"Iron Man"
Release date: May 2nd

Based on the popular Marvel comic series, "Iron Man" tells the story of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr., "Zodiac") and his transformation from rich industrialist to iron-suited superhero. Since it's directed by Jon Favreau, who previously helmed the box office smash "Elf" starring Will Ferrell, it's not surprising that the trailer plays up the humor almost as much as the action. That, along with its penchant for colorful visuals and bubbly characters, could make it a refreshing alternative to its main competitor, the somber and more artistically ambitious "The Dark Knight." But the casting of sarcastic, loud-mouthed Downey Jr. as the hero (huh?) is almost as flinch-inducing as casting . well, Heath Ledger as the Joker in "Knight." It has potential, but only time will tell.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"
Release date: May 16th

Following the surprisingly pleasant and imaginative first film in the classic C.S. Lewis series, "Prince Caspian" emerges this summer as an apparent moral and cinematic rehash of the last decade in fantasy films. While audiences may by now be tired of long fantasy franchises that just don't stack up against "The Lord of the Rings" - take a look at the waning interest in the "Harry Potter" franchise, for example - "Narnia" benefits from being more kid-friendly and from director Andrew Adamson's ("Shrek") nose for avoiding the clichéd. In a summer where every weekend will break records, "Caspian" may not bring quite the haul of some other blockbusters, but it promises to contend for the title of best family film this summer.

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
Release Date: May 22nd

Some things just never get old. While Harrison Ford is not among them, the widely beloved "Indiana Jones" franchise certainly is. Perhaps the most pure embodiment of the hero archetype in American film today, even the salt-and-peppered Indy can fill theaters with fans who remember his heroic exploits against Nazis, villainous cults and snakes. What remains to be seen, however, is whether the film will be any good. Several years of rewrites led to a pigeonholed script that producer George Lucas loved, but is that really a good thing? (This is the man who wrote "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, after all.) Steven Spielberg returns as director and newcomer Shia LeBoeuf fits perfectly as a period player - let's just hope this revival doesn't tarnish the nostalgia we feel for the original trilogy.

"Hancock"
release date: July 2nd

When Will Smith makes a movie, people see it. It doesn't really matter what it is - he took the touchy/feely weeper "The Pursuit of Happyness" to the top spot in the box office, for crying out loud. Smith's streak of consecutive number one openings stretched to seven films with "I Am Legend" last year, making him the undisputed biggest movie star in the world today. With "Hancock," a parody about the downside of being a superhero, the stars align to make this the film everyone will see. It's a comedy, it's family-friendly, it has superheroes and it stars Smith - what's not to pay $9.50 for? Additionally, by the time the film's release rolls around, audiences will already have seen "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" and will likely welcome a film that is the antithesis to the often silly level of self-righteous introspection found in superhero movies. It all adds up to "Hancock" being the dark horse candidate to become the biggest film of the biggest summer ever for movies.

"Hellboy II: The Golden Army"
Release Date: July 11th

If there's one thing Guillermo del Toro has proven over the years, it's that, thanks to his immense talent, he can give legitimacy to virtually any film, from monster movies like "Mimic" (1997) to blockbuster sequels like "Blade II" (2002). Only del Toro would follow up a critically lauded masterpiece like "Pan's Labyrinth" (2006) with a sequel to an action movie, but "The Golden Army" could very well be just as impressive. Surely, it'll be bigger, louder and better than the previous installment, but may get lost in the shuffle amidst this season's surprisingly diverse and equally action-heavy releases.

"The Dark Knight"
Release Date: July 18th