An Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people. With Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver. Written and directed by James Cameron. Also in Imax 3-D. 20th Century Fox, Dec. 18. (Mark Fellman / 20th Century Fox)
‘Watchmen’
A washed up vigilante reconnects with his ragtag group of retired superheroes to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all superheroes with catastrophic consequences for the future. With Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson. Screenplay by David Hayter and Alex Tse. Directed by Zack Snyder. Also in Imax. Warner Bros. Pictures, March 6. (Clay Enos / Warner Bros.)
The origins story of Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock and the rest of the USS Enterprise crew. With Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Winona Ryder, Zoë Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana. and Leonard Nimoy. Directed by J.J. Abrams. Written by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci. Also in Imax. Paramount Pictures.
May 8 (Industrial Light & Magic / Paramount Pictures)
‘The Uninvited’
After a young woman returns home from a psychiatric facility, she is visited by her dead mothers ghost warning of her fathers fiancées evil intentions. With Emily Browning, Elizabeth Banks, Arielle Kebbel and David Strathairn. Screenplay by Craig Rosenberg and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard. Directed by Thomas and Charles Guard. DreamWorks/Paramount, Jan. 30. (Kimberley French / DreamWorks LLC)
‘Whiteout’
The lone U.S. marshal assigned to Antarctica must solve the continents first murder three days before darkness falls for the long winter. With Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt, Columbus Short and Alex OLoughlin. Written by Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber and Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes. Directed by Dominic Sena. Dark Castle Entertainment, Sept. 11. (Rafy / Warner Bros.)
‘Taken’
Liam Neeson stars as an ex-government operative with less than four days to find his daughter, who has been kidnapped while on vacation in Paris. With Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen. Written by Luc Besson & Robert Mark Kamen. Directed by Pierre Morel. 20th Century Fox, Jan. 23. (Stephanie Branchu / 20th Century Fox)
Denzel Washington stars in this remake of the hijacking of a New York City subway train. With John Travolta, John Turturro and James Gandolfini. Directed by Tony Scott. Screenplay by Brian Helgeland. Columbia Pictures.
June 12 (Rico Torres / Columbia Pictures)
‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’
Devastated by the kidnapping of her father, a girl takes to the streets of Hong Kong, embarking on an epic quest for justice. With Kristin Kreuk, Chris Klein, Neal McDonough. Screenplay by Justin Marks. 20th Century Fox, Feb. 27. (Patrick Brown / 20th Century Fox)
‘Fast & Furious’
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker re-team in this sequel when a crime brings the ex-con and FBI agent back to L.A., forcing them to confront a shared enemy. Directed by Justin Lin. Written by Chris Morgan. Universal, April 3. (Jaimie Trueblood / Universal Pictures)
‘Crank: High Voltage’
A hit man launches himself on a chase through Los Angeles in pursuit of the Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart. Starring Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakam, Efren Ramirez, Clifton Collins Jr. and Bai Ling. Written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Lionsgate, April 17. (David Strick / David Strick’s Hollywood Backlot)
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
The origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves) is revealed. With Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy. Directed by Patrick Tatopoulos. Screenplay by Danny McBride and Dirk Blackman & Howard McCain. Screen Gems, Jan. 23. (Ken George / Screen Gems)
Two federal officers have a string of murders to solve and three sets of stories to decipher. With Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond. Directed by Jennifer Lynch. Magnet Releasing.
