Summer movie guide

Here are the films you should know about this summer, most with mini-reviews by Michael O’Sullivan. For showtimes, reviews and the latest on release dates, visit Going Out Guide.

5 Seconds

00:00

The Dark Knight Rises

The conclusion to director Christopher Nolan's acclaimed "Dark Knight" cycle features topical themes -- terrorism, haves vs. have-nots -- and not one but two villains: Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) and Bane (Tom Hardy). Fans are stll sore that “The Dark Knight” got no Oscar nod. This might be Nolan’s year. ”The Dark Knight Rises” opens July 20.

Ron Phillips /

Talk about shaking it up. The franchise's latest outing boasts a new director, a new Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield) and a new girlfriend for Peter Parker: Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). “The Amazing Spider-Man” opens July 3.

Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.

Magic Mike

Steven Soderbergh directs this film about a male stripper (Channing Tatum) who secretly aspires to be a furniture designer. Bonus points: Tatum used to work as a stripper. “Magic Mike” opens June 29.

Claudette Barius

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Still trying to find their way back to the Central Park Zoo, Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo wash up in Europe, where they fall in with a traveling circus. Frances McDormand plays an Inspector Javert-like animal control officer. ”Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted” opens June 8.

DreamWorks Animation

Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D

Katy Perry stars in this documentary concert. “Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D” opens July 5.

Paramount Pictures

Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) sees dead people, a skill that could come in handy in this stop-motion animated zombie comedy for kids. “<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/paranorman,1208210.html'>Paranorman</a>” opens Aug. 17.

Paranorman

Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) sees dead people, a skill that could come in handy in this stop-motion animated zombie comedy for kids. “Paranorman” opens Aug. 17.

Laika

Moonrise Kingdom

Set in 1965, the film centers on the search for a pair of preteen runaways (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward). Quirky auteur Wes Anderson is always good for a head scratch or two. “Moonrise Kingdom” opens June 1.

Focus Features

Lola Versus

After getting dumped by her fiance, a young woman (Greta Gerwig) has a pre-mid-life-crisis. Gerwig ("China, IL," "Damsels in Distress," "To Rome With Love") is having a pretty good year. “Lola Versus” opens June 15.

Myles Aronowitz

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

The Rail-Splitter (Benjamin Walker) kills bloodsuckers in this action-packed adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's bestselling mash-up of history and horror. Director Timur Bekmambetov, of the "Night Watch" and "Day Watch" vampire franchise, knows his material inside out and is a great visual stylist. “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” opens June 22.

Stephen Vaughan

Polisse

This cop drama follows the members of a child protective unit as they struggle with the stresses of their job. The French drama was nominated for a dozen Cesar Awards (the French Oscars) and took a jury prize at Cannes. “Polisse” opens May 25.

Sundance Selects

The Intouchables

A wealthy, wheelchair-bound paraplegic hires a young man from the projects to take care of him. A professional relationship grows into deep friendship. Omar Sy, who plays the caretaker, won the best actor prize at the Cesars. “The Intouchables” opens June 1.

Thierry Valletoux

Prometheus

"Big things have small beginnings," says Michael Fassbender's character, ominously, in a space travel adventure that's being touted as a prequel -- sort of -- to "Alien." After "Alien," director Ridley Scott knows about suspense -- and slimy monsters. “Prometheus” opens June 8.

Brave

A flame-haired teenage princess (Kelly Macdonald) resists her parents' efforts to marry her off, bringing a curse upon the kingdom. Oh, by the way, she's Pixar's first female hero. “Brave” opens June 22.

Pixar

Savages

Two pot growers (Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson) go after a drug lord (Salma Hayek) who has kidnapped their girlfriend (Blake Lively). Yes, their girlfriend. Don't bogart that girlfriend, dude. “Savages” opens July 6.

Francois Duhamel

A group of tourists in Rome engage in romantic entanglements and neurotic banter. “<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/to-rome-with-love,1224996.html'>To Rome With Love</a>” opens June 29.

To Rome With Love

A group of tourists in Rome engage in romantic entanglements and neurotic banter. “To Rome With Love” opens June 29.

Philippe Antonello, Gravier Productions, Inc. / Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

A grown man is torn between his girlfriend and the talking teddy bear he has had since childhood. “<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/ted,1206337.html'>Ted</a>” opens June 29.

Ted

A grown man is torn between his girlfriend and the talking teddy bear he has had since childhood. “Ted” opens June 29.

