Ah, summertime. Unlike in February or September, when movie studios secretly hope that you aren't really paying attention when you buy a ticket, everyone's trying hard to top everyone else in May, June, July and (for the most part) August (which is a little too close to September for moviegoers and studio bosses to be completely comfortable looking each other straight in the eyes).

This year, summer means there's a superhero everywhere you look (May has "Iron Man," while "The Incredible Hulk" turns green in June and "The Dark Knight" -- that's Batman, yo -- turns out the lights in July) and even "Hancock," Will Smith's movie about a not-so-superhero. There are perils both naughty (hearts and other anatomical regions are bared in "Sex and the City") and knotty (a blushing bride meets three men, each of whom might be her father, in the ABBA-inspired "Mamma Mia!").

You'll find animated animals ("Kung Fu Panda" or "Space Chimps"), animated robots ("Wall-E") and animated insects ("Fly Me to the Moon 3-D"), as well as plenty of comedy ("Swing Vote" or "Tropic Thunder"), romance ("What Happens in Vegas" or "Made of Honor") and even a new pair of "Traveling Pants." And that's only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

To whet your appetite and bring you up to speed, we've asked (and answered) 25 burning questions to introduce the 25 biggest films of the summer. Readers who crave even more information should be sure to peruse the attached article that covers, rather more succinctly, an additional 45 (!!) films. Find that list on C4 .

25 Questions

• Note: Where available, each film's MPAA rating has been included. All release dates given are subject to revision.

1.Say, aren't they going to make a fourth "Indiana Jones" movie?

The eagerly awaited sequel "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (May 22) has been in development for so long that 65-year-old Harrison Ford was just 22 when franchise godfather George Lucas rejected the first "Indy IV" screenplay treatment, by Orson Welles. In a related development, Ford's current companion, "Ally McBeal" star Calista Flockhart, hadn't been born yet.

OK, fine, that's an exaggeration. Believe it or not, Ford was just weeks away from his 39th birthday when "Raiders of the Lost Ark" introduced Indy to the world on June 12, 1981. (Flockhart, however, really is 24 years younger than her senior squeeze.) And even though the last film before this one, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," opened in 1989, Ford, Lucas and director Steven Spielberg have really only been blowing smoke about making another sequel for the last 10 years or so.

It only recently and, somewhat surprisingly, developed that, where there's smoke, there really is a new installment in the adventures of one of the most popular action heroes of all time. With a script by David Koepp -- who somehow made everyone happy after earlier attempts by Jeb Stuart, the late Jeffery Boam, M. Night Shyamalan, Jeff Nathanson and Frank Darabont all failed to please -- the long-rumored project finally began production last June 18.

Details of the movie's plot have been as closely guarded as the ancient relics Indy's always hunting for, but the story is set in 1957 -- 19 years after the events of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" -- and involves a race against the Soviets (taking over for the Nazis) to unlock the secrets of the titular artifact. Cate Blanchett co-stars as a Soviet operative, with Ray Winstone playing a fellow adventurer and young Shia LaBeouf cast as a street-smart "greaser" named Mutt (who might be Indy's son, although nobody's sayin' nothin').

Along with Ford, Karen Allen, who's been absent since "Raiders," returns as Indy's long-ago sweetheart Marion Ravenwood. Not returning: Sean Connery, who played Henry Jones Sr. -- and revealed the origin of the younger Dr. Jones's peculiar first name -- in "The Last Crusade." Ford quipped to the Associated Press earlier this year that, "As I told Sean, I'm getting old enough to play my own father, so we don't need him anymore."

2.Who's going to clean up all of this garbage?

The Earth is a mess in "WALL-E" (June 27), the latest film from Disney and Pixar. It's so much of a mess, in fact, after decades of unchecked consumerism, that nobody lives there anymore. If only more people had heeded the wisdom of Lloyd Dobler from the 1980s movie "Say Anything" when he said, "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."

Alas, all that's left on the third rock from the sun is the detritus of a global civilization hooked on bought, sold and processed things -- or in other words, junk, and lots of it. Well, that and dutiful WALL-E, the last functioning robot in a fleet of automated picker-uppers left behind by departing humanity to hopefully sweep up all of the refuse and make the place habitable again someday. WALL-E's been following his programming for hundreds of years, but the unexpected arrival of a scout robot named EVE convinces him to follow something new, strange and wonderful instead: his heart.

