Here are some of the other noteworthy films opening this summer. All release dates are subject to change, and some films may open later in the Bay Area.
May 20
“Midnight in Paris”: The recent Cannes Film Festival opened with Woody Allen’s new comedy, starring Owen Wilson as a blocked novelist who is lured by the night life of the French capital, to the dismay of his fiancee (Rachel McAdams) and her family. With Alison Pill, Marion Cotillard, Michael Sheen, Carla Bruni, Kathy Bates and Adrien Brody.
May 27
“The Tree of Life”: Terrence Malick’s new film ranges through time and space to tell the cosmic tale of a 1950s dad (Brad Pitt) and his son, who is played as an adult by Sean Penn. With Jessica Chastain.
June 3
“Beautiful Boy”: Michael Sheen and Maria Bello star as a couple whose marriage is sorely tested when their son goes on a killing spree at his university. Directed by Shawn Ku.
“Beginners”: Facing the frightening prospect of disease and a new relationship, Ewan McGregor comforts himself with memories of his father (Christopher Plummer), who came out of the closet and into a fulfilling new life after 44 years of marriage. Bay Area native Mike Mills wrote and directed.
June 10
“Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer”: A third grader (Jordana Beatty) plans the most exciting summer of her young life in John Schultz’s adaptation of a children’s book by Megan McDonald. With Heather Graham and Preston Bailey.
June 17
“The Art of Getting By”: A lonely high school senior (Freddie Highmore) is befriended by a popular girl (Emma Roberts) as he struggles to finish a year’s worth of homework in order to graduate. Written and directed by Gavin Wiesen; with Michael Angarano and Alicia Silverstone.
“Mr. Popper’s Penguins”: A hardhearted businessman (Jim Carrey) rediscovers the joys of living when he inherits six penguins. Mark Waters (“Mean Girls”) directed; with Carla Gugino and Angela Lansbury.
June 24
“Bad Teacher”: It’s no more Ms. Nice Girl for Cameron Diaz, who breaks with her image to play a foul-mouthed, man-hungry high school teacher in a comedy directed by Jake Kasdan. With Justin Timberlake and Jason Segel.
July 1
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”: The director Michael Bay brings his busy visual style to 3-D in this latest installment of the popular franchise based on a collection of children’s toys. Shia LaBeouf returns as the young man who befriends the warrior robots who disguise themselves as humble, fossil-fuel-driven vehicles. With John Turturro, Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson.
July 8
“Horrible Bosses”: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day conspire to kill the employers (Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston) who make their lives miserable. Seth Gordon (“Four Christmases”) directs; with Jamie Foxx and Donald Sutherland.
“One Day”: The Danish director Lone Scherfig (“An Education”) returns with a film based on David Nicholls’ best-selling novel, which charts the history of a couple (Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess) by checking in with them once a year, on the same date, over a 20-year period.
“Zookeeper”: A lonely zookeeper (Kevin James) gets advice on finding love from his charges, who, it turns out, have secretly been able to talk all along. With Rosario Dawson and the voices of Cher, Nick Nolte, Adam Sandler and Sylvester Stallone. Frank Coraci (“The Waterboy”) directs.
July 15
“Winnie the Pooh”: Disney looks to revive its dormant “Winnie the Pooh” franchise with a new animated feature directed by Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall. The voices include Jim Cummings, John Cleese, Craig Ferguson and Tom Kenny.
July 22
“Friends With Benefits”: Two acquaintances (Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis) try to keep their relationship strictly sexual, but other feelings intrude. From the director Will Gluck (“Easy A”); with Richard Jenkins, Rashida Jones, Woody Harrelson and Patricia Clarkson.
July 29
“Crazy, Stupid, Love”: In a troubled marriage and in his 40s, Steve Carell signs up as a wingman to a dashing young womanizer (Ryan Gosling). Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa; with Julianne Moore, Analeigh Tipton, Emma Stone, Jonah Bobo, John Carroll Lynch, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon.
“Smurfs”: Little blue people of mysterious origin turn up in New York City, where they make friends with Neil Patrick Harris. Raja Gosnell directed in 3-D; with the voices of Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, George Lopez, Paul Reubens and Wolfgang Puck (as Chef Smurf).
Aug. 5
“The Change-Up”: Two lifelong buddies — one a family man (Jason Bateman), the other a swinging bachelor (Ryan Reynolds) — have the opportunity to compare their styles of living when they wake up in each other’s bodies. Directed by David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers”); with Olivia Wilde and Leslie Mann.
“Dirty Girl”: It’s 1987, and an adorably promiscuous high school girl sets out on a cross-country journey with her gay best friend. With Juno Temple, Nicholas D’Agosto, Milla Jovovich, Mary Steenburgen and William H. Macy; Abe Sylvia directs.
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”: Reboot mania continues as Fox looks to renew its ancient “Apes” franchise with C.G.I. and a story line centered on how the simian planet got that way: It was the fault of a present-day scientist (James Franco) researching genetic modification as a cure for Alzheimer’s. Andy Serkis plays the test subject who first feels a strange yearning for bananas. Rupert Wyatt directs; with Freida Pinto, Brian Cox and John Lithgow.
Aug. 12
“Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark”: Guillermo Del Toro produced this horror film, from a screenplay he wrote with Matthew Robbins, about a little girl who discovers strange creatures living in the old house that belongs to her father (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend (Katie Holmes). Troy Nixey directed.
“Final Destination 5”: More “quality kills” as the “Final Destination” franchise turns 11. Steve Quale directed, in 3-D, with a young cast, including Emma Bell and Nicholas D’Agosto.
“Higher Ground”: Vera Farmiga directs and stars in the story of a woman (played by Farmiga’s sister Taissa as a teenager and Farmiga as an adult) who navigates the 1960s as a born-again Christian, facing eternal challenges to her faith. With Joshua Leonard, John Hawkes, Dagmara Dominczyk, Norbert Leo Butz and Donna Murphy.
“30 Minutes or Less”: Jesse Eisenberg’s life as a pizza delivery boy suddenly gets a lot more exciting when he’s kidnapped by a pair of would-be criminals (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) and forced to rob a bank. Ruben Fleischer directs.
Aug. 19
“Conan the Barbarian”: One final reboot for this summer of resurrections: Robert E. Howard’s pulp magazine warrior returns in the sculptured form of Jason Momoa in this 3-D conversion directed by Marcus Nispel (who rebooted “Friday the 13th” a couple of years ago). With Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Rose McGowan and Ron Perlman.
“Fright Night”: A remake of Tom Holland’s 1985 cult favorite, about a teenager (Anton Yelchin) delighted to discover that his new next-door neighbor (Colin Farrell) is a vampire. With Toni Collette; Craig Gillespie (“Lars and the Real Girl”) directs.
“Spy Kids 4: All the Time In the World”: Eight years after “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over,” the director Robert Rodriguez revives his franchise with Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook as twins who help their stepmother (Jessica Alba), a former spy, battle a terrorist (Jeremy Piven). With Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo and Joel McHale.
Aug. 26
“Our Idiot Brother”: Emily Mortimer, Elizabeth Banks and Zooey Deschanel are sisters who see the need to care for their unworldly brother, an organic farmer (Paul Rudd). Jesse Peretz directs.
