14 DAY TRIAL // Hours into the new year, this is just a good a time as ever to see what we’re to expect to see in theaters for the next 12 months. 2010 may have been the year of remakes, sequels and animated films but, as this top 10 of upcoming blockbusters shows, 2011 will be no different.
As ScreenCrave puts it, this past year lacked original films, which were very few in comparison to how many franchise films were put out.
Luckily, there was “Inception” and the fall releases like “Black Swan” and “The Fighter” to compensate for the myriad of sequels, prequels and reboots.
2011 will also see huge franchises rolling out new installments, but it will also include a few original releases. Still, it’s the former that will dominate the box office, SC predicts.
At number 10, we find a sequel audiences didn’t even expect to happen anymore: the fourth film from the “Mission: Impossible” series, now going under the name of “Ghost Protocol.”
While fans will undoubtedly still pay good money to see Tom Cruise in such a physically challenging role, it’s more the fact that “Ghost Protocol” will feature younger star Jeremy Renner that will be a draw, SC believes.
You see, word has it that this upcoming film will see Cruise hand over the “MI” franchise to Renner, who will thus consolidate his reputation as an action star. The film is out in theaters on December 11, 2011.
On April 15 comes another sequel fans didn’t even dare hope will ever be made: “Scream 4,” which will reunite the old cast and also bring on board countless young stars, many of them already popular for their work on TV.
As a side-note, stars Courteney Cox and David Arquette met on the set of the first “Scream” and decided to separate after shooting the latest (and perhaps the last, if estimates are wrong and it doesn’t fare well with audiences).
At number 8, we find the third and final film in the “Transformers” franchise. “The Dark of the Moon” comes out on July 1 and is highly anticipated for several reasons: first, it’s the last; secondly, is in 3D and, thirdly, it’s no longer with Megan Fox but with Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
On June 2, “Cars 2” will come out and it will hopefully turn out to do the same for Pixar as “Toy Story 3,” the highest grossing film of 2010 and the biggest animated film ever.
“This time instead of centering on a race in a small town Lightning McQueen and his best bud Mater are going international! The follow up has the duo traveling all over the world where they find themselves mixed up in spy intrigue James Bond style. With new characters named Finn McMissle and Holly Shiftwell what’s not to love?” SC asks.
On June 2, JJ Abrams unleashes upon the world “Super 8,” a film that has been kept much under wraps for most part of 2010, but whose existence has long been confirmed. Buzz about it is building online as we speak.
So far, moviegoers got only a teaser, which failed to show too much about the film: it did show, however, that a train containing “items” from Area 51 was derailed and something got out.
Up next on the most anticipated list are two superhero films that have been long in the making: “The Green Lantern” with Ryan Reynolds and “Captain America: The First Avenger” with Chris Evans. They’re out in theaters on June 17 and July 22, respectively.
Before these two, on May 26, lovers of a good laugh will get the sequel to “The Hangover,” which will reunite the old cast and throw the irresponsible yet lovable characters in new tangled situations, from which they must come out unscathed.
At number two is Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” It too marks a departure from previous installments in that it ditched some members of the cast and brought new stars on board, among which is also the always charming Penelope Cruz. It’s out on May 20.
The last installment of “Harry Potter,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II,” comes first, representing the end of a very long, adventurous and, above all, record-breaking successful journey. Set your calendars for July 15: it’s the end of an era. In 3D, of course.
“We’ve spent over 10 years watching Harry, Hermione, and Ron grow from precocious kids to capable young adults and now it’s time to say goodbye. Not only will the film conclude with the ultimate battle of good versus evil but we’ll finally get a serious relationship out of Ron and Hermione! Talk about a slow build,” SC says.
Honorable mentions go to: “The Muppets,” “Contagion,” “Source Code,” “Cowboys and Aliens,” and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I.”
