Who: John Cho, Kal Penn, Paula Garces, Thomas Lennon and Neil Patrick Harris
What: After Harold and Kumar accidentally set fire to Harold’s father-in-law’s prize Christmas tree, the duo embark on yet another weed-fueled adventure to replace it.
When: November 4th
Why: Though I refuse to believe that the 3D revolution is going to stick around for much longer, this is one of those times where I actually don’t completely hate the idea. That’s probably because director Todd Strauss-Schulson is really embracing the gimmicky nature of the technology, but who doesn’t love making fun of 3D? Though Harold and Kumar’s last adventure was a bit ridiculous for its own good, writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg appear to have reined things in for the third (and likely final) installment in the stoner bud series. Toss in some Claymation and the return of Neil Patrick Harris and there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be a fun theater experience.

Who: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck and Téa Leoni
What: A group of employees at a luxury condominium enlist the aid of a career criminal to help them steal $20 million from the investor that emptied out their pension plans.
When: November 4th
Why: When I first heard that Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy were teaming up with director Brett Ratner for what can be best described as a blue-collar “Ocean’s 11,” I responded accordingly, with a witty comment and a cynical roll of the eyes. But something strange happened between then and now – I saw the trailer for the film, and amazingly, it doesn’t look half-bad. Perhaps it’s just because my expectations are so low for those involved in the movie, but this actually looks like it could be pretty enjoyable, and even somewhat of a return to form for Murphy, who hasn’t been funny in a really long time.

Who: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts and Judi Dench
What: A biopic about the founder of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, whose 50-year reign as the face of law enforcement was threatened by the many secrets in his personal life.
When: November 9th
Why: Everything about this film has “future Oscar nominee” written all over it, including star Leonardo DiCaprio, director Clint Eastwood and co-star Armie Hammer, who’s landed the plum role of Hoover’s lifelong friend and rumored lover Clyde Tolson. It’ll be interesting to see how a mild conservative like Eastwood handles the mysterious relationship between the two men, especially with gay screenwriter Dustin Lance Black behind the script, because dodging the issue completely won’t sit well with the usually liberal-minded Academy. The person that stands the most to gain from all of this, of course, is Hammer, who is pretty much a lock for a Best Supporting Actor nomination after just barely missing out last year for his incredible work in “The Social Network.”

Who: Henry Cavill, Frieda Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz and Mickey Rourke
What: Zeus calls on the mortal Theseus to lead the fight against King Hyperion, who is on a rampage across Greece to obtain a weapon that can destroy humanity.
When: November 11th
Why: If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that the movie is going to look incredible. Tarsem Singh may not be the most prolific filmmaker in Hollywood (he’s only made three movies in 11 years), but he already has a reputation for creating some lusciously gorgeous cinematography. Though some have been quick to criticize the film as a “Clash of the Titans” clone that unabashedly mimics Zack Snyder’s slo-mo camera technique from “300,” I think we can all agree that both movies could have been better. There’s no telling if Singh succeeded in making a superior film, but at the very least, audiences will get their first look at new Superman Henry Cavill in action hero mode.

Who: George Clooney, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Robert Forster and Beau Bridges
What: A father tries to reconnect with this two estranged daughters after his cheating wife falls into a coma following a boating accident.
When: November 18th
Why: After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the general consensus was that the movie was going to be a major contender in the Best Actor, Best Director and Best Picture categories at this year’s Oscars. Though it’s been a while since Alexander Payne’s last film (2004’s “Sideways”), early buzz suggests that the director is still at the top of his game. It certainly seems to follow in the footsteps of Payne’s previous work, which were all dependent on enlisting a top actor who can handle the dramatic material as well as the quirky comedy that his movies tend to exhibit. And is there anyone in Hollywood that does that better than George Clooney?

