet and Maggie Q. Written by Cory Goodman. Directed by Scott Stewart. (May 13)
Photo credit: Screen Gems
Many good excuses NOT to go to the movies.