We know you’re dying to know when your favorite animated and CG-heavy movies are hitting the theaters. We update this partial list regularly as studios confirm the release dates. AMO is your one-stop information source on all things animated–and that includes all the movies in the pipeline. If you have any updates or changes, please e-mail us.
Fully Animated
Doogal ‘ Weinstein Co., Feb. 24
Directors: Jean Duval, Frank Passingham, Dave Borthwick
Starring: Keenan Thompson, Jon Stewart, William H. Macy, Chevy Chase, Whoopi Goldberg
Trailer: AOLtrack.com
Synopsis: Still glowing from the success of Hoodwinked!, the Weinstein Co. strikes while the animated iron is hot with a CG feature inspired by the beloved 1960s British series The Magic Roundabout. In this feature-length adventure, sugar-loving pup Doogal and his crew of unlikely heroes embark on a dangerous journey to fend off Zeebad’s evil forces and save the earth from the deep-freezing power of the three magic diamonds.
Mobile Suit Z Gundam 3 ‘ Bandai/Shouchiku, March 4 (Japan)
Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino
Starring: Nobuo Tobita, Shuichi Ikeda, Yoshiko Sakakibara
Official Site: www.z-gundam.net
Synopsis: The last installment in the trilogy remake of the 50 original episodes in the Zeta Gundam series. Mankind has immigrated to a space colony along the earth’s orbit where a corrupt government has established control with military force. Inevitably, chaos interrupts the solar system’s precarious peace.
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown ‘ Fox, March 31
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Starring: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary
Official Site: www.iceagemovie.com
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: The sequel to the 2002 hit finds Diego, Manny and Sid scrambling in the post-Ice Age meltdown to warn all of the valley animals before they’re hit with a major flood.
Asterix and the Vikings ‘ M6/A Film, April 12 (France)
Directors: Stefan Fjeldmark, Jesper Moller
Starring: Sean Astin, Evan Rachel Wood, Paul Giamatti, Brad Garrett
Trailer: obelix.com
Synopsis: The latest Asterix and Obelix film sets out to capture the magic of Goscinny and Albert Uderzo’s comics that previous movie adaptations of the B.C.-era odd couple have lacked. This time Asterix and Obelix must come to the rescue when the Vikings kidnap Justforkix. Things get interesting when they realize that Justforkix has fallen for ABBA, the daughter of the Viking’s leader.
The Wild ‘ Disney, April 14
Director: Steve ‘Spaz’ Williams
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Eddie Izzard, Chris Edgerly
Official Site: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/thewild/
Trailer: sitestream.com
Synopsis: When a teenage lion is accidentally shipped from the New York Zoo to Africa, his animal pals must band together to try and bring him home. Let the Madagascar comparisons begin!
Over the Hedge ‘ DreamWorks, May 19
Directors: Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick
Starring: Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, William Shatner
Official Site: www.overthehedgemovie.com
Traller: apple.com
Synopsis: In this adaptation of T. Lewis’ and Michael Fry’s forest crittertastic comic strip, R.J. the raccoon introduces his new animal friends to the feasting possibilities available in a new suburban development. They soon realize, however, that the lifted leftovers from humans may come with a price as their comfortable forest life is threatened.
Cars ‘ Disney/Pixar, June 9
Director: John Lasseter
Starring: Owen Wilson, Cheech Marin, Paul Newman, Bob Costas
Official Site: www.disney.go.com/disneypictures/cars/
Synopsis: This automobile melodrama centers on Lightning McQueen, a hotshot stock car who gets held up in Radiator Springs on his way to the big race. CG-animated racecars? We should have seen this coming. But, we’re breathing easy because the toon specialists over at Pixar are just the kind of people you want behind an animated body shop.
Garfield 2 ‘ Fox, June 16
Director: Tim Hill
Starring: Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Billy Connolly
Synopsis: Ever thought Jim Davis’ orange tabby would do well with a British flair? Well, in Fox’s sequel, Jon Arbuckle moves to England with and brings along his infamous fat cat, who ends up getting the royal treatment. Fish and chips always seemed a better match for him than lasagna anyway.