Who: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy
What: With the help of three fans, Kermit the Frog gets the gang back together to put on a show to save their old theater from a greedy oil tycoon.
When: November 23rd
Why: It’s been six years since the last Muppets movie, and even longer since one was actually released in theaters, but if the new film does well enough, it might just be the final push that Disney needs to finally commission a new Muppets TV series. The talent behind the movie is certainly encouraging, with self-proclaimed fan Jason Segel (who demonstrated the extent of his puppet love in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) co-writing the script and starring alongside Amy Adams, “Flight of the Conchords” co-creator James Bobin making his feature film directorial debut, as well as oodles of guest cameos including Billy Crystal, Ricky Gervais, Zach Galifianakis, Emily Blunt, and many more. If that’s not enough to get you excited about the Great Muppet Revival, then nothing will.

Who: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Kingsley
What: Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.
When: November 23rd
Why: Though Martin Scorsese has compiled a great cast for his adaptation of Brian Selznick’s award-winning bestseller, “The Invention of Hugo Cabaret” (a title they should have kept intact), I can’t help but feel like the material is beneath him. While it’s always refreshing to see a director that’s willing to work outside his comfort zone, the 3D looks gimmicky and the sounds like something that Steven Spielberg would be more attracted to than Scorsese. If anyone can make this interesting, however, it’s him, although don’t be surprised if this turns out to be the director’s first misstep in years.

Who: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, Penelope Ann Miller and John Goodman
What: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he falls in love with a young dancer set for a big break.
When: November 23rd
Why: It received rave reviews at Cannes – winning Best Actor and a nomination for the prestigious Palm d’Or along the way – and has continued to gain steam as one of the must-see movies of awards season. The fact that it’s a black and white silent film won’t do it any favors in appealing to a mainstream audience, but art house fans will likely show up in droves. Though it helps to have recognizable names like Penelope Ann Miller and John Goodman in the cast, the movie supposedly belongs to French actor Jean Dujardin with his star-making performance. I’m still not crazy about how much the trailer gives away, but if it gets people to go see the film, then it was a job well done.

Who: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly and Anthony Mackie
What: Set in the near future where robots have replaced humans in the ring, a former boxer and his estranged son discover a junkyard bot that could become champion.
When: October 7th
Why: It’s easy to see how someone might be a little skeptical about a film that looks like “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots: The Movie,” but after visiting the set last summer, any concerns I might have had were quickly laid to rest following a chat with director Shawn Levy and star Hugh Jackman. I’ve also had the opportunity to see the finished product since then, and while the movie certainly isn’t going to earn a spot alongside “Rocky” and “Raging Bull” as a boxing classic, it’s still a really enjoyable underdog sports drama with strong central performances and plenty of awesome robot-on-robot action.

Who: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti
What: An idealistic staff member for a Democratic presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his latest stint on the campaign trail.
When: October 7th
Why: With a big name like George Clooney attached to a movie come big expectations, especially when he’s the one calling the shots. Thankfully, his latest directorial effort appears to be more “Good Night, and Good Luck” than “Leatherheads,” and it doesn’t hurt that he’s surrounded himself with such an incredible ensemble cast. In addition to the film’s multi-hyphenate star, “The Ides of March” features two other Oscar winners and two nominees. It might not be considered the year’s strongest awards contender, but the Academy always loves a good political thriller, and this definitely looks the part.

Who: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
What: When an alien life form begins wreaking havoc at an Antarctic research site, a graduate student teams up with a helicopter pilot to prevent it from escaping.
When: October 14th
Why: There’s been a lot of debate over whether Universal’s “The Thing” is a remake or a prequel to the 1982 John Carpenter classic (the fact that it shares the same title certainly hasn’t helped matters), but it’s now been confirmed that it takes place prior to R.J. MacReady’s trip to the Antarctic and will detail what happened at the Norwegian camp featured in the original film. I’m not sure if that makes this prequel any less unnecessary, but at least it’s got a couple of good actors in Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton. That’s definitely a start, but it still has a ways to go to winning back the fanboys after Ronald D. Moore’s script was reportedly scrapped back in late 2009.

