Summer Screams--The Invasion Begins : SEE SUPERHEROICS!!! : THRILL TO MUTANTS AND MONSTERS!!! : MARVEL AT TECHNOLOGY GONE MAD!!! : CRINGE AT FIENDISH ALIENS!!!

By PAT H. BROESKE

June 8, 1987 12 AM PT

There is no stopping them!

Two dozen horror, science-fiction and fantasy films are coming to the summer screen.

The invasion officially began over the weekend with the release of “Harry and the Hendersons”--about a family’s adventures with a wondrously benign Bigfoot creature. Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment produced the tale of the lovable “alien” (Universal is the distributor), which has been widely dubbed by critics as a hairy version of “E.T.”

It was a dark and deadly 1975 Spielberg film that popularized the notion that genre films can take a monumental bite out of the summer box office. With rentals (that is, the monies returned to the studio following expenses) of $130 million, “Jaws” became one of the Top 10 money-making films in history.

Since then, sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre titles--especially those released in the summer months (when the kids are out of school)--have earned big bucks, if not respect, at the box office.

In fact, according to Daily Variety, these genre titles account for nine of the all-time Top 10 money-makers: “E.T.” ($228 million in rentals); “Star Wars” ($194 million); “Return of the Jedi” ($168 million); “The Empire Strikes Back” ($142 million); “Jaws,” “Ghostbusters” ($128 million); “Raiders of the Lost Ark” ($116 million); “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” ($109 million), “Back to the Future” ($102 million).

Competing for audiences in the coming months will be tales of voodoo worshippers, blood-sucking teen-age boys, programmed-to-kill cyborgs and, making a return engagement, the ever-ravenous Bruce the Shark.

Not every genre offering will be foreboding. On the lighter side will be superheroes, a Cinderella-in-reverse fantasy and a comedy-adventure about science-gone-haywire.

A guide to the summer’s genre films follows. (As ever, titles and release dates are subject to change.)

OPENING THIS WEEK

“The Believers”--Occult thriller co-produced and directed by John Schlesinger, in which Martin Sheen finds himself led into a world of pagan rituals. Based on Nicholas Conde’s novel, “The Religion.” With Helen Shaver, Robert Loggia, Jimmy Smits, Richard Masur and Harley Cross (Orion Pictures). Opens Wednesday.

“Predator”--Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in camouflage--as Dutch Schaefer, leader of a paramilitary unit that encounters a deadly, otherworldly enemy in the jungles of South America. John McTiernan (“Nomads”) directs. With Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham and (as the predator) Kevin Peter Hall (Twentieth Century Fox). Opens Friday.

“The Witches of Eastwick”--Jack Nicholson plays a devilish stranger who appears in the New England hamlet of Eastwick after Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer attempt to conjure Mr. Right. Michael Cristofer scripts, from John Updike’s novel. George Miller (the “Mad Max” trilogy) directs (Warner Bros.). Opens Friday.

OPENING THIS MONTH

“Spaceballs”--Mel Brooks writes and directs a space-opera send-up, all about spoiled Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga); Lone Star (Bill Pullman), an interstellar mercenary who travels in a galactic Winnebago; the evil Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis); the half-man, half-dog Mawg (John Candy) and Yogurt the mystic (Brooks) (MGM).

OPENING IN JULY

“House II: The Second Story”--Sequel to 1986’s “House” finds Arye Gross moving into the house where his parents were murdered 25 years earlier. Uh-oh . . . Ethan Wiley writes and directs. With Jonathan Stark, Royal Dano, Bill Maher and John Ratzenberger (New World Pictures).

“Innerspace”--A miniaturized test pilot (Dennis Quaid) goes on a fantastic voyage when he’s inadvertently injected into the bloodstream of supermarket clerk Martin Short. (Quaid travels the red sea in a submersible pod.) Steven Spielberg executive produces; Joe Dante directs. With Meg Ryan and Kevin McCarthy (Warner Bros.).

“Jaws the Revenge”--Lorraine Gary (of “Jaws” and “Jaws II”), as widowed Ellen Brody, leaves Amity for a new life in the Caribbean with her now-grown son, Lance Guest, and new love interest, Michael Caine. But just when she thought it was safe to . . . you know . . . along comes a Great White--with a vendetta. Joseph Sargent directs (Universal Pictures).

“The Lost Boys”--They’re teen-agers who ride motorcycles, look like rock stars and hang out at a beachfront carnival. Oh yeah--they also happen to be vampires. Joel Schumacher directs. With Corey Feldman, Jami Gertz, Corey Haim, Edward Herrmann, Barnard Hughes, Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland and Dianne Wiest (Warner Bros.).

“Maid to Order”--Amy Jones writes and directs a Cinderella-in-reverse fantasy--in which rich brat Ally Sheedy is suddenly “zapped” (by fairy Godmother Beverly D’Angelo) into another, poorer existence. Which means she’s (yikes!) gotta get a job. With Michael Ontkean, Tom Skerritt, Dick Shawn, Valerie Perrine and Rainbow Phoenix (New Century Vista).