June 26 (Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures)
State of Play
A rising congressman and an investigative journalist are embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. With Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels and Helen Mirren. Directed by Kevin Macdonald. Screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan and Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray. Universal Pictures, April 17. (Glen Wilson / Universal Pictures)
‘Push’
A young man and teenage girl must save the world by battling artificially enhanced paranormal operatives who have the ability to kill without ever touching their victims. With Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle and Djimon Hounsou. Directed by Paul McGuigan. Written by David Bourla. Summit Entertainment, Feb. 6. (Summit Entertainment)
‘Pandorum’
Stranded on a spacecraft, two astronauts awaken from a hyper-sleep and realize they are not alone. With Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster and Cam Gigandet, Antje Traue and Cung Le. Directed by and co-written by Christian Alvart with Travis Milloy. Overture Films, Sept. 4. (Jay Maidment / Constantin Film)
‘Shes Out of My League’
Against all odds, a successful and outrageously gorgeous woman falls for an average airport security agent. With Jay Baruchel and Alice Eve. Written by Sean Anders & John Morris. Directed by Jim Field Smith. DreamWorks/Paramount, fall. (Darren Michaels / DreamWorks LLC)
‘17 Again’
A former high school basketball star is given a second chance at life when he is miraculously transformed back to a 17-year-old. With Zac Efron, Leslie Mann and Matthew Perry. New Line, April 17. (Chuck Zlotnick / New Line Cinema)
‘The Pink Panther 2'
Steve Martin reprises his role of bumbling French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau as he tracks down the stolen Pink Panther diamond. Columbia/Sony Pictures, Feb. 6. (Peter Iovino / Sony Pictures)
‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop’
A New Jersey mall security officer must save the day when a heist shuts down the megaplex. With Kevin James. Directed by Steve Carr. Written by Kevin James & Nick Bakay. Columbia/Sony Pictures, Jan. 16. (Richard Cartwright / Columbia Pictures)
‘Old Dogs’
Two friends are unexpectedly charged with the care of 6-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. With John Travolta and Robin Williams. Directed by Walt Becker. Written by David Diamond & David Weissman. Walt Disney Pictures, Wednesday, Nov. 25. (Ron Phillips / Walt Disney Pictures)
‘Observe and Report’
A mall cop with dreams of entering the police academy is put to the test when the mall is struck by a flasher. With Seth Rogen. Written and directed by Jody Hill. Warner Bros. Pictures, April 10. (Peter Sorel / Warner Bros.)
Artifacts from the Smithsonian including Amelia Earhart‘s plane, Dorothy’s ruby red slippers and Archie Bunker’s lounge chair come to life in this sequel starring Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson and Robin Williams. Directed by Shawn Levy. Screenplay by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon. Also in Imax. 20th Century Fox.
May 22 (Doane Gregory / 20th Century Fox)
When a package containing cocaine instead of weed is accidentally delivered to a slackers apartment, it sets in motion a chain of events that could cost him his life. With Donald Faison, Mike Epps and Mos Def. Directed by Benny Boom. Written by Blair Cobb. Summit Entertainment.
May 8 (Adam Taylor / Summi)
Three college students head to New Orleans to lift their spirits. With Nicholas DAgosto and Carmen Electra. Directed by Phil Dornfeld. Written by Josh Heald. Screen Gems.
Aug. 28 (Peter “Hopper” Stone / Screen Gems)
‘Madea Goes to Jail’
Tyler Perry returns as Madea, the irreverent, pistol-packin grandmama who is raising hell behind bars and lobbying for her freedom. Written and directed by Tyler Perry. Lionsgate, Feb. 20. (Quantrell Colbert / Lionsgate)
A government secretary cooks all 524 recipes from her idol, Julia Childs legendary bible of French cuisine in just 365 days. With Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. Written and directed by Nora Ephron. Columbia Pictures.
Aug. 7 (Jonathan Wenk / Columbia Pictures)
Will Ferrell stars as a has-been scientist who travels back in time and must survive a world full of marauding dinosaurs. Directed by Brad Silberling. Screenplay by Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas. Universal Pictures
June 5 (Ralph Nelson / Universal Pictures)
‘I Love You, Man’
A recently engaged real estate agent sets out to find a friend to be the best man in his wedding. With Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly. Written and directed by John Hamburg. DreamWorks/Paramount, March 20. (Scott Garfield / DreamWorks)
A nerdy valedictorian proclaims his love for the hottest and most popular girl in school during his graduation speech. With Hayden Panettiere. Directed by Chris Columbus. Screenplay by Larry Doyle. 20th Century Fox.
