Universal Pictures
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The movie lineup this summer is nothing short of spectacular, but with all the movies to choose from, how do you know which ones to go see? With today’s Summer Preview, of course! Check out our list of this summer’s “must see” films and make your plans now so you don’t miss a thing.

(After you check out our list, be sure and let us know if we missed any of your favorite picks in the comments!)
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”The Avengers” – May 4th
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, and Mark Ruffalo
Synopsis: Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army.
Who should see it: Anyone who’s a fan of Marvel Comics, any of The Avengers characters, and those who love action movies.
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”Dark Shadows” – May 11th
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfieffer, Eva Green, Johnny Lee Miller, and Chloe Grace Moretz
Synopsis: 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 should see it: If you like a vampire movie, this could be for you. Just keep in mind that Johnny Depp is the lead actor and Tim Burton is directing. You know what that means … it will be hilarious.
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”The Dictator” – May 11th
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris and John C. Reilly
Synopsis: The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.
Who should see it: Fans of Sacha Baron Cohen will love his latest film, there’s no doubt about that. If you love a good comedy, you won’t want to miss this one.
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”Battleship” – May 18th
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson, and Rihanna
Synopsis: A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.
Who should see it: Fans of science fiction as well as those who enjoy a good action flick will want to see this one.
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”Men in Black III” – May 25th
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin
Synopsis: Agent J travels in time to MIB’s early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.
Who should see it: This is another one for sci-fi fans in general, but anyone who has enjoyed the antics of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in this franchise should give Josh Brolin a chance.
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”Snow White and The Huntsman” – June 1st
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron
Synopsis: 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 should see it: This isn’t your ordinary fairy tale. Fans of Kristen Stewart should check it out to see how she fares post ”Twilight.” Should be a good fit for action and adventure buffs as well.
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”Prometheus” – June 8th
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, and Patrick Wilson
Synopsis: 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.
Who should see it: This is hard-core science fiction and a “must see” movie for any fan of the genre. You’ll especially appreciate it if you’ve seen Ridley Scott’s ”Alien,” although this isn’t officially a prequel (but it is).
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”Rock of Ages” – June 15th
Starring: Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, and Alec Baldwin
Synopsis: Set in 1987 Los Angeles, Drew and Sherrie are two young people chasing their dreams in the big city.
Who should see it: This one will appeal to an older generation who remembers the glam rock of the 1980s as well as anyone who loves a good laugh. Fans of Alec Baldwin will feel right at home, but this will be a stretch for Tom Cruise coming from ”Mission Impossible.”
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”Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” – June 22nd
Starring: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell and Dominic Cooper
Synopsis: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States and makes it his mission to eliminate them.
Who should see it: Vampire fans should enjoy this thriller. It’s also listed as a horror film, but true horror fans might be disappointed. Overall it should be a good fit for anyone into action and ”Twilight.”
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”Seeking A Friend For The End of The World” – June 22nd
Starring: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley and Melinda Dillon
Synopsis: As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic, so he decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart.
Who should see it: Comedy fans should love this one. It’s Steve Carell after all. What more can we say?
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”G.I. Joe: Retaliation” – June 29th
Starring: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Ray Park, Bruce Willis, and Adrianne Palicki
Synopsis: When Cobra spy Zartan has most of the Joes assassinated, the remaining Joes band together to strike back.
Who should see it: Fans of the franchise should definitely see this one as well as fans of action films. If anyone can make this work, it should be Bruce Willis.
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”Magic Mike” – June 29th
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer and Olivia Munn
Synopsis: Mike, an experienced stripper, takes a younger performer called The Kid under his wing and schools him in the arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money.
Who should see it: Okay, ladies, this one’s definitely for you. Where else will you ge to see Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer stripping this summer? ‘Nuff said.
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”The Amazing Spider Man” – July 3rd
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans
Synopsis: Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young.
Who should see it: Marvel Comics fans as well as fans of the film franchise, but keep in mind that this is a reboot and not a continuation of the previous timeline.
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”Savages” – July 6th
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, John Travolta
Synopsis: Pot growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel who kidnapped their shared girlfriend.
Who should see it: If you’re into kick-ass action / crime dramas, you won’t want to miss this. The action looks intense, so it’s not for the faint of heart.
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”Ted” – July 13th
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane
Synopsis: A story centered on a man and his teddy bear, who comes to life as the result of a childhood wish.
Who should see it: If you’ve watched any of Seth MacFarlane’s TV shows (”Family Guy,” “American Dad,” and ”The Cleveland Show”) then you won’t want to miss his first major film. Think of it as Seth MacFarlane unplugged from the TV censors.
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”The Dark Knight Rises” – July 20th
Starring: Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gary Oldman
Synopsis: Eight years after Batman took the fall for Two Face’s crimes, a new terrorist leader, Bane overwhelms Gotham’s finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that brands him an enemy.
Who should see it: Fans of DC Comics, Batman, and the film franchise are a definite for this movie. For everyone else, there’s sure to be plenty of crime, action and drama in this one. My prediction: it will be one of this summer’s biggest hits.
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”Neighborhood Watch” – July 27th
Starring: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill
Synopsis: Suburban dads who form a neighborhood watch group as a way to get out of their day-to-day family routines find themselves defending the Earth from an alien invasion.
Who should see it: It’s a science fiction comedy, so take it as good lighthearted fun. If you like either of those genres, you should check it out. With the three main actors in this lineup, it should be a laugh a minute.
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”Step Up Revolution” – July 27th
Starring: Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman and Adam G. Sevani
Synopsis: Emily arrives in Miami with aspirations to become a professional dancer and hits it off with Sean, the leader of a dance crew whose neighborhood is threatened by Emily’s father’s development plans.
Who should see it: Fans of the ”Step Up” franchise are definitely on the hook for this one. Additionally, anyone who likes dance and drama with a little romance thrown in should get in line.
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”The Bourne Legacy” – August 3rd
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton
Synopsis: A story centered on a new CIA operative in the universe based on Robert Ludlum’s novels.
Who should see it: Although Matt Damon isn’t in this installment, fans of the franchise should give it a shot. The tagline “There Was Never Just One” suggests it will be along the same lines as Jason Bourne’s experience.
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”Total Recall” – August 3rd
Starring: Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine and Bryan Cranston
Synopsis: 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.
Who should see it: This is another hard core sci-fi offering and should be seen by all fans of the genre. However, film buffs should note that this movie is based on the original Philip K. Dick short story and not the original movie, so there are some major differences in the films.
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”Sparkle” – August 17th
Starring: Jordin Sparks, Carmen Ejogo and Whitney Houston
Synopsis: Set in the 1960s, three sisters form a girl group and soon become Motown sensations, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart.
Who should see it: Fans of Whitney Houston will fuel the success of this movie, which marks her final appearance on the big screen before her untimely death.
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”The Expendables 2” – August 17th
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, and Bruce Willis
Synopsis: 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.
Who should see it: This is a huge action / adventure film with a ton of top stars in it. Anyone who wants to see kick-ass action with an all-star cast shouldn’t miss it.
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”Lawless” – August 31st
Starring: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Guy Pearce
Synopsis: Set in the Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits.
Who should see it: This crime drama comes to us from the era of prohibition, where the war on drugs was a war against alcohol. If corrupt cops, moonshine, and a stellar cast are in your area of interest, don’t miss this summer’s latecomer. It could just steal the season.