A Scanner Darkly ‘ Warner Indie, July 7
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder, Robert Downey Jr.
Official Site: http://wip.warnerbros.com/index.html?site=ascannerdarkly
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: Based on the drug experiences of Philip K. Dick (author of the novel), A Scanner Darkly visits the O.C. suburbs in the midst of a paranoid future where the controlling government forces friends to spy on each other. Richard Linklater delivers a rotoscoped commentary highlighting the pitfalls of the war on drugs.
Monster House ‘ Sony, July 21
Director: Gil Kenan
Starring: Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke
Official Site: www.monsterhouse-movie.com/
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: There goes the neighborhood! Three teens realize that their neighbor’s house is actually a true-blue monster in this latest pic to utilize the ImageMovers Performance Capture system that helped producer Robert Zemeckis bring previous effort The Polar Express to the screen.
Ant Bully ‘ Warner Bros., July 28
Director: John A. Davis
Starring: Zach Tyler, Nicolas Cage, Alan Cumming
Official Site: http://theantbully.warnerbros.com
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: This one will make you think twice about how you treat ants. Lucas Nickle floods an ant colony and the next thing he knows he’s the size of an insect and repairing the destruction he wreaked from above.
Barnyard ‘ Paramount, Aug.4
Director: Steve Oedekerk
Starring: Kevin James, Courteney Cox, Danny Glover, Rob Paulsen
Official Site: www.BarnyardMovie.com
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: Find out what happens when the farmer’s not around. These cows are determined to have a good time, but eventually someone needs to get a handle on the laissez-faire barn crew, and that responsibility falls on Otis.
Hair High ‘ E.D. Distribution, October 18 [New York platform rollout]
Written and Directed by Bill Plympton
Synopsis: After getting killed in a car accident, two teens return to their prom in this wonderful 2D animated Gothic homage to America circa 1950s.
Voices: Keith Carradine, David Carradine, Beverly D’Angelo, Sarah Silverman, Martha Plympton, Justin Lang, Matt Groening, Craig Bierko, Dermot Mulroney.
Everyone’s Hero ‘ Fox, Sep. 15
Directors: Colin Brady, Christopher Reeve, Dan St. Pierre
Starring: Jake T. Austin, Brian Dennehy, Whoopi Goldberg, William H. Macy
Official Site: www.yankeeirving.com
Synopsis: Yankee Irving undertakes a thousand-mile journey to New York to help Babe Ruth and the Yankees win the World Series. Christopher Reeve was working on this inspiring tale of love between a father and son at the time of his death.
Renaissance ‘ Miramax Films, Sept. 22.
Director: Christian Volckman
Starring: Daniel Craig, Catherine McCormack, Ian Holm
Official Site: www.renaissance-lefilm.com/accueil.htm
Synopsis: This black & white, neo-noir, sci-fi crime thriller is set in Paris in the year 2054. The city has become a labyrinth where all actions are monitored and recorded as an all-powerful corporation infuses its products and messages into all aspects of human life. The pic has drawn comparisons to Blade Runner and Sin City.
Open Season ‘ Sony, Sep. 29
Directors: Roger Allers, Jill Culton, Anthony Stacchi
Starring: Debra Messing, Billy Connolly, Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher
Official Site: www.sonypictures.com/movies/openseason
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: A deer and a domesticated grizzly become fast friends hiding out together in the forest during hunting season.
Romeo & Juliet: Sealed With a Kiss ‘ Indican Pictures, Oct. 27 (Limited)
Director: Phil Nibbelink
Starring: Daniel Trippett, Patricia Trippett, Chip Albers, Michael Toland, Stephen Goldberg, Chanelle Nibblelink
Official Site: www.romeoandjulietfilm.com
Synopsis: Shakespeare’s classic yarn of star-crossed lovers from two warring familes is retold with seals in this hand-drawn 2D feature made almost entirely by one person .
