Four different sequels are going to be released in the month of July alone, including "The Smurfs 2"; "Red 2"; "Grown Ups 2" and "Despicable Me 2." Not that we aren't accustomed to Hollywood's sequel mania by now. In fact, long-running film franchises have become such a mainstay, studios are able to plan their movie release dates years into the future. Want to know what you're going to be watching in 2018? Here's a hint: You've already seen it.
The hyper-violent teens of "Kick-Ass" return on August 16 with "Kick-Ass 2."
Danny Trejo's Machete Cortez returns for another round of mayhem in "Machete Kills."
The "Paranormal Activity" franchise will also churn out another thriller with "Paranormal Activity 5."
The second installment in "The Hunger Games" franchise, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," will arrive this month, along with the second "Thor" film, "Thor: The Dark World."
Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy is going to dust off his leisure suits for the "Anchorman" sequel, "Anchorman: The Legend Continues." Plus, Peter Jackson's Bilbo Baggins is going to face the terrifying dragon of "The Hobbit" in "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug."
The story of the infamous haunted house in Amityville, New York, is getting another installment, "The Amityville Horror: The Lost Tapes," nine years following the reboot from Michael Bay.
The Muppets aren't taking Manhattan but Europe in "Muppets Most Wanted," the follow-up to 2011's hit "Muppets" movie. Also in theaters this month will be the action epic, "300: Rise of An Empire," and Marlon Wayans' spoof horror flick, "A Haunted House 2."
Chris Evans will suit up again as Marvel's stars-and-stripes superhero in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox is assembling its flock of rhythm-loving birds for another Brazil-set adventure in the animated "Rio 2."
Jamie Foxx will portray the electrifying villain Electro in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" this month. Another Oscar winner, Jennifer Lawrence, will suit up for a different Marvel project: "X-Men: Days of Future Past."
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill's first "21 Jump Street," released in March 2012, was successful enough to bump the sequel up to summer movie season. Joining them in theaters will be "How To Train Your Dragon 2," "Think Like A Man Too," and "Transformers 4."
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and The Rock are all returning for the seventh -- seventh! -- film in the "Fast and Furious" franchise this month. Also in theaters will be "The Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," the follow-up to 2011's "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes."
Sly Stallone clearly isn't expendable for Lionsgate, which is bringing back "The Expendables" for its third film. "Sin City" (2001) will also get a belated sequel with this month's "Sin City: A Dame To Kill For."
The 2011 feel-good story of a dolphin who finds new life after being fitted with a prosthetic tail is getting another chapter.
Even after this month's "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I" arrives in theaters, Jennifer Lawrence will still have one more movie in which to play the tough heroine Katniss Everdeen.
The "Despicable Me" franchise's little yellow "Minions" are getting their own movie this month, while Bilbo Baggins plods along in his journey in "The Hobbit: There and Back Again." Also landing in time for the holiday season will be "Night at the Museum 3."
Like the adorable minions, the penguins from Dreamworks' "Madagascar" films have turned into breakout stars with "The Penguins of Madagascar."
Joss Whedon's "Avengers" will assemble for a second time in "The Avengers 2" this month.
Technically, 2015's "Terminator" will be a reboot of the original 1984 story, and will kick off a new, stand-alone trilogy from Paramount. But if we were looking at all the "Terminator" movies as a whole, including reboots, this would be the fifth film.
At this point, Johnny Depp might want to consider making his eyeliner permanent. The actor is stepping into Captain Jack Sparrow's costume once again for the fifth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, out this month along with "The Smurfs 3" and a Will Smith-less "Independence Day 2."
Monsters and ghouls will be checking back in to Dracula's "Hotel Transylvania" when Sony Pictures' releases its sequel to the 2012 film this month.
When it comes to sequels, few have been as longed for as "Finding Dory," the next installment following Disney/Pixar's heartwarming 2003 film, "Finding Nemo." It'll be joined in theaters this month by the conclusion of "The Hunger Games" franchise, "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2."
Jack Black's cuddly, animated alter-ego is brushing off his kung fu skills for a third time in "Kung Fu Panda 3" this month. His flick will have competition from another rascally pack of adorable animals thanks to "Alvin and the Chipmunks 4."
A number of films are expected to be released in 2015, but don't have any dates secured on the calendar. That includes Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible 5," along with "Jurassic Park 4," and J.J. Abrams "Star Wars Episode VII."
More certain -- at least for now -- are the release dates for the third "How to Train Your Dragon" movie, and the third "Amazing Spider-Man" movie, which are both looking to land this month.
But when it comes to the fourth installment in "The Amazing Spider-Man" franchise, Sony's already planning to see the masked hero fly into theaters in May 2018.
