Cinema enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to, as there is a wide range of the Most Anticipated Movies of 2011. Some of these may turn out being 2011 blockbuster films, the others may finish up as 2011 box-office bombs. Either way, it looks as though there are plenty of projects to be excited about. If a movie is based on a piece of material that has already been successful, audiences know what to expect, and there's likely already a built-in fan base.
That's why studios love sequels, remakes and adaptations. So it makes sense that those movies dominate our list of the Most Anticipated Movies of 2011. These are the movies that could make or break studios and stars next year. But remember, high hopes don't always pan out.
- Red State ( horror/thriller), directed by Kevin Smith, with John Goodman and Michael Parks. A horror film in which a group of misfits encounter fundamentalism gone to the extreme in Middle America : spring release date TBD
- Thor (action/adventure), directed by Kenneth Branagh, with Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman. The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders: May 6
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (action/fantasy), directed by Rob Marshall, with Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane. This time Sparrow teams up with his old nemesis Captain Barbossa and his old flame Angelica to track down the Fountain of Youth: May 20
- Hangover 2 (comedy), directed by Todd Phillips, with Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis. Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug travel to exotic Thailand for Stu's wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch: May 26
- The Tree of Life (drama), directed by Terrence Malick, with Sean Penn and Brad Pitt. The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence: May 27
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (action/sci-fi), directed by Michael Bay,with Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Tyrese Gibson. The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and learn its secrets, which could turn the tide in the Transformers' final battle : July 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (fantasy) directed by Daivd Yates, with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes. The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemorts final horcruxes…: July 15
- The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (drama) directed by Bill Condon, with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. The Quileute and the Volturi close in on expecting parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses different threats to the wolf pack and vampire coven: November 18
- Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (thriller), directed by Brad Bird, with Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner. Tom Cruise returns to his Ethan Hunt character popularized by the previous three installments with this fourth entry: December 16
- The Adventures of Tintin:The Secret of the Unicorn (animated), directed by Steven Spielberg, with Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, and Daniel Craig. Tintin and his friends discover directions to a sunken ship commanded by Capt. Haddock's ancestor and go off on a treasure hunt: December 28
