Summer Blockbusters

Every summer, studios roll out their biggest, highest-budget, most action-packed, crowd-pleasing-est movies. (OK, so that's not a real word, but it's true.) Here's a rundown of what you can expect on the big screen this summer.

The A-Team

U.S. Release Date: June 11
Genre: Action/Adventure
Stars: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson, Sharlto Copley

Based on the '80s television show of the same name, with some of the same cheesy dialogue, this movie follows four members of the U.S. armed forces, three of whom were accused of a crime they didn't commit and have escaped from a maximum-security military prison. Now they're hired mercenaries on the lam — but how long can they escape being caught? And just how many things will they blow up in the meantime?

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

U.S. Release Date: June 30
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Stars: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Bryce Dallas Howard

The Twilight series may not be tops on your list, but chances are, there's a girl in your life who's either Team Edward (the sullen vampire, played by Pattinson) or Team Jacob (the werewolf who spends much of his time shirtless, played by Lautner). In this third installment of the series, the city of Seattle is ravaged by a string of murders, putting heroine Bella in danger. As the high school senior faces graduation, she's forced to choose between Edward and Jacob — something that won't help the age-old struggle between werewolves and vampires.

Inception

U.S. Release Date: July 16
Genre: Sci Fi/Mystery
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page

A dream catcher of sorts, agent Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) has access to a technology that allows him to enter people's minds via their dreams, uncovering the top secret strategies of powerful tycoons. But thoughts don't always correlate perfectly with reality, and when that happens — and you base your real-life actions on the ideas of the mind — things can quickly take a turn for the worse.

Salt

U.S. Release Date: July 23
Genre: Action/Thriller
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor

When sexy CIA operative Evelyn Salt is accused of being a Russian spy, she sets out to prove her innocence, using all the tricks she's learned in her years of CIA service. But the question for those out to find her — and the viewers — remains: Just who is Salt? Although the part was originally written for a man (with Tom Cruise signed on), Jolie makes it her own.

Dinner for Schmucks

U.S. Release Date: July 23
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd

Steve Carell and Paul Rudd reunite (after The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Anchorman) for this comedy, which finds Tim (Rudd's character) attempting to climb the corporate ladder. He's invited to a dinner held by his boss, and a promotion likely awaits if he can secure the perfect guest. The only catch is that this is a “dinner for idiots” — the task is to find the biggest buffoon possible. Tim hits the jackpot when he literally hits Barry (played by Carell), who is busy rescuing a dead mouse that he plans to dress up and use in a re-creation of a great work of art. But in addition to being a very odd duck, Barry is also a very sweet guy — is taking him to dinner solely to mock him worth it? Expect hilarity to ensue from Carell. Anchorman) for this comedy, which finds Tim (Rudd's character) attempting to climb the corporate ladder. He's invited to a dinner held by his boss, and a promotion likely awaits if he can secure the perfect guest. The only catch is that this is a “dinner for idiots”—the task is to find the biggest buffoon possible. Tim hits the jackpot when he literally hits Barry (played by Carell), who is busy rescuing a dead mouse that he plans to dress up and use in a re-creation of a great work of art. But in addition to being a very odd duck, Barry is also a very sweet guy—is taking him to dinner solely to mock him worth it? Expect hilarity to ensue from Carell.

The Adjustment Bureau

U.S. Release Date: July 30
Genre: Sci Fi/Romance
Stars: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt

In another movie about mercenaries (see The A-Team), this squad has been given the job of taking out the dictator of a small country who's ruled with violence and destruction. But when they get there, they're greatly outmatched — and everything isn't as it seems. Sly Stallone writes, directs, and acts in this homage to the great action flicks of the past, and he lined up plenty of big names from the heyday of the genre, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.
Nonstop action, stars known for their fight scenes, and a dose of humor give this picture all the ingredients of a summer hit.

A mysterious ballerina (Blunt) pliés her way into the life of David Norris (Damon), a congressman on his way to winning a seat in the Senate and becoming a breakout star of his party. A strange series of circumstances works to keep the two apart, and Norris wants to know why. Will he let the beautiful dancer go and continue on his path to fame, or will he fight the forces that use any means necessary to keep the pair from being together?

The Expendables

U.S. Release Date: August 13
Genre: Action/Adventure
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke

In another movie about mercenaries (see The A-Team), this squad has been given the job of taking out the dictator of a small country who's ruled with violence and destruction. But when they get there, they're greatly outmatched—and everything isn't as it seems. Sly Stallone writes, directs, and acts in this homage to the great action flicks of the past, and he lined up plenty of big names from the heyday of the genre, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. Nonstop action, stars known for their fight scenes, and a dose of humor give this picture all the ingredients of a summer hit.