Flushed Away ‘ Dreamworks, Nov. 3
Directors:David Bowers, Sam Fell
Starring: Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis
Synopsis: A posh-living uptown rat gets a new taste of reality when he’s flushed down the toilet and comes out the other end in London’s sewers. This project is the first CG-animated feature from the team at Aardman.
Happy Feet ‘ Warner Bros., Nov. 17
Director: George Miller
Starring: Carlos Alazraqui, Denise Blasor, Hugh Jackman, Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy
Official Site: www.happyfeetmovie.com
Synopsis: From the playful mind of Babe: Pig in the City director George Miller, this melody-filled penguin tale is set in Antartica, home of the Emperor penguins who find their soul mates through song. When Mumble is born, it turns out he can’t sing but has major skills when it comes to tap-dancing.
Nocturna ‘ Filmax, Dec. (Spain)
Directors: Adr’a Garcia, Victor Maldonado
Official Site: www.filmaxanimation.com
Trailer: filmaxinternational.com
Synopsis: It’s true, there is a rhyme and a reason to the things that go bump in the night. Nocturna brings the audience to an orphanage where the days are boring, but the nights hold a certain magic. When Tim looks from the orphanage rooftop and discovers that his favorite star is missing, he sets out to track it down, uncovering the answers behind the curious mysteries of the night. Check out the beautiful art and character designs, which are reminiscent of Tim Burton’s works.
Arthur and the Invisibles (Arthur and the Minimoys) – The Weinstein Company, Dec. 29
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: David Bowie, Snoop Dogg, Madonna, Mia Farrow
Official Site: www.arthur-movie.com
Synopsis: In pursuit of hidden treasure that will save his grandfather’s house from destruction, young Arthur ventures in to the land of the Minimoys, tiny people living in a harmonious society.
2007 ANIMATION
Happily N’Ever After ‘ Lionsgate, Jan. 5
Director: Paul J. Bolger
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr.
Synopsis: When evil stepmother Frieda (Weaver) leads a gang of evil-doers on a mission to take over Fairy Tale Land, Ella (Gellar) becomes the face of the resistance effort.
TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) ‘ Warner Bros., March 23, 2007
Director: Kevin Munroe
Starring: Mako (voice of Splinter)
Official Site: http://tmnt.warnerbros.com/
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/teenagemutantninjaturtles/
Tagline: ‘Raising Shell in 2007’
Synopsis: The turtles are back and needed more than ever when mysterious events plague New York City. Unfortunately, Michelangelo, Raphael and Donetello have lost themselves and their direction as Turtles. Now it is up to Leonardo and Master Splinter to unite the Turtles and restore order in the city.
Meet the Robinsons ‘ Disney, Mar. 30, 2007
Director: Stephen J. Anderson
Starring: Jamie Isaac Conde, Spencer Fox, Jordan Fry
Synopsis: Disney delivers an animated take on William Joyce’s fabulous novel A Day with Wilbur Robinson. When a boy prodigy creates a machine capable of recovering lost memories, he accidentally travels to the future and meets a family that ends up depending on his bright mind for their survival.
Foodfight! ‘ Lionsgate, March 2007
Director: Lawrence Kasanoff
Starring: Charlie Sheen, Hilary Duff, Chris Kattan, Eva Longoria
Official Site: www.foodfight.com
Synopsis: Ever wondered what happened in the grocery store when the lights went out and the doors were locked? Utter chaos reigns supreme when the food is left alone at night.
Persepolis‘ Sony Pictures Classic, Spring 2007
Directors: Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Gena Rowlands, Chiara Mastroianni, Danielle Darrieux, Simon Abkarian
Synopsis: Based on Satrapi’s best-selling graphic novels, this 2D animated, black-and-white film follows the coming-of-age of a spirited young girl during the tumultuous days of the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979. Produced by Marc-Antoine Robert and Xavier Rigault of 2.4.7. Films, Kathleen Kennedy of Kennedy Marshall and France 3 Cinema.
