Every Summer, we seem to discuss ad nauseum how this will be a record Summer, yet it doesn’t always pan out. So far, this year has been a trove of popular and successful films, which poses the question, can this Summer be a true record breaker? All signs point to yes. Just look at the films listed below. There are at least a dozen that could easily be huge hits and half a dozen that are guaranteed hits. Of course, a bad adaptation or failing to meet expectations could doom any number of these films, but we’re looking at a huge year just from the slate of prequels, sequels and known quantities we have coming out from May through August.

To introduce you to the upcoming films, there will be two preview articles every month and this introduction every four months. The Season Preview article will focus on one of three seasons Spring Season (January through April), Tentpole Season (May through August) and Oscar Season (September through December). In these introductory articles, I will give you the current release schedule for the specified season, which may change as the release dates get closer.

May 4, 2012

The Avengers (Wide)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Limited)

May 11, 2012

Dark Shadows (Wide)
The Dictator (Wide)

May 18, 2012

Battleship (Wide)
What to Expect When You’re Expecting (Wide)

May 25, 2012

Chernobyl Diaries (Wide)
Men in Black 3 (Wide)
Moonrise Kingdom (Limited)

June 1, 2012

Battlefield America (Wide)
Piranha 3DD (Wide)
Snow White and the Huntsman (Wide)

June 8, 2012

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (Wide)
Prometheus (Wide)

June 15, 2012

Rock of Ages (Wide)
That’s My Boy (Wide)

June 22, 2012

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (Wide)
Brave (Wide)
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (Wide)
To Rome With Love (Limited)

June 29, 2012

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (Wide)
Magic Mike (Wide)
People Like Us (Wide)

July 3, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man (Wide)

July 6, 2012

Savages (Wide)

July 13, 2012

Ice Age: Continental Drift (Wide)
Ted (Wide)

July 20, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises (Wide)
The Well-Digger’s Daughter (Limited)

July 27, 2012

Neighborhood Watch (Wide)
Step Up 4 (Wide)
Tyler Perry’s The Marriage Counselor (Wide)

August 3, 2012

The Bourne Legacy (Wide)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (Wide)
Total Recall (Wide)

August 10, 2012

The Campaign (Wide)
Hope Springs (Wide)

August 17, 2012

The Expendables 2 (Wide)
The Odd Life of Timothy Green (Wide)
ParaNorman (Wide)
Sparkle (Wide)

August 24, 2012

The Apparition (Wide)
Premium Rush (Wide)

August 31, 2012

7500 (Wide)
The Possession (Wide)
The Wettest County (Wide)