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One of the best things about this year’s Oscar telecast was the final sequence that included a tantalizing montage of previews for upcoming movies set to Beck’s glam rock version of the Bob Dylan classic “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat.” Those teasers got me revved up for new movies far better than host Hugh Jackman’s song-and-dance routines. Despite the expected sequels and remakes, this summer looks like a fun one at the theater, and fittingly, it is Jackman himself who gets the season started.

Hugh Jackman is back as Wolverine.

May 1: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Audiences adored Batman, the anti-hero of 2008, in The Dark Knight, so why not give everyone’s favorite surly mutant his own movie? This prequel follows Jackman’s Logan Howlett, who never ages and heals quickly from any wound, through historic wars, betrayals and secret military operations while introducing a bounty of comic book superheroes from Deadpool to Gambit along the way. Ryan Reynolds and Liev Schreiber co-star. Rated PG-13. marvel.com

May 8: Star Trek

Lost mastermind J.J. Abrams relaunches the adventures of Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and the Enterprise crew for the big screen in this splashy sci-fi action epic. Chris Pine assumes the role of the brash, rebellious Kirk opposite Heroes star Zachary Quinto as a bolder, more forceful Spock in a battle against an evil Romulan foe. Eric Bana, Simon Pegg, and original Spock Leonard Nimoy co-star. Rated PG-13. startrekmovie.com

Tom Hanks in Angels & Demons.

May 15: Angels & Demons

Though not as famous as The Da Vinci Code, author Dan Brown’s other novel Angels & Demons should make for a more thrilling film than its slow-paced predecessor. Director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks team up again here as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon races to solve a murder mystery and prevent an ancient secret society from perpetrating a terrorist attack on the Vatican. Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgard co-star. Rated PG-13. angelsanddemons.com

Christian Bale and Sam Worthington in Terminator Salvation.

May 22: Terminator Salvation

In this Matrix-esque update of the Terminator mythology, an overlord computer system called Skynet has triggered a future nuclear holocaust to wipe out humanity and dispatched an army of killer androids to finish off any survivors. Leading the rage against the machines is Christian Bale as John Connor. If Bale summons as much vitriol on screen as he did in his now-famous on-set rant, the film should be an intense ride. Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Sam Worthington co-star. Rated R. terminatorsalvation.warnerbros.com

June 19: Whatever Works

Woody Allen returns to his forever muse New York City and to all-out comedy with this quirky, May-December relationship flick. Curb Your Enthusiasm fans rejoice because Whatever Works stars Larry David in a casting move that made everyone go, “Why haven’t they worked together before?” As always, Allen is keeping plot points under wraps, but it’s safe to say that David has a relationship with the much younger Evan Rachel Wood, and her parents and friends are not too thrilled about it. Patricia Clarkson, Michael McKean and Ed Begley Jr. co-star. Rated R.

June 24: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

More giant fighting robots and more Megan Fox cleavage; that seems to be Michael Bay’s marketing plan for this sequel to the 2007 blockbuster. Fans of the original cartoon series—and more pointedly, the toys—were either blown away or disillusioned by the first film, and this one promises more of the same with good and evil transformers in a global war against each other and innocent civilians simply in the way. Shia LaBeouf stars with Josh Duhamel, John Turturro and Rainn Wilson. Rated PG-13. transformersmovie.com

Johnny Depp in Public Enemies.

July 1: Public Enemies

Johnny Depp steps into another ominous character role, this time infamous American gangster John Dillinger, in this stylish crime thriller from HEAT director Michael Mann. Set in the 1930s, Public Enemies details the FBI’s attempt to nab Dillinger and his deadly co-horts Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. Christian Bale, Billy Crudup and Channing Tatum co-star. Rated R. universalpictures.com

Jim Broadbent and Daniel Radcliffe in Half-Blood Prince.

July 17: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter returns for his sixth year at Hogwart’s and learns more than he wanted to about the dark lord Voldemort’s past in private sessions with Prof. Dumbledore. When Harry suspects Draco Malfoy of secretly doing Voldemort’s bidding at Hogwart’s, he takes it upon himself to stop him. Typical teen drama balances out the darker points of the story as Harry develops a crush on his best friend Ron’s sister, and Ron has a new girlfriend, which upsets Hermoine. Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Helena Bonham Carter co-star. Rated PG. harrypotter.warnerbros.com

Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen buddy up as Funny People.

July 31: Funny People

Comedy writer/director du jour Judd Apatow gets serious with this, his third film. Set in the world of stand-up comedy, Funny People stars Adam Sandler as a comic with a terminal illness. If you enjoy serious Sandler, like Reign Over Me and Punch-Drunk Love, you’ll recognize this performance from the often-funnyman. Apatow regular Seth Rogen plays Sandler’s opening act comic who becomes his best pal in hard times. Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann and Jason Schwartzman co-star. Rated R. myspace.com/funnypeople

August

August 7: GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra

If Transformers can be a hit, why can’t another famous set of action figures? Dennis Quaid stars as General Hawk, who leads a secret, elite combat force for thwarting terrorism across the globe. We’re talking Duke, Scarlett, Ripcord and the rest of your 1980s favorites. But when Hawk’s unit uncovers the truth about a dangerous arms dealer and his crime syndicate, Cobra, they face a stronger enemy than ever before. Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum co-star. Rated PG-13. gijoemovie.com

August 21: Inglourious Basterds

The spelling won’t be the only thing off in this bloody WWII action-comedy from Quentin Tarantino. Most of the characters will be just a little bit off their rockers, too. Brad Pitt is in complete George G. Scott over-the-top mode as the commander of a platoon of Jewish-American soldiers stationed in Nazi-occupied France. Pitt’s main objective is to kill as many German soldiers as possible by any means necessary, and his soldiers oblige. With any luck this pulpy revenge flick could reach Evil Dead 2 levels of cult fandom. Samuel L. Jackson, B.J. Novak and Diane Kruger co-star. Rated R. inglouriousbasterds.com