Who: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell
What: City boy Ren McCormack moves to a small town where rock ‘n’ roll and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit begins to shake up the populace.
When: October 14th
Why: I know what you’re thinking: who in their right mind wants to see a remake of “Footloose” when they can just watch the 1984 original starring Kevin Bacon? But while it might sound like a terrible idea in theory – a thought supported by the numerous young actors (including Zac Efron and Chase Crawford) who passed on the potentially star-making lead role – early word is that the movie is actually a surprisingly enjoyable reimagining that manages to maintain the spirit of the original while injecting it with some necessary modern updates. Go ahead and file this one under “Wait and see.”

Who: Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Rashida Jones and Anjelica Huston
What: Three avid bird watchers compete to spot the rarest birds at an annual event.
When: October 14th
Why: Based on the book of the same name by Mark Obmasick, “The Big Year” has the kind of cast that, up until a few years ago, would have sounded like a comedy dream team. But that’s how quickly the careers of Owen Wilson and (especially) Jack Black have plummeted since then, and while that may seem like a bad thing, it actually works in the film’s favor. Expectations are incredibly low, and between its quirky plot and the who’s who of supporting talent (including Jim Parsons, Joel McHale and Kevin Pollock), there’s a pretty good chance that this won’t be nearly as bad as the trailer suggests.

Who: Luke Evans, Ray Stevenson, Matthew Macfayden and Orlando Bloom
What: D’Artagnan and his musketeer comrades Athos, Porthos and Aramis thwart the plans of Royal Prime Minister Richelieu to usurp the King of France’s power.
When: October 21st
Why: It’s gotten to the point where making fun of director Paul W.S. Anderson has grown so tiresome that I wish he would just churn out a good movie for once in order to silence his critics. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen any time soon, because “The Three Musketeers” has been made into a movie so many times that it’s hard to find a reason why another one needs to exist. Anderson is clearly trying to distinguish his version from the many others that came before it by instilling a steampunk-like aesthetic to the film, but while he deserves some credit for at least trying something new, the trailer is so laughably bad that it seems to be all for naught.

Who: Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner, Nicholas Braun, Melissa Leo and Michael Parks
What: After a group of teens accept an online invitation for group sex, they soon encounter Pastor Abin Cooper, his followers, and their sinister agenda.
When: October 21st (limited)
Why: Although it’s technically been available on Video On Demand for a few weeks now, Kevin Smith’s low-budget attempt at making a horror movie is getting a limited theatrical run towards the end of October in conjunction with its home video release. Some might say that it’s a good excuse to see the film on the big screen, but considering the way that Smith has been marketing “Red State” (taking the show on the road and charging big bucks to see it), the whole thing stinks of a last-ditch effort to bleed more money from his fans. Though reviews of the film haven’t been very positive, I’m still curious to see Smith explore a different genre for once, especially with veterans like Michael Parks, Melissa Leo and John Goodman spouting his trademark dialogue.

Who: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy and Olivia Wilde
What: Set in a world where people stop aging at 25 and time is literally money, a young man accused of murder goes on the run in order to fight back against the system.
When: October 28th
Why: Justin Timberlake isn’t the first person you’d think of to play a Jason Bourne-like action hero, but after watching the sizzle reel for “Gattacta” director Andrew Niccol’s return to the sci-fi genre that premiered at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, I’m certainly willing to give him a chance. “In Time” is one of those high-concept sci-fi movies that are too complex to explain in a single paragraph – the easiest way to describe it is as a less crazy version of “Logan’s Run” – but it’s a pretty cool concept that, if executed correctly, could make for a really fun piece of escapism entertainment.

Who: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi and Richard Jenkins
What: American journalist Paul Kemp takes a freelance job in Puerto Rico and struggles to find a balance between island culture and the ex-patriots who live there.
When: October 28th
Why: A big screen adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s “lost novel” has been in the works for over a decade now, but it wasn’t until two years ago when the project finally went into production, only to be shelved long enough for Thompson’s death to prevent him from seeing the final product. But while the film’s behind-the-scenes drama doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence, Thompson’s semi-autobiographical work always seems to bring out the kooky best in Johnny Depp, who’s been too busy playing the part of a Hollywood A-lister to take many offbeat roles these days. The chance to see Depp embrace his oddball side once again is worth the price of admission alone.