July 10 (Joe Lederer / 20th Century Fox)
‘Hotel for Dogs’
Two kids secretly take in nine stray dogs at a vacant house, transforming it into a magical dog paradise. With Emma Roberts, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle. DreamWorks/Paramount, Jan. 16. (Jaimie Trueblood / DreamWorks LLC)
’ Hannah Montana: The Movie’
Unable to juggle school, friends and her secret pop-star persona, Miley Stewart goes home to Crowley Corners, Tenn., for a dose of reality. With Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Vanessa Williams and Billy Ray Cyrus. Written by Dan Berendsen. Directed by Peter Chelsom. Walt Disney Pictures, April 10. (Sam Emerson / Walt Disney Pictures)
‘The Great Buck Howard’
A law school dropout and aspiring writer takes a job with a has-been mentalist. With John Malkovich, Colin Hanks and Emily Blunt. Directed and written by Sean McGinly. Magnolia Pictures, March 20. (Jaimie Trueblood / Bristol Bay Productions)
‘The Girl From Monaco’
A brilliant and neurotic attorney goes to Monaco to defend a famous criminal, where he falls for a beautiful she-devil. With Fabrice Luchini and Louise Bourgoin. Directed by Anne Fontaine. Magnolia Pictures, TBA 2009. (Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures)
‘The Goods’
A man and his ragtag crew find unexpected love when they descend on a town to help save an ailing car dealership from bankruptcy. With Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, Ed Helms and James Brolin. Written by Andy Stock & Rick Stempson. Directed by Neal Brennan. Paramount Vantage, April 24. (Sam Emerson / Paramount Vantage)
Adam Sandler stars in this story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience. With Leslie Mann, Seth Rogen, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman. Written and directed by Judd Apatow. Universal.
July 31 (Tracy Bennett / Universal Pictures)
‘Fired Up’
Dreading another summer at football camp, the two star players hatch a scheme to join the cheerleaders at cheer camp instead. With Nicholas DAgosto and Eric Christian Olsen. Directed by Will Gluck. Written by Freedom Jones. Screen Gems, Feb. 20. (Suzanne Tenner / Screen Gems)
‘Fanboys’
To honor a dying friends last wish, a group of obsessive Star Wars fans journey across country to infiltrate George Lucas Skywalker Ranch. With Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler and Kristen Bell. Directed by Kyle Newman. Written by Ernest Cline, Adam F. Goldberg, Dan Pulick. The Weinstein Co., Feb. 6. (John Estes / The Weinstein Company)
A spoof of the dance-movie genre. With Damon Wayans Jr., Craig Wayans and Affion Crockett. Written by Keenen Ivory Wayans & Shawn Wayans & Marlon Wayans & Craig Wayans & Damien Dante Wayans. Directed by Damien Dante Wayans. Paramount Pictures.