Universal Pictures/Iloura

A Cat in Paris

Universal Pictures/Iloura / A little girl, her cat and a kindhearted thief come together at night in Paris. The animated charmer was an Academy Award nominee. “A Cat in Paris” opens June 29.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

A little girl named Hushpuppy must rescue her father in this apocalyptic fantasia. The film, which features all nonprofessional actors, won the grand jury prize at Sundance. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” opens July 6.

Jess Pinkham

Bernie

A mortician (Jack Black) befriends a rich widow (Shirley MacLaine) and then kills her in this Southern Gothic comedy, directed by Richard Linklater. It’s based on a true story. “Bernie” opens May 18.

Millennium Entertainment

Take This Waltz

A happily married woman (Michelle Williams) starts to have feelings for her hunky neighbor (Luke Kirby). This is the follow-up to writer-director Sarah Polley’s Oscar-nominated “Away From Her.” “Take This Waltz” opens July 6.

Magnolia Pictures

Snow White and the Huntsman

An evil queen (Charlize Theron) sends a hunter (Chris Hemsworth) to fetch the fetching Snow White (Kristen Stewart) so she can eat the girl’s still-beating heart. “Snow White and the Huntsman” opens June 1.

Alex Bailey / AP

It’s a love triangle — sort of — involving a man and two sisters, only one of whom he’s slept with. And not the one who’s in love with him. “<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/your-sisters-sister,1225846.html'>Your Sister’s Sister</a>” opens June 15.

Your Sister's Sister

It’s a love triangle — sort of — involving a man and two sisters, only one of whom he’s slept with. And not the one who’s in love with him. “Your Sister’s Sister” opens June 15.

Tadd Sackville-West

The president (Jonathan Pryce) is an evil impostor, leading to some serious rump-kicking. “<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/g.i.-joe-2-retaliation,1220551.html'>G.I. Joe: Retaliation</a>” opens June 29.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

The president (Jonathan Pryce) is an evil impostor, leading to some serious rump-kicking. “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” opens June 29.

Jaimie Trueblood

Men in Black 3

Will Smith travels back in time to save the life of his partner Agent K, played as a young man by Josh Brolin, doing his best Tommy Lee Jones impression. When filming began, the script was still not finished. Ulp. “Men In Black 3” opens May 25.

Wilson Webb

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

As an asteroid hurtles toward Earth, a man (Steve Carell) whose wife has just left him sets out to look up an old girlfriend. Accompanying him on the road trip is his lonely neighbor (Keira Knightley). This is the directorial debut of actress Lorene Scafaria, who wrote the screenplay for “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist.” “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” opens June 22.

Darren Michaels

The Campaign

Two North Carolina pols go negative in this campaign-season farce from Jay ("Dinner for Schmucks") Roach. Expect over-the-top — and below the belt — humor from two of comedy’s (overgrown) golden boys. “The Campaign” opens Aug. 10.

Patti Perret / Warner Bros. Entertainment

A reporter (Jake M. Johnson) and his intern (Aubrey Plaza) investigate a man who placed an ad seeking a companion for time travel. “<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/safety-not-guaranteed,1225506.html'>Safety Not Guaranteed</a>” opens June 15.

Safety Not Guaranteed

A reporter (Jake M. Johnson) and his intern (Aubrey Plaza) investigate a man who placed an ad seeking a companion for time travel. “Safety Not Guaranteed” opens June 15.

Courtesy of FilmDistrict and Big Beach

What to Expect When You're Expecting

Chris Rock and Rodrigo Santoro are part of the ensemble cast in this comedy about new and expectant mommies and daddies. Isn't this genre a little past its due date? “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” opens May 18.

Melissa Moseley

Dark Shadows

A weak attempt at satire from Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. “Dark Shadows” opens May 11.

Peter Mountain

Chernobyl Diaries

A group of young "extreme tourists" becomes stranded at the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster. Creepy things start happening. Whatever you do, kids, don’t drink the water. “Chernobyl Diaries” opens May 25.

Katalin Vermes

Battleship

Loosely -- very loosely -- inspired by Hasbro's classic low-tech naval-warfare game, this special-effects-laden action-adventure flick pits battleships against invading aliens. The buzz is somewhat less deafening than the trailer. “Battleship” opens May 18.