Who: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, Rafe Spall and David Thewlis
What: Set during the succession of Queen Elizabeth I, the film proposes the theory that it was Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, who penned William Shakespeare’s plays.
When: October 28th
Why: Because if it does well, we may never have to endure another end-of-the-world disaster movie from Roland Emmerich again. Seriously, though, it’ll be interesting to see what Emmerich can do without the crutch of special effects for once, because while he’s proven on numerous occasions that he can blow shit up, the jury’s still out on his skills as a director. The plot may be a bit preposterous, but it’s an interesting theory nonetheless, and I love the idea of staging it as a political thriller instead of a more generic historical drama. The Radiohead song in the trailer, however, still baffles me.

September is typically a pretty laidback month for movies. After being bombarded with big budget tentpole films over the summer, it’s the calm before the storm that is awards season. But this year, Hollywood is kicking off the fall movie season in style with big names like Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt all starring in films that could make an appearance at the Oscars next year. Throw in a couple of cool genre flicks and you’re looking at one of the most promising Septembers in recent memory.

Who: Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Bibb, Tyler Labine, Lake Bell and Nick Kroll
What: A group of 30-year-olds who have been friends since high school attempt to throw an end-of-summer orgy.
When: September 2nd (limited)
Why: Though I’m still not convinced that Jason Sudeikis is the star that Hollywood seems to think he is, this raunchy sex comedy could finally be the film that changes my mind. It doesn’t hurt that he’s surrounded by such a funny ensemble cast, including actors like Tyler Labine and Lake Bell, who are always good for a laugh The real test, however, will be whether the film has the balls to go all the way or if it will chicken out at the last minute, because you shouldn’t joke around about an orgy unless you mean it.

Who: Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Laurence Fishburne
What: An action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.
When: September 9th
Why: When Steven Soderbergh puts together a cast this good, it’s hard not to stand up and take notice. But even with four Oscar winners, three nominees, and a three-time Emmy winner at his disposal, the real star of “Contagion” may end up being the story itself, which has the potential to scare the living shit out of audiences in ways that most horror films could only dream of. How Soderbergh manages to tap into our inherent fear of disease will be key to its success, but if the movie is anywhere near as good as 1995’s “Outbreak” (which also had an amazing cast), we’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Who: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison and Nick Nolte
What: The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he’s trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision corner with his older brother.
When: September 9th
Why: Mixed martial arts may still be in its infancy, but the sport is growing faster than ever at the moment, and “Warrior” could be the thing that finally pushes it into the mainstream – especially since it’s already being called the “Rocky” of MMA films. The comparison isn’t completely unwarranted. With a tale of sibling rivalry clearly influenced by the Old Testament, “Warrior” looks to deliver a nice balance between family drama and sports underdog movie. But unlike “Rocky,” director Gavin O’Connor has the difficult task of making the audience root for two different protagonists, only to then pit them against one another in the ring. It’s the moviegoing equivalent of “Sophie’s Choice.”

Who: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks and Albert Brooks
What: A Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.
When: September 16th
Why: The Nicolas Winding Refn-directed crime thriller has been on my radar for quite some time now, and that was before I even really knew much about the project. Since then, “Drive” has been slowly building buzz ahead of its theatrical release, most prominently at the Cannes Film Festival where it walked away with the award for Best Director, a nomination for the prestigious Palm D’Or, and the admiration of most film critics. Though that may not necessarily translate into ticket sales, “Drive” still has the potential to be the sleeper hit of the year – an action flick with an art-house twist.