The newest Pixar creation was written and directed by Andrew Stanton, who previously directed "Finding Nemo" and had a hand in the writing of "Nemo," "Monsters, Inc.," both "Toy Story" movies and "A Bug's Life." The voice cast includes Fred Willard, Sigourney Weaver and comedian Jeff Garlin, along with, yes, a cameo by signature Pixar voice actor John Ratzenberger of "Cheers."

There's not as much for everyone to say, however, as in some past Pixar films. Much of the dialogue is supplied by mechanical sounds, some of which mimic words. Speaking at the annual comic book industry gathering Comic-Con, Stanton joked that, "I'm basically making 'R2-D2: The Movie.' " Apparently right down to the hiring of sound designer Ben Burtt, who worked in the same capacity on all six "Star Wars" movies.

3.Did C.S. Lewis ever write any Narnia books besides "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"?

Disney will be so glad you asked. Lewis, in fact, wrote six other Narnia books, and the direct sequel to "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" has now been turned into a crass and special effects-laden money-printing machi -- er, that is to say, turned into "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (May 16).

In the first book, the four Pevensie children (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucie) crossed over from Earth to the magical realm of Narnia, where they helped the noble lion Aslan to defeat the designs of the evil White Witch, became royalty and reigned in justice and harmony for many years until accidentally returning to Earth and finding themselves children once more. It all really did happen, however, as the kids discover upon being magically summoned back to Narnia, where hundreds of years have passed since their last visit, and the rightful ruler, Prince Caspian, has been driven from the throne by his usurping uncle.

Hunky Ben Barnes, who played young Dunstan Thorn, father of heroic Tristan, in the opening scenes of last summer's "Stardust," has the role of Dreamy McHunkybuns -- I mean, Caspian. If marketing for the movie is anything to judge by, it's Cheekbones von Flowinglocks -- whoops, Caspian -- and not the Pevensies (again played by William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley), who is the focus of most of the action.

There's a siege, a fateful combat of champions and a big battle in the book, so expect lots more of the "Lord of the Rings"-style action that dominated the finale of the first film. Expect lots more of Barnes, too, since the next two Narnia novels also feature Biceps le Pierceinggaze -- er, oh, never mind.

4. Wouldn't Magneto from the X-Men comic books (and movies) be the natural archenemy of a superhero named "Iron Man?"

It would make a lot of sense, or at least more sense than having Iron Man battle someone named "Iron Monger." I mean, how original is that? (Also, the Master of Magnetism and Iron Man are even from the same comic book universe, the library of titles owned by Marvel Comics. Come on, guys, think about the little things!) What is original about "Iron Man" (May 13 -- PG-13) is the casting of Oscar nominee and Hollywood scamp Robert Downey Jr. in the title role, the most outside-the-box superhero casting call since Michael Keaton was picked to play Batman.

Downey Jr. isn't the only versatile thespian in the film, which also has roles for fellow Oscar nominee Terrence Howard (as a military man who's the best pal of Iron Man's alter ego, Tony Stark), Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow (Stark's personal assistant, Virginia "Pepper" Potts) and four-time Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges, who plays -- sigh -- Iron Monger, aka Obadiah Stane.

(Of note to trivia mongers may be the revelation that Stane, in his Marvel Comics appearances, was allegedly revealed to be a non-practicing Latter-day Saint. The official character bio on file at the Marvel Comics Web site makes no mention of a religious affiliation, but does report that Stane's weapons technology corporation is headquartered in Salt Lake City.)

Interest in "Iron Man" has been driven by a series of widely praised trailers, so much so that the satire specialists at Web/print humor outlet The Onion prepared a breaking news alert under the headline "Wildly Popular 'Iron Man' Trailer To Be Adapted Into Full-Length Film." (Snicker.) "Iron Man" is the fourth feature film to be directed by actor Jon Favreau, best known for starring in "Swingers" with Vince Vaughn.

5.Can I dance? And can I jive? And, while I'm at it, can I have the time of my life?