Four different sequels are going to be released in the month of July alone, including "The Smurfs 2"; "Red 2"; "Grown Ups 2" and "Despicable Me 2." Not that we aren't accustomed to Hollywood's sequel mania by now. In fact, long-running film franchises have become such a mainstay, studios are able to plan their movie release dates years into the future. Want to know what you're going to be watching in 2018? Here's a hint: You've already seen it.
The hyper-violent teens of "Kick-Ass" return on August 16 with "Kick-Ass 2."
Danny Trejo's Machete Cortez returns for another round of mayhem in "Machete Kills."
The "Paranormal Activity" franchise will also churn out another thriller with "Paranormal Activity 5."
The second installment in "The Hunger Games" franchise, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," will arrive this month, along with the second "Thor" film, "Thor: The Dark World."
Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy is going to dust off his leisure suits for the "Anchorman" sequel, "Anchorman: The Legend Continues." Plus, Peter Jackson's Bilbo Baggins is going to face the terrifying dragon of "The Hobbit" in "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug."
The story of the infamous haunted house in Amityville, New York, is getting another installment, "The Amityville Horror: The Lost Tapes," nine years following the reboot from Michael Bay.
The Muppets aren't taking Manhattan but Europe in "Muppets Most Wanted," the follow-up to 2011's hit "Muppets" movie. Also in theaters this month will be the action epic, "300: Rise of An Empire," and Marlon Wayans' spoof horror flick, "A Haunted House 2."
Chris Evans will suit up again as Marvel's stars-and-stripes superhero in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox is assembling its flock of rhythm-loving birds for another Brazil-set adventure in the animated "Rio 2."
Jamie Foxx will portray the electrifying villain Electro in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" this month. Another Oscar winner, Jennifer Lawrence, will suit up for a different Marvel project: "X-Men: Days of Future Past."
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill's first "21 Jump Street," released in March 2012, was successful enough to bump the sequel up to summer movie season. Joining them in theaters will be "How To Train Your Dragon 2," "Think Like A Man Too," and "Transformers 4."
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and The Rock are all returning for the seventh -- seventh! -- film in the "Fast and Furious" franchise this month. Also in theaters will be "The Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," the follow-up to 2011's "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes."
Sly Stallone clearly isn't expendable for Lionsgate, which is bringing back "The Expendables" for its third film. "Sin City" (2001) will also get a belated sequel with this month's "Sin City: A Dame To Kill For."
The 2011 feel-good story of a dolphin who finds new life after being fitted with a prosthetic tail is getting another chapter.
Even after this month's "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I" arrives in theaters, Jennifer Lawrence will still have one more movie in which to play the tough heroine Katniss Everdeen.
The "Despicable Me" franchise's little yellow "Minions" are getting their own movie this month, while Bilbo Baggins plods along in his journey in "The Hobbit: There and Back Again." Also landing in time for the holiday season will be "Night at the Museum 3."
Like the adorable minions, the penguins from Dreamworks' "Madagascar" films have turned into breakout stars with "The Penguins of Madagascar."
Joss Whedon's "Avengers" will assemble for a second time in "The Avengers 2" this month.
Technically, 2015's "Terminator" will be a reboot of the original 1984 story, and will kick off a new, stand-alone trilogy from Paramount. But if we were looking at all the "Terminator" movies as a whole, including reboots, this would be the fifth film.
At this point, Johnny Depp might want to consider making his eyeliner permanent. The actor is stepping into Captain Jack Sparrow's costume once again for the fifth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, out this month along with "The Smurfs 3" and a Will Smith-less "Independence Day 2."
Monsters and ghouls will be checking back in to Dracula's "Hotel Transylvania" when Sony Pictures' releases its sequel to the 2012 film this month.
When it comes to sequels, few have been as longed for as "Finding Dory," the next installment following Disney/Pixar's heartwarming 2003 film, "Finding Nemo." It'll be joined in theaters this month by the conclusion of "The Hunger Games" franchise, "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2."
Jack Black's cuddly, animated alter-ego is brushing off his kung fu skills for a third time in "Kung Fu Panda 3" this month. His flick will have competition from another rascally pack of adorable animals thanks to "Alvin and the Chipmunks 4."
A number of films are expected to be released in 2015, but don't have any dates secured on the calendar. That includes Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible 5," along with "Jurassic Park 4," and J.J. Abrams "Star Wars Episode VII."
More certain -- at least for now -- are the release dates for the third "How to Train Your Dragon" movie, and the third "Amazing Spider-Man" movie, which are both looking to land this month.
But when it comes to the fourth installment in "The Amazing Spider-Man" franchise, Sony's already planning to see the masked hero fly into theaters in May 2018.
