It’s that time of year again: The movie studios are kicking up their promotions into high gear for what could be one of the biggest movie-going summers of all time.
A trifecta of highly anticipated films promise to lead the way to continue a highly impressive box office streak in 2012. “The Avengers,” “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Dark Knight Rises” will undoubtedly become the three highest-grossing films of the season.
Fanboys and girls have been anticipating the Avengers movie since the beginning of time. It’s the ultimate geek fest with Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye and Black Widow all uniting in their badassery to save the world. The icing on the cake? Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the leader of the nerds, wrote and directed the film.
“The Amazing Spider-Man” may have a few naysayers on its side, but I think it could be even better than the original 2002 adaptation. Sure, it’s a reboot of a franchise that only ended five years ago, but Andrew Garfield was born to play Spiderman, and anything Emma Stone touches turns to gold. The only wild card here is director Marc Webb, whose only credit to date is “(500) Days of Summer,” but if he can do to comic book films what he did to a romantic comedy, audiences should be in for a treat. Plus, anything has to be better than “Spider-Man 3” and the notorious Broadway disaster.
The world has been waiting for “The Dark Knight Rises” ever since the credits rolled after “The Dark Knight.” Christopher Nolan promises that this will be the final film in his highly successful trilogy. Looking to match Heath Ledger’s legendary portrayal as The Joker will be rising star Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. Other new cast additions include Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Out of the big summer movies, “The Dark Knight Rises” has the most Oscar potential by a mile.
Those three films are far from the only quality movies hitting cinemas this summer. Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom” looks to be the director’s best since “The Royal Tenenbaums.” “Prometheus,” the is-it-or-isn’t-it “Alien” prequel, brings Ridley Scott back to this cerebral sci-fi roots. “Rock of Ages,” based on the Broadway hit, has Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand belting out ’80s metal hits. “To Rome with Love” will hopefully continue Woody Allen’s hot streak. The cast, which includes Ellen Page, Jesse Eisenberg, Penelope Cruz, Greta Gerwig, and yet again, Alec Baldwin, were surely born to mutter Allen’s legendary dialogue. “Magic Mike” will attract many a lady as it features Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Matthew McConaughey and Joe Manganiello as strippers. Manganiello’s character, Big Dick Richie, will surely make them wish the movie was in 3-D.
There will be something for just about everyone at the theaters in the next few months. From teams of superheroes to men in thongs, I predict record box office numbers for the summer of 2012.