Yes. Yes you can. You can totally see that girl, watch that scene, and be diggin' the dancing queen, all thanks to "Mamma Mia!" (July 18), the silver-screen version of the popular West End and Broadway musical based on the music of Swedish supergroup ABBA.

Like its theatrical antecedent, the movie is the story of a young girl named Sophie and her mother, Donna. The ladies live on an island off the coast of Greece, where Sophie is preparing to be married when she discovers entries in Mom's diary that may reveal the identity of her father. Only -- d'oh! -- there are three potential candidates. An American architect named Sam, a British banker named Harry and Bill, an Australian writer. Without telling Donna what's up, Sophie invites all three men to the wedding -- mamma mia, indeed.

Producers stocked the movie with reliable adult stars -- Meryl Streep is Donna, while two of her three long-lost Lotharios are played by Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth -- but took a chance, took a took a chance chance, on little-known Amanda Seyfried to play the plum part of Sophie. Seyfried's not a total unknown, thanks to having played Lilly Kane on the UPN series "Veronica Mars," as well as taking a central role in HBO's "Big Love," but she's not the draw that, for example, rumored alternative Mandy Moore would have been.

Multiple-Oscar winner Streep has had a few singing roles, most recently in the Robert Altman film "A Prairie Home Companion." Taking this part, however, is daring enough that, if the film's a hit, she could probably break her tie with Katharine Hepburn and grab a record-setting 13th Best Actress Oscar nomination.

6.Is this that challenging, uncompromising independent movie George Lucas always said he was going to make when he finished up with the "Star Wars" prequels?

While winding through the labyrinthine production of "The Phantom Menace," "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," the Father of the Modern Blockbuster talked about eventually cleansing his cinematic palate by working on something small and artistic that probably nobody would like. Since closing the book on "Star Wars" in 2005, however, Lucas has mostly worked on developing "Star Wars" TV properties like ... "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (Aug. 15), which is being given a theatrical release to launch the animated "Clone Wars" series on cable entities TNT and Cartoon Network.

Maybe Lucas thinks "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is a small and artistic film that probably nobody will like. Or perhaps he's just having too much fun with "Star Wars" to worry about anything else. Whatever the case, this newest incarnation of the durable "Star Wars" mythology jumps back to the period between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith" to tell some of the stories of the battles pitting Jedi Master Yoda and Jedi pals Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi against the evil Separatists.

Hey, wait a minute! George Lucas is making cartoon "Star Wars" movies? Does he know that Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill are still alive? Yo, G-Dawg! Quit dinking around with characters no one cares about and tell us the further adventures of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker!

7.Why is Bruce Wayne such a sourpuss? Wouldn't it be cool to live in the Batcave, have a butler to order around and fight crime with awesome gadgets?

Brooding about the cruelty of fate and the moral turpitude of the world is the vogue thing to do if you're a superhero -- even Mr. Incredible had issues -- but they don't call Batman "The Dark Knight" (July 18) for nothing. The Caped Crusader had superhero angst before superhero angst was cool.

The biggest news about "The Dark Knight," however, doesn't even pertain to Batman, or at least not directly. Abundantly promising young actor Heath Ledger died of an accidental prescription drug overdose just weeks after completing his work as Batman's most iconic nemesis, the enigmatic Joker. Speculation in the aftermath of Ledger's untimely demise peaked with the suggestion that playing the psychotic Arkham Asylum escapee had literally driven the rising star to an early grave.

Director Christopher Nolan successfully relaunched Warner Bros.'s creatively moribund "Batman" franchise with "Batman Begins" in 2005, and didn't hesitate to take the reins of that film's inevitable sequel. Christian Bale takes his second crack at the role of Batman, with Michael Caine (Bat-butler Alfred), Morgan Freeman (gadget guru Lucius Fox) and Gary Oldman (police Lt. James Gordon) also returning. New to the mix are Maggie Gyllenhaal, as attorney (and Bat-babe?) Rachel Dawes, and Aaron Eckhart, as secondary villain Harvey "Two-Face" Dent (a character played in "Batman Forever" by Tommy Lee Jones).

8.How come there are never any movies with sex in them?