ILM/Universal Pictures

The Apparition

Terrorized by a spirit conjured up through a college experiment in parapsychology, a young couple (Ashley Greene and Sebastian Stan) seek the assistance of an expert in the supernatural (Tom Felton). This sounds about right for late August. In other words, don’t expect Shakespeare. ”The Apparition” opens Aug. 24.

Stefan Erhard

Natasha Calis stars as Em, who gets cursed by an ancient spirit in this thriller. ”<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/the-possession,1176461.html'>The Possession</a>” opens Aug. 31.

The Possession

Natasha Calis stars as Em, who gets cursed by an ancient spirit in this thriller. ”The Possession” opens Aug. 31.

Diyah Pera

Exiled from his home country, a deposed North African tyrant struggles to make it in the Big Apple. Needless to say, it's a romantic comedy. “<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/the-dictator,1178988.html'>The Dictator</a>” opens May 16.

The Dictator

Exiled from his home country, a deposed North African tyrant struggles to make it in the Big Apple. Needless to say, it's a romantic comedy. “The Dictator” opens May 16.

Mark Seliger

Rock of Ages

Based on the hit Broadway musical set to '80s hair-band anthems, "Rock of Ages" centers on two young dreamers (Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta) hoping to make it in showbiz. Tom Cruise rocks without a shirt! Alex Baldwin wears a silly wig! Fluffy-headed fun. “Rock of Ages” opens June 15.

David James

That's My Boy

Adam Sandler, whose character fathered a child with his teacher when he was 13, meets his now-grown son (Andy Samberg), a successful hedge-fund manager who's oddly embarrassed by his crass old man. Two words: Happy Madison.That’s My Boy” opens June 15.

Tracy Bennett

Featured Photo Galleries

Homeowner David Firth tries to beat back a brush fire heading towards his home at Bettas Road and Low Drive as wildfire burns Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 in Cle Elum, Wash. The fire jumped the line they were trying to make but still stands after being sprayed with water trucks and further efforts to beat it back with the help of several neighbors volunteering. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Bettina Hansen) SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, NO SALES . MANDATORY CREDIT TO: BETTINA HANSEN/THE SEATTLE TIMES.

Residents evacuate as wildfires rage through the West

This year’s wildfires are more numerous and have gotten bigger than last year’s, an official says.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying on August 16, 2012 in London, England. Mr Assange has been living inside Ecuador's London embassy since June 19, 2012 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Julian Assange granted political asylum by Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted asylum on Thursday by Ecuador, raising the possibility of a diplomatic showdown between British...

Chase Culp of Houston checks his clown makeup before the performance of Circus Smirkus on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, Vt., is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

India Independence Day, Syrian air strikes, Western wildfires, plastination and more in the day in photos

News and feature images from around the world.

Cast member Charisma Carpenter poses at the premiere of 'The Expendables 2' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California August 15, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on August 17. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Charisma Carpenter, Chuck Norris, Lionel Richie, Joe Jonas, Nelly, Alice Cooper and other celebrities.

US President Barack Obama drinks a Guinness beer at The Dubliner pub on March 17, 2012 in Washington. Obama went to the bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Hoppy days are here again

President Obama is making clear his love for beer on the campaign trail as he attempts to ferment a coalition of the swilling.

Scanned from Post archive. Washington Senators baseball players Goose Goslin, Manush, Kukel. 9/21/1933. No other info. TWP Photo.

The last time Washington was this good . . .

The Nationals have had the best record in baseball in August, starting to erase memories hardened by decades of mediocrity. Here are clues to...

Montreal Washington, of Kansas City, pets the dog she adopted, Friday, Aug. 10, during 'Tackle Pet Homelessness' at the Kansas City animal shelter in Kansas City, Mo.. Washington plans on naming the pit bull, Alexandra. The shelter is at capacity and is offering a $25 adoption special for all dogs 25 pounds or more. For the month of August, all cats are 'name your own price' and kitten adoptions are $50. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Allison Long)

Homeless and adopted dogs, sand kittens, snow leopards and more in animal views.

Amazing creatures from around the world.

LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

iPhone snapshots at the West Virginia State Fair

An iPhone captures the fun at the West Virginia State Fair, in its 88th year. All images were created using the Snapseed photo-editing app&rsquo...

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

D.C.-area nightlife, events and dining

Summer movie guide

Here are the films you should know about this summer, most with mini-reviews by Michael O’Sullivan. For showtimes, reviews and the latest on release dates, visit Going Out Guide.

Featured Photo Galleries