On May 4, the release of the comic-book action film "The Avengers" marks the first in an impressive slate of fun-in-the-sun summer movies, including the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton collaboration "Dark Shadows," the reboot "The Amazing Spider-Man," "The Dark Knight Rises," the final installment in the franchise, and more.
Check out "Extra's" complete guide to the most anticipated summer movies of 2012!
Who: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Samuel L. Jackson; directed by Joss WhedonWhat: The S.H.I.E.L.D. agency brings together a team of superhumans to help save the Earth from annihilation by extraterrestrial invaders.
Who: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Grace Moretz; directed by Tim BurtonWhat: An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.
Who: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna, Liam Neeson; directed by Peter BergWhat: A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.
'What to Expect When You're Expecting' (May 11)
Who: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Brooklyn Decker, Dennis Quaid, Joe Manganiello, Chris Rock; directed by Kirk JonesWhat: A look at the lives of five couples as they prepare to become parents.
Who: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Emma Thompson; directed by Barry SonnenfeldWhat: Agent J jumps back in time to the 1960s, where an alien, with its sights on the younger version of Agent K, poses a threat to the future of the MIB organization -- and humankind's very existence.
'Snow White and the Huntsman' (June 1)
Who: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth; directed by Rupert SandersWhat: In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.
Who: Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Patrick Wilson; directed by Ridley ScottWhat: A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Who: Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin, Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand; directed by Adam ShankmanWhat: Set in 1987 Los Angeles, Drew (Boneta) and Sherrie (Hough) are two young people chasing their dreams in the big city. When they meet, it's love at first sight, though their romance will face a series of challenges, including rock star Stacee Jaxx (Cruise)
Who: Kelly Macdonald, Kevin McKidd, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson; directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda ChapmanWhat: Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.
'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' (June 29)
Who: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Adrianne Palicki, Arnold Vosloo; directed by Jon M. ChuWhat: The G.I. Joe team faces off against Zartan, his accomplices, and the world leaders he has under his influence.
'The Amazing Spider-Man' (July 4)
Who: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Embeth Davidtz, Sally Field, Martin Sheen; directed by Marc WebbWhat: Teenager Peter Parker grapples with both human problems and amazing super-human crises.
'Ice Age: Continental Divide' (July 13)
Who: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Jennifer Lopez, Seann William Scott, Queen Latifah; directed by Steve Martino and Mike ThurmeierWhat: In this fourth "Ice Age" installment, Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates as they explore a new world.
'The Dark Knight Rises' (July 20)
Who: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine; directed by Christopher NolanWhat: A new terrorist Bane (Hardy) arrives to Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes.
'Neighborhood Watch' (July 27)
Who: Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, Richard Ayoade; directed by Akiva SchafferWhat: Suburban dads form a neighborhood watch group to get time away from their families, only to discover a plot to destroy Earth.
'The Bourne Legacy' (Aug. 3)
Who: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Joan Allen, Edward Norton; directed by Tony GilroyWhat: The story is now centered on a new CIA operative in the universe based on Robert Ludlum's novels.
Who: Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, Kate Beckinsale, Bokeem Woodbine; directed by Len WisemanWhat: As the nation states Euromerica and New Shanghai vie for supremacy, a factory worker (Farrell) begins to suspect that he's a spy, though he is unaware which side of the fight he's on.
'The Expendables 2' (Aug. 17)
Who: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Liam Hemsworth; directed by Simon WestWhat: Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.
