25: THE HOST (March 29)
With the “Twilight” saga having come to a close last year, Twi-hards are on the lookout for their next big movie obsession. This adaptation of another Stephenie Meyer novel will hopefully fit the bill. Instead of vampires, this story has aliens which invade the planet by taking over human bodies. But one girl, Melanie (played by Oscar-nominee Saoirse Ronan), is able to coexist with her alien presence – and, naturally, get into a love triangle (or is it a quadrangle?).
24: EVIL DEAD (April 12)
Yes, remakes of horror classics are a dime a dozen, but this year there are actually a few that look intriguing. Steven King’s “Carrie” will get an updated version in March starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore. But the one we’re most excited about is the new take on Sam Raimi’s groundbreaking “Evil Dead.” Mostly because Raimi and his cohorts Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell are producing the remake with a script from Oscar-winner Diablo Cody.
23: AFTER EARTH (June 7)
We made it through the Mayan Apocalypse, but the planet’s prospects still don’t look very good as far as the movies go. Tom Cruise will be working in an abandoned wasteland in this April’s “Oblivion,” but we’re most curious about Will and Jaden Smith in “After Earth.” They play a father and son who crash land here 1,000 years after humanity fled. The trailer looked quite impressive, but writer/director M. Night Shyamalan has a lot to prove after the disastrous “The Last Airbender.”
22: G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (March 29)
Yes, this one could have been on the list of the most anticipated movies of 2012 (it was originally scheduled for release last summer, but was delayed). But with Dwayne “You can call me ‘The Rock’ again” Johnson leading the team, Bruce Willis as the original Joe, and ninjas fighting on the side of a mountain – all in 3D, no less – what’s not to get excited about? And rumor has it they reshot a bigger part for Channing Tatum, so maybe he can bring some of his “magic” to this one.
21: THE HANGOVER PART III (May 24)
2011’s “The Hangover Part II” made a boatload of money, but the Wolfpack’s trip to Thailand felt a little too repetitive for a lot of fans of the original. But director Todd Phillips promises that the third and final chapter will deliver the surprises the last sequel lacked. And with all of the cast returning – Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galafianakis, Ken Jeong, Heather Graham, and yes, Mike Tyson – hopefully the trilogy will end with a bang that we’ll all remember the next day.