All of the prudes in Hollywood --¬  all two or three of them -- are positively pink with embarrassment at the mere thought of a big-screen "Sex and the City" (May 30 -- R) romp. Better to not tell those folks that the cinematic follow-up to HBO's carnally knowledgeable series apparently worked hard to earn its MPAA rating of R "for strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language" -- not just nudity, mind you, that's graphic nudity.

While visions of Please-Don't-Describe-It-For-Us are dancing in your head, we'll move on to the plot of the movie, which reunites the four friends from the series -- played by Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon -- and begins with the almost-marriage of Carrie (Parker) and Mr. Big (Chris Noth), whose full name is revealed in the film's trailer to be John James Preston.

Carrie and her friends probably don't need tragedy to find drama in their lives, but it's at least been rumored that one of the foursome will die in the film. Since spunky, sassy Samantha (Cattrall) fought a prolonged, if ultimately winning, battle with breast cancer in Season Six of the original series, she's probably the prime candidate to bid the "City" a last adieu.

9.Is Robert Downey Jr. a black person?

No, but he plays one in the movies -- well, kind of. The action comedy "Tropic Thunder" (Aug. 15 -- R) is more of a vehicle for Ben Stiller, who also directed and co-wrote the film, but Downey Jr. has a hefty supporting role as world-class thespian Kirk Lazarus. Lazarus, Stiller's Tug Speedman and Jack Black's "Fats" Portnoy are actors cast in the most expensive Vietnam War movie ever made. Sgt. Osiris, the character in the movie-within-a-movie taken on by Lazarus, was originally written for a black actor, so the very particular Lazarus decides to dye his skin and stick to the original spirit of the script.

The plot thickens after the movie's director (Steve Coogan) and writer (Nick Nolte), deeply exasperated by their finicky cast, drop the actors into an actual jungle war zone and abandon them there. The boys think that it's all part of their preparation for filming, so they stay in character and play it cool. Well, at least at first.

Downey Jr. told Entertainment Weekly magazine that he knows it's a beyond-risky part, but that he hopes to win viewers over by committing to his character ... who's also, um, committing to his character. "If I didn't feel it was morally sound," he said, "or that it would be easily misinterpreted that I'm just C. Thomas Howell in ["Soul Man"], I would've stayed home." Also taking small roles are Tom Cruise (bearded, bald and encased in a fat suit, no less) as a studio exec and Matthew McConaughey as an odious agent.

10.How come nobody tossed out Steve Carell's name when they were trying to find the new James Bond?

As fans of "The Office" know, Carell's secret agent bona fides were hilariously laid out in the episode that exposed his Michael Scott character's fantasy of acting in an action movie as "Agent Michael Scarn." You might not actually want Carell romancing beautiful women and telling people how to make his martinis, but he ought to be ideal for a setup like that of "Get Smart" (June 20 -- PG-13), in which not-entirely-qualified Maxwell Smart, aka, Agent 86, takes on intelligence-gathering missions for the super-secret CONTROL agency.

The movie, which resurrects the TV series of the same name, revives the ongoing spy games between CONTROL and KAOS. Smart and his partner, the buxom Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), lead the charge against the wiles of KAOS spymaster Siegfried (Terence Stamp). Also on the side of good are Agent 23, played by former pro wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and The Chief, played by Oscar winner Alan Arkin.

The original series was created by the satire dream team of Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, who you might suppose would be less than pleased by the broadly comic buffoonery teased in the array of early "Get Smart" trailers. Carell told MTV, however, that the comedy elder statesmen had given the movie their "seal of approval." The filmmakers even wrote a cameo for the 81-year-old Brooks, who declined because of his Broadway commitments.

11.Does Hollywood know about that one song where "everybody was kung fu fighting?"

The real question is does Hollywood know about any other song -- ANY other song -- that has anything about kung fu in it? And which does Jamaican disco singer Carl Douglas get more of: royalties from moviemakers who use his song, or hate mail from film writers who are sick of it? "Kung Fu Panda" (June 6 -- PG) is the latest film to enter the Douglas Hall of Shame, but it surely won't be the last.