Official Site: www.sonyclassics.com/persepolis
Shrek the Third ‘ Dreamworks, May 18
Director(s): Chris Miller, Raman Hui
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz
Official Site: http://www.shrekthethird.com/
Synopsis: In the wake of the death of Fiona’s father, Shrek is expected to step up and wear the crown. When he refuses this responsibility, he sets out with Fiona, Puss and the trusty Donkey on a search for a new monarch that leads to King Arthur.
Surf’s Up ‘ Columbia, June 8
Director(s): Ash Brannon, Chris Buck
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, Dana Belben
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/surfsup/index.html
Synopsis: If you didn’t know surfing was invented by penguins, Surf’s Up will set the record straight. In this CG feature, a documentary film crew takes audiences behind the scenes of the annual Penguin World Surfing Championships.
Ratatouille ‘ Disney/Pixar, June 29
Director(s): Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava
Starring: Brad Garrett, Patton Oswalt, Janeane Garofolo, David Schwimmer
Official Site: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/ratatouille
Synopsis: Ratatouille, a rat with a taste for gourmet food, lives in an upscale Parisian restaurant managed by an eccentric chef, constantly risking his life in the pursuit of fine dining. Who says a rat can’t enjoy French cuisine?
The Simpsons Movie ‘ Fox, July 27
Director: David Silverman
Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Minnie Driver, Kelsey Grammer
Synopsis: Springfield must be evacuated when Homer screws up at the power plant and poisons the entire town. The townspeople then form an angry mob and come after the entire Simpson clan.
Bee Movie ‘ DreamWorks, Nov. 2
Director(s): Steve Hickner, Simon J. Smith
Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick
Official Site: http://animation.dreamworksfansite.com/beemovie
Synopsis: When Barry B. Benson the bee graduates from college he finds himself disillusioned by his only career path: making honey. Barry then ventures outside the hive where he is saved by Vanessa, a kind New York City florist. As their relationship grows, Barry finds out the truth about the way humans use honey.
Beowulf ‘ Paramount, Nov. 16
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Sharisse Baker- Bernard, Richard Burns, Chris Coppola
Official Site: www.beowulfmovie.com
Synopsis: Legendary Scandinavian warrior Beowulf must fight and kill the monster Grendel when he terrorizes towns across the land.
Live-Action/CG 2006
The Pink Panther ‘ MGM, Feb. 10
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Beyonc’ Knowles
Official Site: www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepinkpanther
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: This much-anticipated prequel to the original 1964 Peter Sellers’ classic offers Clousseau ‘ la Steve Martin trying to solve the mystery behind the murder of a famous soccer player and the theft of the prized Pink Panther diamond. Look out for the Bob Kurtz animated gag-happy opening cartoon featuring the beloved cool cat.
V for Vendetta ‘ Warner Bros., March 17
Director: James McTeigue
Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea
Official Site: vforvendetta.warnerbros.com
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: Set in a futuristic Great Britain that has become a totalitarian state in the aftermath of Germany’s World War victory, this actioner has a masked revolutionary known as V joining the fight against the oppressive government. Matrix creators the Wachowski brothers wrote the screenplay adaptation of Alan Moore’s and David Lloyd’s call-to-rebellion graphic novel.
Mission: Impossible III ‘ Paramount, May 5
Director: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Keri Russell
Official Site: www.missionimpossible.com
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: Acclaimed Alias and Lost creator J.J. Abrams stepped up to the plate to helm this secret agent nail-biter. After overcoming a series of production delays, Paramount releases a third round of adventures with Ethan Hunt.
Poseidon ‘ Warner Bros., May 12
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Jacinda Barrett
Official Site: http://poseidonmovie.warnerbros.com
Synopsis: A remake of the unforgettable 1972 ocean catastrophe The Poseidon Adventure, this film tracks the perils of the passengers on board a luxury ocean liner that has been capsized by a monstrous tidal wave.