“Robocop”--The time is the near future. The place is Old Detroit. With crime out of control, the city’s rulers experiment with new modes of law and order--eventually coming up with the title character (Peter Weller). Originally rated X for its violence, since trimmed to an R. The Netherlands’ Paul Verhoeven (“Spetters,” “Flesh and Blood”) directs. With Nancy Allen, Dan O’Herlihy and Ronny Cox (Orion Pictures).

“Superman IV: The Quest for Peace”--The Man of Steel (Christopher Reeve) returns to find nemesis Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) hawking nuclear arms. Luthor’s ally: Nuclear Man. Meanwhile, plucky Lois Lane (Margot Kidder returns) battles Mariel Hemingway for Superman’s affections. With Jackie Cooper (Perry White), Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen) and--as Luthor’s obnoxious teen-age nephew--Jon Cryer. Sidney J. Furie directs (Warner Bros.).

OPENING IN AUGUST

“Blood Hook”--Five friends vacationing at an old lodge are stalked by a killer with a mean left/right hook. (Troma Pictures).

“Burnin’ Love”--The Salem witch trials are spoofed, most unhistorically, by Kelly Preston, Patrick Cassidy, Barbara Carrera, Bud Cort, Stuart Pankin, David Thomas, Georgia Brown and David Graf. John Moffitt directs (De Laurentiis Entertainment Group).

“Dark Age”--Where’s Crocodile Dundee when you need him? A 50-foot-long crocodile emerges from his Australian swamp--and he’s hungry. . . . Arch Nicholson directs John Jarratt, Nikki Coghill and Max Phipps (Hemdale Releasing).

“The Farm”--David Keith directs the H.P. Lovecraft tale about a meteorite that strangely affects a rural community. With Hope North, Will Wheaton, Claude Akins and John Schneider (TransWorld Entertainment).

“The Garbage Pail Kids”--Those disgusting trading cards that kids love inspired this one, about an orphan (Mackenzie Astin) who’s befriended by such Garbage Pailers (live actors wearing animatronic heads) as Greaser Greg, Foul Phil, Valerie Vomit and Nat Nerd. With Anthony Newley (!). Rod Amateau co-writes and directs (Atlantic Releasing).

“Ghoulies II”--Those mean little critters are back in this, the sequel to the popular Spielberg-produced . . . no wait, that was another film. This is the sequel to the tacky 1985 Spielberg rip-off. In this one, the ghoulies join up with a traveling carnival, where they make Satan’s Den live up to its name. Albert Band produces and directs (Empire Films).

“Hellraiser”--British horror master Clive Barker (whose writings make Stephen King look tame) scripts and makes his directorial debut. Based on a Barker short story, the plot--as detailed by Barker in the production notes--is “about a guy who does a deal with the Devil--and is torn apart for his pains. His mistress, who happens to be his brother’s wife, decides to resurrect him by murdering men so that their life forces can be transferred to him.” Whatever. With Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins and Ashley Laurence (New World Pictures).

“Masters of the Universe”--Dolph Lundgren stars as the bare-chested He-Man (who started life as a Mattel toy), the most powerful warrior of planet Eternia. He journeys to modern-day Earth where his foe, Skeletor (Frank Langella), is stirring up trouble. With Meg Foster as Evil-Lyn, Billy Barty as the technical genius Gwildor and Christina Pickles as the Sorceress of Eternia. Gary Goddard makes his feature film directorial debut (Cannon Films).

“Monster in the Closet”--Spoof of ‘50s-era monster movies has a creature that’s tabbed “a cross between King Kong and something green and slimy.” With Stella Stevens, Claude Akins, John Carradine, Paul Dooley, Henry Gibson, Howard Duff and Maytag man Jesse White (Troma Pictures).

“The Monster Squad”--Kids who believe in monsters come to the rescue when Frankenstein, Count Dracula, Wolfman and the Mummy all descend on their small bayou community. (And you thought they just hung out on the Late Show!) Fred Dekker directs and co-scripts (with Shane Black). With Andrew Gower, Ryan Lambert, Robby Kiger, Ashley Bank, Brent Chalem, Duncan Regehr and Tom Noonan (Tri-Star Pictures).

“Stranded”--Benevolent aliens visit a farmhouse, impacting the lives of a young teen-ager (Ione Skye), her grandmother (Maureen O’Sullivan) and the rest of the community. With Joe Morton. Tex Fuller directs (New Line Cinema).

“Surf Nazis Must Die”--”Futuristic” oddity--set on the beaches of California--where a gang of neo-Nazi surfers rise to power until the “good-guy” surfers decide to go for revenge. Heil abunga! (Troma Pictures).

“Terminus”--Anything goes in a futuristic race involving super high-tech semis racing across Europe. (Destination: Terminus.) Pierre William Glenn directs. With Johnny Halliday, Karen Allen and Jurgen Prochnow (Hemdale Releasing).