The hot weather will be with us soon, and with it some of the year’s biggest blockbusters. From superhero epics to CGI-fuelled actioners, cutesy animations to big-budget sequels, there should definitely be something for everyone. Highlights for summer 2011 include the final cinematic episode of the Harry Potter series, comedies from the likes of Steve Carell and Jim Carrey, animated sequels to Cars and Kung-Fu Panda, and even another prequel to the X-Men films. Serious movie buffs should probably look to Super 8 from JJ Abrams and The Tree of Life by Terrence Malick for their entertainment, while those after mind-blowing special effects will no doubt enjoy the new Transformers film or Green Lantern. The summer movie season seems to keep getting earlier, with many studios issuing their biggest releases of the year as early as May, but in the Middle East it also extends to a bit later too – with Ramadan falling in August, a lot of releases have been pushed back until September (at time of press, at least). That means waiting a little bit longer for Captain America: The First Avenger and Cowboys and Aliens, which promise to be two of this year’s highlights.
Note: Release dates for Doha cinemas are subject to change

1 Fast Five
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson
The fifth entry into this juggernaut of a road-racing franchise sees Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson joining regulars Vin Diesel and Paul Walker for more stunts, scrapes and prangs in souped-up muscle cars. This time around the gang is trying to outwit FBI agents and Brazilian drug lords. It also brings back minor characters from earlier in the series, and will be the first instalment to be released in IMAX.

2 The Hangover Part 2
Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms
Clearly having learned nothing from their bachelor party antics the first time around, the hapless trio regroups and heads to Thailand, where another of their pending nuptials is celebrated. The trailer shows shaved heads, tattooed faces and a monkey, and we are promised another batch of celebrity cameo appearances – with Mike Tyson allegedly returning (as himself), and Liam Neeson as an Irish tattooist.

3 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane
More high seas swashbuckling adventure in an instalment that seems to focus more on Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow character. He meets a female pirate from his past, Angelica (Cruz), who takes him on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth. The film is based on the novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers (adapted to fit the film franchise), which was also the inspiration for the Secret of Monkey Island computer games.

4 Thor
Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins
Kenneth Branagh leaves his Shakespearean roots to direct this Marvel Comics superhero fantasy epic. Musclebound Chris Hemsworth stars in the lead as the hammer-wielding Norse god of thunder, banished from his homeworld and forced to live amongst humans, where he establishes himself as a modern day hero. Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman and Idris Elba all have supporting roles.

5 Cars 2
Owen Wilson, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer (voices)
Cars is the second animated Pixar film after Toy Story to get a sequel. Fact. Owen Wilson reprises his role as Lightning McQueen, heading overseas with tow truck friend Mater to take part in the first ever World Grand Prix – to determine the world’s fastest car. There are apparently a few gags about driving on the wrong side of the road in certain countries, and that’s all we know.

6 Green Lantern
Ryan Reynolds, Mark Strong, Blake Lively
Ryan Reynolds stars in the title role as the popular ring-wearing superhero, under the direction of Casino Royale’s Martin Campbell. We meet a powerful force known as the Green Lantern Corps, in place to protect the galaxy, with each member wearing a ring that grants them superpowers. Hal Jordan (Reynolds) is the first human to be chosen as a member of the corps, and must save the universe from a villain called Parallax.

7 Kung-Fu Panda 2
Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie (voices)
The comedic overweight computer-animated panda, Po (Black), returns, along with Master Shifu (Hoffman) and the rest of the Furious Five. This time they team up with another group of kung-fu animals (voiced by Jean-Claude Van Damme, among others) to combat the evil emperor peacock Lord Shen (Gary Oldman). The first one was highly enjoyable, so expect more of the same.

8 Monte Carlo
Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, Leighton Meester
One with mass appeal for teenage girls, with ex-Disney favourite Gomez and Gossip Girl regular Meester in the leads. Three friends from the US save for a trip to Paris, which takes an unusual turn when one of them is mistaken for a British heiress. Suddenly they are launched into the world of celebrity, paparazzi and glamour, with their adventures taking them to Monte Carlo. Could happen to anyone.

9 Super 8
Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka, Kyle Chandler
The cast you may not recognise but, with Steven Spielberg producing and JJ Abrams writing and directing, it’s sure to be a must-see. Not much is known, however, other than it being set in 1979, with some kids trying to make a movie on a Super 8 camera. It all takes a turn for the worst, however, when they encounter the wreckage of a train crash and the alien monster inside it. Sounds like Abrams’ other camera movie, Cloverfield.

10 Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Shia LeBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson
Those robots in disguise are back! And so are most of the regular human actors running around trying to dodge the CGI – apart from Megan Fox (sob), which means that Shia LeBeouf’s character will be getting a new love interest. The plot for this one involves an old spacecraft from the Transformers’ homeworld being discovered on the moon, leading to a race between the Autobots and Decepticons to reach it.