Jack Black lends his vocal gifts to the animated adventure comedy as a porcine panda bear named Po who might have the heart of a champion, or have a heart attack from overeating. The decidedly woebegone Po is the least of the pupils of master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), a much smaller red panda who must train a handful of animal practitioners in the ancient fighting styles to prepare them to defeat the renegade snow leopard Tai Lung.

12.Do you have to be a goody two shoes to be a superhero?

No. Unlike all of the faux-gruff-and-uncaring types on the superhero scene who actually have hearts of gold, however -- we're looking at you, Wolverine -- the title character of "Hancock" (July 2) is a true mess of a superhuman being. In addition to spending a lot of time drunken or dissolute, John Hancock freely administers the crack of his quip. Nobody likes or respects him much, until he saves the life of chipper publicist Ray Embrey. Wanting to do something nice for Hancock, Ray starts working to improve his public image. An ungrateful Hancock starts working, too -- on Ray's luscious wife, Mary.

Maybe megastar Will Smith decided to play Hancock just to prove that he doesn't always have to be Mr. Nice Guy. Or maybe Hancock realizes the error of his seedy ways ... probably in plenty of time save Ray and Mary's marriage. Come on, this is Will Smith. Will Smith! Jason Bateman plays Ray, with Charlize Theron as Mary.

13.Since one of the Wachowski Brothers became a woman, do we have to start calling them the Wachowski Siblings?

First of all, according to those who know him, Larry Wachowski, alleged by the San Francisco Chronicle in March 2006 to have completed a sex-change operation, is merely the victim of an imaginative slander brought on by an occasional habit of cross-dressing. Second of all, what does that have to do with "Speed Racer" (May 9 -- PG), which is a live-action adaptation of the old '70s cartoon (imported from Japan) about a fast-drivin' lad named Speed?

The connection is that the colorful PG-rated romp, which stars Emile Hirsch, is the first film to be written and directed by the enigmatic Wachowskis since they completed their groundbreaking trilogy of "Matrix" movies. The new film's story finds Speed teaming up with former rival Racer X (Matthew Fox), to compete in a grueling cross-country road rally called The Crucible.

14.Wait a second, didn't Ang Lee already make a movie about the Hulk?

Ang Lee's 2003 film "Hulk" divided fans and critics more or less straight down the middle. Some thought it was a groundbreaking, beautiful film -- Lee controversially used split-screen techniques to mimic the page layouts of a comic book -- and others thought it was slow, boring and pretentious. "The Incredible Hulk" (June 13) is a cinematic reboot of the popular Marvel Comics character that throws out the earlier film, much as "Batman Begins" disregarded prior "Batman" films made by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher.

The new movie is directed by Louis Leterrier, best known for making "The Transporter" and "The Transporter 2," starring Jason Statham. Edward Norton takes over the dual role of Bruce Banner/the Hulk from Eric Bana, with Tim Roth stepping in as an Army Special Forces soldier who becomes our hulking hero's main antagonist. Zak Penn wrote the film's script, but his work was reportedly overhauled by the famously persnickety Norton.

15.What IS it that happens in Vegas, anyway?

You mean besides gambling, Elvis impersonation and cheap buffet food? In the movies, it's tying the knot, which is the "what" that befalls Jack (Ashton Kutcher) and Joy (Cameron Diaz) in "What Happens in Vegas" (May 9). It's a one-night fling for two downtrodden rubes blowing off steam, but before they can go their separate ways, Jack wins a $3 million slot payout ... using Joy's quarter.

A divorce court judge orders the newlyweds to serve six months of "hard marriage" before they can divide up their assets. At first, they deliberately antagonize each other, each hoping to goad the other one into voluntarily walking away from the marital jackpot. What happens in silly romantic comedies, however, is true love, so the court order gradually makes our two lovebirds realize that, if nothing ever lasts forever, then what's forever for?

16.What does it take to get a sequel around here?

The original "Hellboy" cost $66 million, opened in the typically up-for-grabs month of March, and raked in a whopping ... $59 million. The overseas take was decent ($39 million), however, so respected writer and director Guillermo del Toro got $72 million to make "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" (July 11), returning us to the ongoing battle of the offbeat superhero and his boys at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Defense against what? Against, you know, freaky stuff. All of the freaky stuff there is, it turns out, as the legions of fantastic creatures most people never see band together to take the planet for themselves.

