"The Hunger Games"
With the "Harry Potter" movies over and the "Twilight" films soon to end, perhaps it's time for another movie franchise based off a series of young adult novels to entertain teen audiences. Definitely one of the most anticipated films of the spring, "The Hunger Games" will hopefully be as great as "Harry Potter" and not as bad as "Twilight." Based on the Suzanne Collins novel, "The Hunger Games" centers around a series of televised battle events where boys and girls are pitted against each other and only one can survive. Opens March 23.
"The Woman in Black"
Another adaptation of a novel, this may be the movie that will help Daniel Radcliffe break from his "Harry Potter" shell. "The Woman in Black" is a supernatural thriller in which Radcliffe plays a young, ambitious lawyer who travels to London to settle the legal affairs of the recently deceased Alice Drablow. While staying the night in the Drablows' ominous house, he learns of a curse that involves the ghost of a scorned woman and the death of numerous children. Expect slight, psychological scares. Opens Feb. 3.
"The Grey"
Liam Neeson has gone through an interesting transformation from drama actor to hardcore action star. His latest action flick has him and seven other plane crash survivors stranded in the harsh, frozen wild, faced with issues of starvation, shelter and being hunted by a pack of wolves. But still, they have Liam Neeson on their side, so they should be all right. Opens Jan. 27.
"The Secret World of Arrietty"
In this world of computer animation and stop-motion technology, it's refreshing to see an old-fashioned piece of watercolor animation, especially when it's from Japanese company Studio Ghibli. From the studio that created the wonderful "Spirited Away" and with a plot based on the children's novel "The Borrowers," "The Secret World of Arrietty" tells the story of an adventurous young girl who lives under the floorboards of a typical household. Featuring the voices of Amy Poehler, Will Arnett and Carol Burnett, the movie comes to America on Feb. 17.
"John Carter"
Pixar director Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo," "WALL-E") is taking a huge leap in directing Disney's latest science-fiction epic "John Carter." This will be Stanton's first live-action film, one that looks like bits and pieces were taken from the mind of George Lucas. "John Carter" is about a former Confederate captain who is transported to Mars and becomes involved in a conflict among various nations. Opens March 9 in digital 3-D and IMAX 3-D.
"American Reunion"
If you think this is another installment in the "American Pie" movie series just by reading the title, you're right. Those small-town Michigan boys who made us laugh as they vowed to lose their virginity are returning for another film. Jim, Oz, Kevin, Finch, Stifler and the rest of the gang are reuniting for their high school reunion. During that weekend, they will learn what has changed and what hasn't changed in their lives. Expect to see Stifler's mom. In theaters April 6.
"Wanderlust"
Producer Judd Apatow ("Superbad," "Bridesmaids") brings us another low-concept comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston as a charming Manhattan couple that travels to find an alternate lifestyle after facing unemployment. Their search leads them stranded in a rural community where its citizens express free love. Interested? Opens Feb. 24.
"Dr. Seuss' The Lorax"
It's been a while since we've seen a Dr. Seuss story on the big screen. The last couple include the dreadful "Cat in the Hat" (2003), which Mike Myers ruined, and the delightful "Horton Hears a Who!" (2008). The next Dr. Seuss film will be "The Lorax," the story of a boy (Zac Efron) who looks to find a tree guarded by the nature-protecting Lorax (Danny DeVito) to impress the girl of his dreams (Taylor Swift). Opens March 2.
"Wrath of the Titans"
"Clash of the Titans" (2010) may have lacked the necessary thrills, but that certainly didn't stop it from raking in the money at the box office. Odds are that its upcoming sequel "Wrath of the Titans" turns out the same. This time, Perseus (Sam Worthington) is forced into a struggle for supremacy between the gods and the once-imprisoned Titans. As the Titans' strength grows stronger and Zeus (Liam Neeson) is captured in the underworld, Perseus is mankind's last hope, again. In theaters March 30.
"Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunter"
The last time a children's fairy tale was made into a horror film ("Red Riding Hood," (2011)), it turned out to be a messy, unintentional comedy. Let's hope this on-screen fairy tale will be more entertaining, especially since it is meant to be an action horror comedy. Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton play an adult Hansel and Gretel, who are now a team of bounty hunters who execute witches after their traumatic experience at the gingerbread house. Opens March 2.