The Da Vinci Code ‘ Columbia, May 19
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen
Official Site: www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: Dan Brown’s novel made an impressive journey to the top of book charts, and with Tom Hanks and Ron Howard on board for the feature adaptation, it looks like the mystery thriller is sure to bring in big numbers at the box office. After an elderly curator is murdered in the Louvre, symbol expert Robert Langdon is called in to decipher a riddle left at the scene. The story gains momentum with the discovery that clues are embedded in Da Vinci paintings.
X3: X-Men 3 ‘ Fox, May 26
Director: Brett Ratner
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammer
Official Site: www.x3movie.com
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: Professor Charles Xavier’s X-Men must reckon with the challenges of evolution. A cure is discovered to treat mutations as former teammate Jean Grey is resurrected as the Dark Phoenix, a threat to the other mutants as well as the human race.
Superman Returns ‘ Warner Bros., June 28
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth
Official Site: http://supermanreturns.warnerbros.com
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: After more than ten years of development hell that has seen directors come and go, Warner Bros.’s Man of Steel sequel finally hits the big screen. But can Superman find a place in a society that has learned to live without him? And has Lois Lane moved on with her life as well? Only time and a muscle-bound newcomer (Brandon Routh) will tell.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest ‘ Disney, July 7
Director: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Official Site and Trailer: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates/
Synopsis: Depp puts on his sea legs once again as Captain Jack Sparrow, who is facing eternal damnation unless he can settle a blood debt with Davey Jones and his ghostly flying Dutchmen. Of course, this throws a wrench in Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann’s wedding plans as they find themselves in the middle of Jack’s afterlife quagmire.
Lady in the Water ‘ Warner Bros., July 21
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard
Official Site: http://ladyinthewatermovie.warnerbros.com
Trailer: apple.com
Synopsis: Based on a bedtime story M. Night Shyamalan wrote for his kids, the film tracks the adventures of Cleveland Hepp, a humble building superintendent who rescues a mysterious woman from his apartment building’s pool. He then discovers that that this damsel in distress is actually a narf, a character from a bedtime story that is trying to return to her world. Cleveland begins to fall in love with this woman and realizes that he and his tenants are also characters in this mystical story.
Pulse ‘ Dimension, Aug. 11.
Director: Jim Sonzero
Starring: Kristen Bell, Tate Hanyok, Ian Somerhalder
Synopsis: Receiving e-mails from a dead friend is just the start of the weirdness as college students band togeher to stop evil forces from taking over the world.
Zoom ‘ Sony/Revolution Studios, Aug. 11.
Director: Peter Hewitt
Starring: Tim Allen, Courtney Cox, Chevy Chase
Synopsis: A former superheo is called to a private academy to transform four unruly kids with special powers into an elite crimefighting force. Looks like Fantastic Four for the tween set.
Snakes On a Plane ‘ New Line Cinema, Aug. 18.
Director: David R. Ellis
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Byron Lawson, Nathan Pillips
Synopsis: Do you really need a synopsis? It’s Sam Jackson dealing with CG-animated snakes on an airplane.
The Science of Sleep ‘ Warner Independent Pictures, Sep. 22
Director: Michel Gondry
Starring: Gael Garci’ Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alain Chabat
Official Site: www.lasciencedesreves-lefilm.com/accueil.htm
Synopsis: A young artist’s waking life is complicated by constant intrusions by the world that exists in his dreams. A lot of stop-motion animation brings extra vitality to this bittersweet romantic tale.
The Grudge 2 ‘ Columbia, Oct.13
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Edison Chen, Amber Tamblyn
Official Site: www.sonypictures.com/movies/thegrudge2/index.html
Synopsis: Set in Tokyo, this thriller finds a young woman plagued by the same supernatural force that once cursed her sister. The battle continues as she and a group of unrelated people attempt to uncover the secret that will save their lives.