17.Do kids really say the darndest things?

Bucking the trend of prodding young people to become preening twits by filming their interactions in a controlled environment (think "The Real World"), "American Teen" (July 25 -- PG-13) tags along after four average teenagers going through the everyday motions of high school in Warsaw, Ind.: a cheerleader, a basketball star, a band geek and a self-proclaimed outcast who follows her own rulebook. Nannette Burstein's unassuming documentary was for many the toast of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where Paramount Vantage acquired it for a cool $1 million.

18.Should we be afraid of the trees?

Something is out to get us in "The Happening" (June 13), the latest horror to spring out of the fruitful imagination of M. Night Shyamalan. Once a force to be reckoned with, the still-young (37) writer-director-producer has been on such a cold streak in recent years that nobody in Hollywood would fund his spec script for "The Green Effect." The Philadelphia native humbly retouched his original offering (changing its title in the process) and attracted the interest of 20th Century Fox, which struck a co-financing deal with India-based film and television group UTV. Mark Wahlberg stars as a high school science teacher fleeing from a mysterious global environmental crisis.

19.Didn't Brendan Fraser's first two "Mummy" movies gross, like, $800 million worldwide?

It's $848,946,680, to be exact, but the point is how on Earth has Hollywood let seven years go by since the last time they backed the money truck up to the ticket counter of the nearest multiplex? Nobody expects "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (Aug. 1) to be good, but most of us figured it was inevitable, and, well, here it is. Just not nearly as soon as you would have thought. The story shifts from Egypt to China, the direction has been handed off from Stephen Sommers to Rob Cohen, and Rachel Weisz has fled the scene and been replaced by Maria Bello. Fraser is still with us, however, so somebody grab a knife and let's cut the cheese.

20.How come nobody respects Harrison Ford's acting?

The graying action star apparently asked himself the same question before throwing in his lot with writer and director Wayne Kramer ("The Cooler") on "Crossing Over" (Aug. 22), a politically charged wide-canvas drama about illegal immigration. Playing a hard-nosed immigration agent, Ford is bound to be the movie's top draw, but Kramer managed to also attract Sean Penn, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta, and may have struck gold by catching fast-rising youths Jim Sturgess (recently the star of "21") and Summer Bishil (star of the controversial, yet-to-be-released "Towelhead") on their way up the showbiz ladder.

21.If you are a man, and Angelina Jolie is trying to kidnap you, wouldn't you just, er, play along?

Maybe it's finally over with Brad Pitt, you know? The Oscar-winning actress and freelance orphan protector gets back in touch with her butt-kicking skills in "Wanted" (June 27), which finds her shanghaiing and mentoring an unassuming office drone who doesn't realize that he's actually a genetically gifted assassin. The movie's supercharged trailer is the first peek for most filmgoers at the distinctive style of Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov, noted in independent film circles for his fantasy films "Night Watch" and "Day Watch."

22.What are the odds of somebody releasing a comedy about presidential politics in an election year?

The Democratic National Convention is being shown in theaters? (Chortle.) This Hillary vs. Obama thing will totally have blown over before you can see "Swing Vote" (Aug. 1 -- PG-13). (That is to say, probably. Almost certainly. Then again, the DNC won't begin until Aug. 25.) At any rate, the titular dilemma of this breezy Disney film -- one man's choice will settle an entire presidential election -- falls into the lap of lovably imperfect Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner), a small-town New Mexico dad. Also appearing: Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer and George Lopez.

23.Can even Judd Apatow make Adam Sandler funny again?

It could be the biggest challenge yet faced by the celebrated producer and humor alchemist. The J-Man's on-again, off-again cinematic Midas touch won't be required for "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" (June 6) to earn buckets of cash, but it would be nice if he could relocate Sandler's long-absent knack for comedy. Riffing on his Jewish heritage (a frequent Sandler theme), the "Click" star plays an Israeli assassin who decides to live for himself and become a hairstylist in New York City. Oy.

24.Did we ever figure out where we stand with that conspiracy by alien beings to colonize Earth?