May 22 (Glen Wilson / Paramount Pictures)
‘Couples Retreat’
Four Midwestern couples embark on a journey to a tropical island resort and must participate in the couples therapy sessions. With Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Kristen Davis and Kristen Bell. Written by Vaughn, Favreau and Dana Fox. Directed by Peter Billingsley. Universal Pictures, TBA. (John Johnson / Universal Pictures)
‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’
Isla Fisher stars as an intrepid New Yorker whose love life and nascent career as an advice columnist are threatened by the mountain of debt she has accumulated. Screenplay by Tim Firth and Tracey Jackson. Directed by P.J. Hogan. Touchstone Pictures, Feb. 13. (Robert Zuckerman / Touchstone Pictures)
‘Big Man Japan’
A middle-aged slacker, who happens to double as a giant superhero entrusted with defending his country from monsters, must deal with an ungrateful public, sponsorship opportunities and an Alzheimers-stricken grandfather. Written and directed by and starring Hitoshi Matsumoto. Co-written by Mitsuyoshi Takasu. Japanese with English subtitles. Magnet Releasing, March. (Courtesy of Magnet Releasing)
‘The Boat That Rocked’
A band of rogue DJs blast pirate radio to the U.K. from the high seas 24 hours a day during the 1960s. With Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy and Kenneth Branagh. Directed by Richard Curtis. Universal Pictures, TBA. (Alex Bailey / Universal Pictures)
‘The Princess and the Frog’
A hand-drawn animated musical with a modern twist on the classic tale. With the voices of Anika Noni Rose and John Goodman. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. Walt Disney Pictures, Dec. 25. (Walt Disney Pictures)
'$9.99'
This stop-motion animated feature offers slightly less than $10 worth of insight into the meaning of life. With the voices of Geoffrey Rush, Anthony LaPaglia, Samuel Johnson and Claudia Karvan. Screenplay by Etgar Keret and Tatia Rosenthal. Directed by Tatia Rosenthal. Regent Releasing, April 3. (Regent Releasing)
‘Monsters vs. Aliens’
The president enlists a motley crew of Monsters, confined in a secret government compound, to combat an alien robot and save the world from imminent destruction. With the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Kiefer Sutherland and Paul Rudd. Directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon. Also in Imax. Paramount Pictures, March 27. (Dreamworks Animation)
On a mission to rescue the hapless Sid, the gang ventures into a mysterious underground world, where they have close encounters with dinosaurs and meet a relentless, one-eyed, dino-hunting weasel named Buck. With the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary and Queen Latifah. Directed by Carlos Saldanha. Screenplay by Michael Berg & Peter Ackerman. 20th Century Fox.
July 1 (Blue Sky Studios / Twentieth Century Fox)
‘Coraline’
Henry Selick wrote and directed this 3-D stop-motion adventure based on the book by Neil Gaiman about a young girl who discovers an alternate world through a secret door in her new home. With the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher and and Ian McShane. Focus Features, Feb. 6. (Focus Features)
‘Where the Wild Things Are’
Director Spike Jonze brings Maurice Sendaks classic tale of adventure to the big screen. With Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Catherine OHara and Forest Whitaker. Screenplay by Jonze & Dave Eggers. Warner Bros. Pictures, Oct. 16. (Warner Bros.)
‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’
Inspired by the beloved childrens book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. Screenplay by and directed by Chris Miller & Phil Lord. Columbia/Sony Pictures Animation, Sept. 18. (Courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation)
Kids on a family vacation must fight off an attack by knee-high alien invaders while the parents remain clueless. With Ashley Tisdale, Robert Hoffman, Andy Richter and Kevin Nealon. Directed by John Schultz. Written by Mark Burton and Adam F. Goldberg. 20th Century Fox.
July 31 (Kristy Griffin / 20th Century Fox)
‘Race to Witch Mountain’
A Las Vegas cab driver must get two teens with supernatural powers to Witch Mountain, a secret place in the desert, to save the world. With Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Gugino and Ciaran Hinds. Directed by and co-written by Andy Fickman with Matt Lopez and Mark Bomback. Walt Disney Pictures, March 13. (Ron Phillips / Walt Disney Pictures)
‘Severed Ways’
Tony Stone wrote, directed and stars in an epic about two 11th century Vikings left behind in North America. Magnet Releasing, March 20. (Magnet Releasing)
‘Inkheart’
A fathers ability to bring fictional characters to life leads to him being kidnapped by a villain from a fable. With Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent. Directed by Iain Softley. Screenplay by David Lindsay-Abaire. Warner Bros. Pictures, Jan. 23. (Murray Close / New Line Cinema)
‘Duplicity’
Julia Roberts and Clive Owen star as spies-turned-corporate operatives in the midst of a clandestine love affair when they find themselves embroiled in a high-stakes espionage game. With Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti. Written and directed by Tony Gilroy. Universal, March 20. (Andrew Schwartz / Universal Pictures)
Romance blooms as hormones rage at Hogwarts while Voldemort strengthens his hold on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds. With Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman and David Thewlis. Screenplay by Steve Kloves. Directed by David Yates. Also in Imax. Warner Bros. Pictures.