Saw III ‘ Lionsgate, Oct. 27
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Tobin Bell, Angus Macfadyen, Dina Meyer
Official Site: www.saw3.com
Synopsis: Serial killer ‘Jigsaw’ is joined by an apprentice to continue the torture of people in order to educate the victims on their shortcomings in life.
Santa Clause 3: The Escape Claus ‘ Disney, Nov. 3
Director: Michael Lembeck
Starring: Tim Allen, Martin Short, Ann Margret
Synopsis: Scott Calvin, better known as Santa (Allen), struggles to stop Jack Frost (Short) from taking over Christmas while continuing to maintain a relationship with his family.
Casino Royale ‘ Sony, Nov. 17
Director: Martin Campbell
Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/casinoroyale/
Synopsis: This very first outing of Agent 007 follows Bond as he infiltrates a high-stakes casino housing a banker that funds a who’s who of terrorist organizations.
New Quote: ‘I’m sorry, that last hand … nearly killed me!’
The Fountain ‘ Warner Bros., Nov. 22
Director: Darren Aranofsky
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Ellen Burstyn, Sean Patrick Thomas
Official Site: http://pdl.warnerbros.com/wbmovies/thefountain/flashsite/index.html
Synopsis: Spanning over a thousand years, this epic fantasy centers on three parallel love stories and the search for eternal youth.
Apocalypto ‘ Touchstone Pictures, Dec. 8
Director: Mel Gibson
Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez,Gerardo Taracena
Official Site: http://apocalypto.movies.go.com
Synopsis: With the Mayan kingdom in decline, the rulers decide to construct more temples to perpetuate the ritual of human sacrifice. When a young man named Jaguar Paw is chosen to be offered up, he makes the decision to flee.
Eragon ‘ Fox, Dec. 15
Director: Stefen Fangmeier
Starring: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Djimon Hounsou
Official Site: www.eragonmovie.com
Synopsis: Based on Christopher Paolini’s epic fantasy, Eragon delivers the tale of a farm boy who discovers a dragon’s egg one day in his homeland Alagaesia. This leads him to realize his destiny and battle an evil king. This marks vfx master Fangmeier’s first directing effort.
Charlotte’s Web ‘ Paramount, Dec. 15
Director: Gary Winick
Starring: Julia Roberts, Dakota Fanning, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Buscemi
Official Site: www.charlotteswebmovie.com
Synopsis: Inspired by E.B. White’s beloved tale of animal loyalty, Paramount’s Charlotte’s Web centers on the unlikely friendship between Charlotte, a nurturing spider and Wilbur, a kind-hearted pig whose looking for a way to avoid ending up on the dinner table.
Night at the Museum ‘ Fox, Dec. 22
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ben Stiller, Owen Lewis, Ricky Gervais, Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, Steve Coogan, Paul Rudd, Carla Gugino
Website: www.nightatthemuseum.comSynopsis: A goodhearted but bumbling security guard at the Museum of Natural History accidentally trips an ancient curse that causes the animals and insects on display to come to life.
Children of Men ‘ Universal, Dec. 25
Director: Alfonso Cuar’n
Starring: Claire-Hope Ashitey, Michael Caine, Clive Owen
Website: www.childrenofmen.net
Synopsis: It’s 2027 and mankind is facing likely extinction due to an infertility defect and the youngest citizen has just died at 18. Set in a demoralized futuristic London, The Children of Men presents the story of one woman who is miraculously pregnant and must be delivered to safety, as her child is society’s last remaining hope.
Miss Potter‘ Weinstein Company, Dec. 29
Director: Chris Noonan
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Renee Zellweger, Barbara Flynn
Movie Blog: http://misspottermovie.typepad.com/
Synopsis: A look into the life of famed children’s author Beatrix Potter, creator of the tales of Peter Rabbit.
Pan’s Labyrinth ‘ Picturehouse, Dec. 29
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Sergi Lopez
Official Site: www.panslabyrinth.com
Synopsis: Set in 1944, the film centers on a young girl who travels to Northern Spain with her mother and adoptive father. In the midst of post-war fascism, the girl faces the harsh reality of life in the rural Spanish town and becomes immersed in an imaginary world of her own creation.