Must have happened, somehow, since the plot of "The X Files: I Want to Believe" (July 25) reportedly is not connected to the extraterrestrial paranoia that drove the long-running series during its '90s heyday (and carried through the plot of the first "X Files" movie, which plugged the gap between Seasons Five and Six). In the new film, Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) are reunited, long after the shuttering of the FBI department they once staffed, to probe a series of mysterious disappearances. Maybe their investigation will uncover Adam Sandler's knack for comedy.

25. Remember that one movie when Eddie Murphy played all of those different characters?

Whether or not you think it's funny, Murphy apparently loves the multiple characters gimmick, and has no intention of letting it rest, ever again, except for in "Shrek" movies. In "Meet Dave" (July 11), Murphy appears as the alien commander of a spaceship visiting Earth. The ship looks just like ... Eddie Murphy, so -- whew! -- saved a bundle on special effects there. The aliens are on a mission to help their planet, but after the ship gets a crush on an Earth female (Elizabeth Banks), well, shoot, there's not even a section in the owner's manual for THAT. See, aliens would never be this incompetent in "The X Files."

Also Coming Soon

Aside from the obvious big, medium and little blockbusters, there is a pile, a mound, a veritable heap of other movies hoping to score some ticket sales this summer. Here's a brief look at some of the ones to watch for. Where available, each film's MPAA rating has been included.

May

"Made of Honor" (May 2) OK, so Patrick Dempsey is a man who gets asked to be the maid of honor at his unofficial girlfriend's wedding. Only, he can't be a "maid," silly, he's a man! So he's the "made" of honor. You know, because he's a man and men are ... uh. Just see the movie, OK? (PG-13)

"Redbelt" (May 2) David Mamet wrote and directed this movie, which takes place in the competitive world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired! (R)

"Son of Rambow" (May 2) Socially inept British kids discover that the key to existence is WWJD? What Would John Rambo Do, that is. You were expecting somebody else? (PG-13)

"The Fall" (May 9) An actor injured while performing a stunt spins a fantastic tall tale to trick a young girl into stealing a fatal dosage of painkillers for him. And we wonder why kids don't trust us.

"Noise" (May 9) A regular guy (Tim Robbins) who's ticked off because of all the noise pollution in the world fights back. You think I'm kidding.

"Padre Nuestro" (May 16) A Mexican immigrant is searching New York for the father he's never met. Only, what if another immigrant steals his story and finds Dad first?

"Postal" (May 22) Remember those old commercials where Foster's is "Australian for beer?" "Uwe Boll" is apparently German for "keeps making movies despite getting more lambasted than lamb chops at a barbecue." (R)

"The Children of Huang Shi" (May 22) During the Japanese occupation of China before World War II, a British journalist and an Aussie nurse save some Chinese orphans. (R)

"The Strangers" (May 30) What if you heard a nighttime noise and there really was someone in your house? (R)

"The Foot Fist Way" (May 30) "Derek, have you got your cup on? Because I will hit you there." (R)

June

"Mongol" (June 6) Summer is when a young Genghis Khan's fancy turns to conquering. (R)

"The Promotion" (June 6) There are two middle managers at a grocery store, but there's only room for one of them on the next rung up the ladder.

"When Did You Last See Your Father" (June 6) Colin Firth stars as (sound of women ceasing to read the description and preparing to purchase tickets). (PG-13)

"Encounters at the End of the World" (June 13) Acclaimed German filmmaker Werner Herzog switches into his documentary mode for a trip to Antarctica.

"The Love Guru" (June 20) Mike Myers is an Indian spiritual teacher, while Jessica Alba (sound of men ceasing to read the description and preparing to look up movie photos online).

"Religulous" (June 20) Bill Maher thinks "religion" is "ridiculous." See what he did there? From the guy who directed "Borat."

July

"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" (July 2) Based on a doll toy created by Mattel, this Depression-era crime caper stars Abigail Breslin attempting to uncannily resemble AnnaSophia Robb. Seriously. Go to americangirl.com/movie and see if you don't think, "Hey, it's that kid from 'Bridge to Terabithia.' " It's eerie. (G)

"The Wackness" (July 3) A teenage drug dealer trades weed for therapy. High times ensue. (R)

"Space Chimps" (July 18) Animation, check. Monkeys, check. Outer space, check. Ninety minutes for Mom to shop at the mall in peace, check.

