- — The summer movie season is upon us and it looks to be exactly what folks have come to expect from summer movies: Plenty of superheroes, comedies, remakes, sequels, big budgets, computer imagery, etc. What movie-goers may not find this year is a dramatic hit such as “The Help,” which was released late last summer. The Valdosta Daily Times has gathered several movies to expect throughout this summer.



The Avengers, May 4. This movie has been several years and several movies in the making. From the two “Ironman” movies to “The Incredible Hulk,” “Thor” and “Captain America,” each movie’s credits included a scene leading to “The Avengers,” teaming all of these Marvel Comics superheroes and more and kicking off the summer movie season.



Dark Shadows, May 11. Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton team up again for what will surely be a quirky movie take on the 1960s gothic soap opera where characters didn’t only have to worry about who’s cheating on whom but they also had to contend with vampires, werewolves, witches and ghosts. Depp plays lead character Barnabas Collins, a 1700s vampire freed from a curse in the 1960s.



The Dictator, May 11. Sacha Baron Cohen made a huge cultural splash with his “Borat” several years ago. He created a bit of a dust-up with this character recently spilling what he claimed were the ashes of Kim Jong Il on Ryan Seacrest during the Oscars. Here, Cohen plays a dictator in a scripted comedy.



What to Expect When You’re Expecting, May 11. Four couples are expecting babies, starring Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, etc.



Battleship, May 18. A movie based on a 1970s children’s game? Yeah, but who would have ever thought a Disney ride would have become a successful franchise? Think “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Here, Navy battleships must stop an alien invaders at sea. You sank my Battleship! Only time will tell.



Men In Black 3, May 25. Agents J and K are back and this time they must go back in time to save the world. Will Smith reprises his role. Tommy Lee Jones returns, too, but it is Josh Brolin doing most of the heavy lifting here as Agent K in the 1960s.



Rock of Ages, June 1. Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and others perform in this movie adaptation of the rock & roll musical.



Safe Haven, June 1. Safe bet this one may make some cry ... based on a book by Nicholas Sparks, who also penned “The Notebook,” “Dear John,” etc.



Snow White and the Huntsman, June 1. Not sure why Snow White has become so popular for remakes lately. Add this movie to the recent film, “Mirror, Mirror” and ABC TV’s “Once Upon a Time” as the latest Snow White remakes. This one takes a darker, more adventurous, adult look at the fairy tale. Stars Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron.



 Madagascar 3, June 8. Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith return their voices to the third installment in this animated tale of zoo animals left to their own devices. This trip? Europe.



Prometheus, June 8. This movie was supposed to director Ridley Scott’s return to the “Alien” films but reportedly those creatures will only make a cameo appearance in what has become a different space thriller.



I Hate You Dad, June 15. Adam Sandler’s character became a father at the age of 12. His grown son, played by Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg, must give dad a home ... an Adam Sandler movie ensues.



Jack the Giant Killer, June 15. Another fairy tale turned into an edgy, adult, action movie. This one directed by Bryan Singer.



Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, June 22. Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel nicely worked vampires into Lincoln’s actual biography. We’ll have to see if the movie works or if it slides into complete parody.



Brave, June 22. Pixar reworks Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” into its first movie focusing on a girl. Think of the past animated Pixar classics: “Toy Story,” “Cars,” etc., all dominated by male characters. Not so for “Brave.”



G.I. Joe: Retaliation, June 29. A sequel to the live-action “G.I. Joe” movie based on the action figures and former cartoon series. This one stars Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.



The Amazing Spider-Man, July 3. A reboot of Spidey’s origins, reportedly on a tighter budget than the last three, with a new actor as Peter Parker, and focusing on Emma Stone as Gwen Stacey instead of Mary Jane. The villains: The Lizard and Proto-Goblin.



Ice Age: Continental Drift, July 13. Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary and Queen Latifah all return for voice work in this fourth animated installment of prehistoric adventures.



Ted, July 13. Seth MacFarlane brings his irreverent “Family Guy” humor to a live-action comedy about a boy whose wish for a living teddy bear, sadly, comes true. Mark Wahlberg stars and MacFarlane voices the raunchy CGI teddy bear.



The Dark Knight Rises, July 20. Possibly the summer’s most anticipated movie as director Christopher Nolan and actor Christian Bale bring their Batman trilogy to a close. Here, Batman faces Bane, a character who broke the Dark Knight’s spirit and spine in the comics.



Here Comes the Boom, July 27. Kevin James comedy directed by the man who directed the recent Kevin James comedy, “Zookeeper.” James plays a physics teacher turned martial-arts scrapper hoping to save his school’s music program.



Neighborhood Watch, July 27. Comedy starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Joshua Hill in a tale of men seeking asylum from their families by watching their neighborhoods.



The Bourne Legacy, Aug. 3. The latest in the Bourne action thrillers, with one big difference. In this fourth film, Matt Damon does not play Bourne.



Total Recall, Aug. 3. Colin Farrell stars in this remake of the 1990s Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. It reportedly is part the old movie and partly the original 1960s short story. Given the surprise ending of the original film, “Total Recall” may need a total reboot to surprise audiences.



Southern Rivals, Aug. 10. Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis star in this comedy about rival Southern politicians.



The Expendables 2, Aug. 17. Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham are back in this sequel that collects 1980s action stars like some kids collect action figures. Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger will reportedly have more screen time this go-round. Stallone will not direct and who knows who else may join the mayhem ...



ParaNorman, Aug. 17. A stop-motion animated movie.