2007 Live-Action
Rogue ‘ Dimension, Feb. 2
Director: Greg McLean
Starring: Stephen Curry, Michael Vartan, Celia Ireland
Synopsis: A cynical American becomes a passenger on a river cruise led by a tough Australian female captain. The cruise goes sour when the boat runs aground on a mud island and the crew is stalked by a giant crocodile.
300 ‘ Warner Bros., March 9
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Gerard Butler,Vincent Reagan, Lena Headey
Official Site: http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/
Synopsis: Film adaptation of Frank Millers graphic novel that deals with the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., wherein 300 Spartan soldiers faced off against the vast Persian army in a struggle that paved the way for the world’s first democracy.
The Reaping ‘ Warner Bros., March 30, 2007 (U.K.)
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Starring: Hilary Swank, David Morrissey, Idris Elba, Annasophia Robb and William Ragsdale
Synopsis: Hollywood’s Million Dollar Baby plays a former Christian missionary who lost her faith when her entire family was murdered and has made a career out of debunking religious phenomena. But when she visits a small Louisiana town that claims to be dealing with a bout of Biblical plagues, it quickly becomes clear that science cannot explain the events she is witnessing. Double Negative’s plague effects should make for some thrilling viewing.
Skinwalkers ‘ Lionsgate, April
Director: James Isaac
Starring: Jason Behr, Elias Koteas, Rhona Mitra
Official Site: www.skinwalkersthemovie.com
Synopsis: The coming of a full moon alerts two very different packs of werewolves to the impending fulfillment of an ancient prophecy regarding a young half-blood. On the eve of his 13th birthday, Timothy along with his mother, must fend off evil beasts with help form his benevolent werewolf relatives.
Spider-Man 3 ‘ Columbia, May 4
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/spiderman3/site/noflash.php
Synopsis: Spider-Man battles the new Green Goblin, Sandman and Venom, but not without some new powers and a sleek black suit given to him by a creature from the moon.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End‘ Disney, May 25
Director: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Synopsis: In order to save Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and Captain Barbossa must face the ultimate danger by sailing to the ends of the earth.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer ‘ Fox, June 15
Director: Tim Story
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans
Synopsis: The Fantastic Four face their most difficult challenge yet when another super power, The Silver Surfer, descends upon earth to prepare for its demise. Johnny, Reed, Sue and Ben must uncover the secrets of this new evil before it is too late.
Evan Almighty ‘ Universal, June 15
Director: Tom Shadyac
Starring: Steve Carell, Lauren Graham, Morgan Freeman
Synopsis: This sequel to Bruce Almighty focuses on newsman Evan Baxter, who moves on to take a position as a congressman in Washington D.C. JHis life is turned upside-down when the Almighty himself calls on him to build an ark, much like Noah did in the Bible.
Transformers ‘ Dreamworks /Paramount, July 4
Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight
Official Site: www.transformersmovie.com
Synopsis: A battle between two alien races, the Autobots and Decepticons, rages on earth, putting the future of the human race in danger.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ‘ Warner Bros., July 13
Director: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes
Official Site: www.harrypotter.warnerbros.com/home.html
Synopsis: Harry and friends struggle through young adulthood at Hogwarts as mysterious events unfold, leading him to the family home of Sirius Black, where young Potter learns of the secret Order of the Pheonix. Turmoil at school continues when Harry and Dumbledore become a target of the Wizard Authorities, while a new bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts. Harry’s fifth year at the school is no walk in the park.
Journey 3-D ‘ New Line Cinema, July 20
Director: Eric Brevig
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem
Synopsis: While on a mission to find his lost brother, a scientist and his nephew happen upon a mysterious lost world.
Sin City 2 ‘ Dimension, Aug.