"The Longshots" (July 25) Limp Bizkit himself, Fred Durst, directs this fact-inspired film about the first girl ever to play in a Pop Warner football tournament.

"Brideshead Revisited" (July 25) A classic British story about World War II-era British people doing British things in a very British manner. (PG-13)

"Baghead" (July 25) Aspiring independent filmmakers decide to make a horror movie ... while brainstorming at a lonely cabin in the forest. Hmmm. (R)

"Step Brothers" (July 25) A 39-year-old (Will Ferrell) who lives with his mom and a 40-year-old (John C. O'Reilly) mooching off his dad become siblings after their parents get married. Does this mean they have to share the basement?

August

"He's Just Not That Into You" (Aug. 1) Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly and Drew Barrymore all appear in the same movie together. Men's heads explode.

"The Rocker" (Aug. 1) A leftover rock drummer's discarded dreams get a new lease on life when his nephew's garage band needs ... a new skins-basher! The first feature film vehicle for Dwight Schrute himself, actor Rainn Wilson.

"Choke" (Aug. 1) There have GOT to be easier ways to con people than by pretending to have something stick in your throat so that you can forge an emotional connection to the Good Samaritans who "save" you from strangling. (R)

"Frozen River" (Aug. 1) The path to opportunity for illegal immigrants is a wintry car ride over the frozen St. Lawrence River. (R)

"Midnight Meat Train" (Aug. 1) I think we'd all feel a little bit safer taking the noon meat train, thanks. (R)

"Journey 3-D" (Aug. 8) What's good enough for U2 is good enough for ... Brendan Fraser?! Sorry, Steve Perry -- er, Steve Augeri, ah, Jeff Scott Soto, that is to say, Arnel Pineda -- fans, this "Journey" is to the center of the Earth. (PG)

"Pineapple Express" (Aug. 8) The hits keep on coming after a process server grows overly fond of a rare brand of ganja. (R)

"The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" (Aug. 8) What happens when the traveling pants can't stay zipped? You get a film rated ... (PG-13)

"Hell Ride" (Aug. 8) As one reviewer has written of "Hell Ride," "Sometimes the crap of the past is just plain crap, and it doesn't smell any fresher when you shovel it into 2008 and call it a throwback, or a celebration." All righty, then. (R)

"Henry Poole is Here" (Aug. 15) A despondent man's desire to be involved in life is restored by an accident of fate ... and faith. Shhh! Don't tell Bill Maher! (PG)

"The International" (Aug. 15) Evil world bankers get what's coming to them.

"Mirrors" (Aug. 15) People who mess with evil mirrors get what's coming to them.

"Wild Child" (Aug. 15) A snotty American (Emma Roberts, niece of Julia) gets sent to a British boarding school. But do they straighten her out, or does she corrupt them?! (PG-13)

"Towelhead" (Aug. 15) An Arab-American teen is a temptation to her redneck neighbor. (R)

"The Accidental Husband" (Aug. 22) Colin Firth stars in (there they go again). (PG-13)

"Bangkok Dangerous" (Aug. 22) The hits keep on coming after a professional assassin gets drawn into a web of crime. (R)

"Fly Me to the Moon 3-D" (Aug. 22) Animation, check. Outer space, check. Flies, check. Hmmm, we've been down this road before ... (G)

"The House Bunny" (Aug. 22) Because haven't we all wanted to see socially awkward sorority girls learn life lessons from an evicted Playboy Mansion bunny?

"Babylon A.D." (Aug. 29) Vin Diesel gets back into action cinema. Because it's about dang time. Also because he realized he'd only been in three movies since 2003. (PG-13)

"Hamlet 2" (Aug. 29) To sleep, perchance to dream -- and then to, um, wake up again.

"Traitor" (Aug. 29) Not a thriller about an operative whose loyalty is above reproach.

"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (Aug. 29) Woody Allen makes his 467th film starring Scarlett Johansson. Because no matter how old you get, you always want to work with the most, er, talented people in your profession.