4. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
Mark Your Calendar: Nov. 21
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Michael Gambon, Warwick Davis, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman
The Story: It's getting darker and darker at Hogwarts as Voldemort's influence is growing, but Dumbledore is preparing Harry and his friends for the inevitable climactic showdown. And just to make matters worse, teenage romance is in the air!
The Lowdown: Rickman has waited patiently through the first five films for Professor Severus Snape to finally get interesting, and, having read the book, he's no doubt thrilled he stuck around. (He also admits to having read the final book, "The Deathly Hallows," as well.)
Big Question Mark: Can director David Yates fashion a better picture than "Order of the Phoenix," and will he still be around for "Hallows"?

3. "Iron Man"
Mark Your Calendar: May 2
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges
The Story: Billionaire industrialist and genius inventor Tony Stark is kidnapped by terrorists, who force him to build a devastating weapon. Escaping by building himself a powerful suit of armor instead, he realizes he has been a pawn in a sinister plot with global implications. Determined to stop it, he develops a more advanced version of his armor and becomes Iron Man.
The Lowdown: When the first footage from the movie was shown in front of 5,000 Comic-Con fans last July, the audience freaked. And no one is questioning whether Downey has the chops to pull off a convincing action hero anymore.
Big Question Mark: There is no question it's going to be the summer's first hit. The question is: Just how big a hit will it be?

2. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
Mark Your Calendar: May 22
Stars: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen, John Hurt, Ray Winstone
The Story: Set in 1957, 19 years after "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," the professor's latest adventure has him racing against the Soviet Union to find the Crystal Skull, a mysterious object of possibly alien origin (bingo!) that has tremendous power.
The Lowdown: It's amazing the movie is being made at all with Ford a wry 65 years old, but that's why Steven Spielberg protégé and teen heartthrob LaBeouf is along for the ride.
Big Question Mark: LaBeouf's character is described as a "motorcycle-riding greaser," but is he really Indy's son or not?

1. "The Dark Knight"
Mark Your Calendar: July 18
Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart
The Story: Batman (Bale) faces his greatest challenge: a punk/anti-establishment Joker (a sinfully intriguing Ledger) wreaking havoc across Gotham City. And, in the wings, another evil threat looms.
The Lowdown: Director Chris Nolan also smartly kept Wayne's love interest, Rachel Dawes, but thankfully replaced Katie Holmes with a much better actress, Gyllenhaal.
Big Question Mark: Just exactly how does Eckhart's portrayal of the villainous Two-Face fit into the picture?

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