Who: James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard and James Woods
What: L.A. screenwriter David Sumner relocates with his wife to her hometown in the deep South where a brewing conflict with locals becomes a threat to them both.
When: September 16th
Why: A lot of people are going to take one look at Rod Lurie’s remake of the 1971 thriller “Straw Dogs” and bemoan the fact that Hollywood has run out of original ideas. But while the Dustin Hoffman film certainly has its share of admirers, the movie isn’t exactly sacred ground, so it’ll be interesting to see what Lurie brings to his version besides the obvious modern updates. James Marsden and Alexander Skarsgard are both solid choices for the male leads, while the trailer ensures that the ultraviolence of the original hasn’t been watered down in exchange for a more audience-friendly rating.

Who: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt and Robin Wright
What: The story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s attempt to put together a baseball team on a budget by using computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
When: September 23rd
Why: Though its subject matter may suggest otherwise, director Bennett Miller is adamant that “Moneyball” is about much more than the game of baseball, which is good news for people like me, who aren’t very big fans of the sport. Based on the bestseller of the same name by Michael Lewis, the film adaptation was written by two of the most dependable screenwriters in the business (Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian) and features a killer cast with some real Oscar heavyweights. Interestingly enough, though, it’s Jonah Hill’s involvement that has me the most intrigued, because I’m curious to see if he has what it takes to successfully transition into more serious roles.

Who: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Maria Bello and Sigourney Weaver
What: A thriller centered on a young man who sets out to uncover the truth about his life after finding his baby photo on a missing persons website.
When: September 23rd
Why: Say what you will about Taylor Lautner, but the guy has one hell of an agent. While his “Twilight” co-stars are busy starring in obscure indie films that may make them feel better about not selling out but aren’t really helping their careers either, Lautner is being primed to become the next Tom Cruise. He’s already a sex symbol with the “Twilight” crowd, and under the direction of John Singleton, Lautner will take his first big step towards becoming a bona fide action star. “Abduction” looks eerily like a junior version of the Bourne movies, and if Lautner can prove that there’s more to him than rock-hard abs and steely eyes, there’s a good chance it will exceed everyone’s expectations.

Who: Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro and Yvonne Strahovski
What: When his mentor is taken captive, a retired member of Britain’s Elite Special Air Service is forced into action. His mission: kill three assassins dispatched by their cunning leader.
When: September 23rd
Why: If Lautner is looking for some quick lessons on how to be a better action star, he’d be wise to check out the oeuvre of Jason Statham, who’s been playing a variation of the same character now for almost a decade. That trend continues in “Killer Elite,” but as they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and The Stath has proven time and again why he’s one of the elite action stars of this generation. But lately, even he’s been trying to class up his movies a little bit, and you don’t get much classier than Clive Owen and Robert De Niro, who should help elevate the film beyond the typical Statham beat-‘em-up.

Who: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anna Kendrick
What: A comedic account of a 27-year-old guy’s cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.
When: September 30th
Why: No, you’re not imagining things – Seth Rogen really is starring in another movie about cancer only two short years after the release of “Funny People.” The difference this time around, however, is that it’s much more personal. Based on his friend Will Reiser’s real-life fight with cancer, the pair developed the project together, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing the fictionalized version of the disease-stricken pal, Rogen co-starring as his closest confidant, and Reiser penning the script. Though cancer isn’t something that’s easy to take lightly, “50/50” appears to have found a better balance of comedy and drama than the Judd Apatow misfire, and that’s a step in the right direction.

Who: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden and Jesse Moss
What: Tucker and Dale are on vacation at their dilapidated mountain cabin where they’re mistaken as serial killers by a group of preppy college kids.
When: September 30th (limited)
Why: I had the opportunity to see Eli Craig’s horror comedy back in 2009 while it was making the rounds on the festival circuit, and although it’s not quite the instant cult classic that I was expecting, “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” is still an incredibly fun midnight movie that fans of genre favorites like “Army of Darkness” and “Shaun of the Dead” will enjoy. Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine make a great comedic team as the titular hillbillies, while every kill is equally gory and clever. A note of caution to those interested in seeing it, though: Do not watch the trailer, as it ruins just about every funny moment in the film.