July 15 (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Picture)
‘Cirque du Freak’
A boy unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. With John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe and Salma Hayek. Directed by and co-written by Paul Weitz with Brian Helgeland. Universal Pictures, TBA. (David Lee / Universal Pictures)
‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’
The story of Wolverines monumentally violent and romantic past and his relationship with Victor Creed, and the ominous Weapon X program. With Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, will.i.am, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, and Ryan Reynolds. Directed by Gavin Hood. Screenplay by David Benioff. 20th Century Fox, May 1. (Michael Muller / Twentieth Century Fox)
‘12 Rounds’
After escaping from prison, a criminal mastermind enacts his revenge on the cop that accidentally killed his girlfriend, using a series of near-impossible puzzles and tasks. With John Cena, Steve Harris, Ashley Scott, Aidan Gillen and Brian White. Directed by Renny Harlin. Written by Daniel Kunka. 20th Century Fox, March 27. (Patti Perret / 20th Century Fox)
‘2012'
A global cataclysm brings an end to the world, forcing a heroic struggle on the survivors. With John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton. Directed by and co-written by Roland Emmerich with Harald Kloser. Columbia Pictures, July 10. (Joe Lederer / Columbia Pictures)
Set in post-apocalyptic 2018 with John Connor ready to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. With Christian Bale, Sam Worthington and Common. Written by Michael Ferris & John Brancato, Paul Haggis, Jonathan Nolan, Shaun Ryan and Anthony Zuiker. Directed by McG. Warner Bros. Pictures.
May 21 (Richard Foreman / Warner Bros. Pictures)
Fireflies in the Garden
A mothers tragic death leads her grown son to face up to painful childhood memories and finally stand up to his abusive father. With Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hayden Panettiere. Written and directed by Dennis Lee. Senator Entertainment. May 8. (Van Redin / Senator U.S.)
‘Knowing’
A teacher opens a time capsule from his sons elementary school and finds chilling predictions, including some that have already occurred, leading him to believe that his family is involved in future fatal events. With Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne and Chandler Canterbury. Directed by Alex Proyas. Written by Ryne Douglas Pearson and Juliet Snowden. Summit Entertainment, March 20. (Vince Valitutti / Summitt Entertainment)
Johnny Depp stars as legendary Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger, who became the No. 1 target of J. Edgar Hoovers fledgling FBI and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. With Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup. Directed by Michael Mann. Written by Mann, Ronan Bennett, Ann Biderman and Mark St. Germain. Universal.
July 1 (Peter Mountain / Universal Pictures)
The young life and loves of artist Salvador Dalí, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca in 1922 Spain. With Robert Pattinson. Written by Philippa Goslett. Directed by Paul Morrison. Regent Releasing.
May 8 (Regent Releasing)
‘My Bloody Valentine 3-D’
In this remake of the 1981 horror film, a vengeful coal miner returns 10 years after being killed to resume his murder spree. With Jensen Ackles, Jaime King and Kerr Smith. Directed by Patrick Lussier. Screenplay by Todd Farmer and Zane Smith. Lionsgate, Jan. 16. (Michael Roberts / Lionsgate)
Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon, who discovers an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati, which planted a time bomb somewhere in the Vatican. Directed by Ron Howard. Screenplay by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman. Columbia Pictures.
May 15 (Zade Rosenthal / Columbia Pictures)
‘The Informers’
Several intertwined tales set in early 80s L.A., where movie executives, rock stars, a vampire and other morally challenged characters commingle and connect. With Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke and Winona Ryder. Written by Bret Easton Ellis & Nicholas Jarecki. Directed by Gregor Jordan. Senator Entertainment, spring. (Juan Angel Urruzola / Senator U.S.)