Director(s): Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Jessica Alba, Clive Owen, Angelina Jolie, Mickey Rourke
Synopsis: In this second chapter based on the graphic novels of Frank Miller, Dwight plots his revenge against Ava Lord, the woman who betrayed him, while Nancy struggles in the aftermath of Hartigan’s death.
Underdog– Disney, Aug. 3
Director: Frederik Du Chau
Starring: Alex Neuberger, Amy Adams, James Belushi
Synopsis: Shoeshine the dog acquires superpowers following a laboratory accident and learns to hide his abilities until he’s adopted by a young boy who helps him protect Sweet Polly Purebred and the good citizens of Capitol City from the fiendish plots of mad scientist Simon Bar Sinister.
Disturbia ‘ DreamWorks, Aug. 17
Director: D.J. Caruso
Starring: Kurt David Anderson, Charles Carroll, David Morse
Synopsis: After the death of his father, young Kale finds himself deeply troubled and under court-ordered house arrest. The confines of his home being to take a toll on Kale as he is forced to live as an observer. During the term of his sentence he becomes convinced that his own neighbor is a serial killer
Resident Evil: Extinction ‘ Screen Gems, Sept. 7
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Ali Larter
Synopsis:The Raccoon City catastrophe leaves survivors to journey across the Nevada desert in search of their final destination: Alaska. Alice joins the caravan and helps them in their battle against the Umbrella Corp.
Next ‘ Columbia, Sept. 28
Director: Lee Tamahori
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Paul Rae
Synopsis: Pursued by government and medical entities, a man who possesses the power to see into the future lays low in Las Vegas, performing cheap magician’s tricks and living off of his gambling winnings. But when terrorists threaten to detonate a nuclear device in Los Angeles, he is urged by a government agent to utilize his powers.
30 Days of Night ‘ Columbia, Oct. 19
Director: David Slade
Starring: Manu Bennett, Melissa George, Josh Hartnett
Synopsis: An isolated Alaskan town experiences one month of darkness each year when the sun falls below the horizon line. This year, terror strikes as a gang of bloodthirsty vampires capitalize on the extended darkness.
Enchanted ‘ Disney, Nov. 21
Director: Kevin Lima
Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Susan Sarandon
Synopsis: A princess-in-waiting falls in love with a handsome prince and is banished from the cartoon word of Andalasia by the evil queen. The young princess must now survive the reality of present-day New York City.
His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass ‘ New Line Cinema, Dec. 7
Director: Chris Weitz
Starring: Dakota Blue Richards, Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman
Synopsis: This adaptation of the first novel in the trilogy focuses on Lyra Belacqua, who lives in a parallel universe filled with unknown creatures, villains and unexpected places which she must navigate in order to find her best friend and save kidnapped children.
The Waterhorse ‘ Columbia, Dec. 7
Director: Jay Russell
Starring: Geraldine Brophy, David Morrissey, Ben Chaplin
Synopsis: The story follows the adventures of a young boy who finds a mysterious egg, that hatched a Scottish Legend.
Alien vs. Predator 2: Survival of the Fittest ‘ Fox, Dec. 21
Director(s): Colin and Greg Strause
Synoipsis: Based on a popular Dark Horse comic, the film is a follow-up to the 2004 sci-fi hit that connects the Alien and Predator film franchises.
Official Site: www.alienvspredator2.com
The Ice at the Bottom of the World ‘ Picturehouse, Dec.
Director: Alan Parker
Starring: Charlize Theron
Synopsis: After retiring from the Navy, a captain returns home to a town in the Chesapeake Bay only to discover the damage his absence has caused his family.
Bug‘ Lionsgate, No Set Date Yet
Director: William Friedkin
Starring: Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Lynn Collins
Official Site: http://bugthemovie.com
Synopsis: In this spooky thriller a paranoid war veteran who can see insects everywhere shacks up in an Oklahoma motel room with a female shut-in.
The Spiderwick Chronicles ‘ Paramount, Feb. 29, 2008
Halo ‘ Universal, July 2008
