Best Upcoming Movies of 2011 IV-Hoodwinked too, tony jaa logo

Another year has passed, and it's time for me to display some of Hollywood's latest films coming out for next year. For those of you that aren't familiar with my hub previews, this is how it works. I basically give you a plot summary, cast listing, writing and director credit. Some of these previews will have trailers, while most don't. This is largely due to the fact that many of these films are currently filming, or in post production, as we speak. Another thing worth noting here is that this isn't a complete list of all the movies coming out next year, but I feel confident that this hub covers most of them that are being released, within the U.S.A.

Take in mind, some of these release dates are subject change, so be sure to check your local listings for any changes. I also didn't exactly have time to put all these in chronological order, but every movie listed here (or most of them anyway) has a release date listed.

Also, be sure to check out my other hubs based on upcoming films in 2011, as this is only the last chapter in a four part series. Therefore, if you don't find the 2011 movie your looking for on here, then chances are it might be on one of the other three hubs on film previews for next year. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy my list of films that I researched you.

Release Date: July 22, 2011

Director: Joe Johnston

Writer(s): Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Joss Whedon

Cast: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Toby Jones, Richard Armitage

Synopsis:  Based on the popular Marvel Comic book character.  Steve Rogers, after being deemed unfit for military service, he volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals.

Release Date:  March 18, 2011

Director:  Daniel Barnz

Writer(s):  Daniel Barnz, Alex Finn

Cast:  Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris

Synopsis:  In a modernize retelling of the classic story, "Beauty and the Beast", a young conceited rich playboy bases his whole life around looks.  Firmly believing that outer beauty is the only thing that matters in life, and that those that are less attractive are worth less than nothing in our society.  He spends his days of partying and fondling loose women, and insulting those that disagree with his logic, until he accidentally offends the wrong person, who puts a hex on him that takes away his looks.  Turning him into a hideous monstrosity. 

Locked away inside his New York penthouse, he's given one year to find a woman that will love him for who he is on the inside.  Just when he thinks that there isn't a girl out there that could possibly love him, he soon meets a girl that he thinks could be the one to break his vile curse...

Release Date: February 18, 2011

Director: John Whitesell

Writer(s): Matthew Fogel, Don Rhymer, Darryl Quarles

Cast: Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Max Casella, Portia Doubleday, Emily Rios

Synopsis: FBI agent Malcolm Turner and his stepson Trent go undercover at an all-girls performing arts school after Trent witnesses a murder. Oh great, now we get to see more of Martin Lawrence dressed in drag, while doing his best cheap fat black woman impression. Oh joy.

I apologize to any of my readers, who that statement offended, as that remark was more geared towards mocking the people behind this film, than anyone else.

Release Date:  February 4, 2011

Director:  Alister Grierson

Writer(s):  John Garvin, Andrew Wight

Cast:  Rhys Wakefield, Allison Cratchley, Christopher Baker, Ioan Gruffudd, Alice Parkinson

Synopsis:  The 3-D action-thriller Sanctum follows a team of underwater cave divers on a treacherous expedition to the largest, most beautiful and least accessible cave system on Earth. When a tropical storm forces them deep into the caverns, they must fight raging water, deadly terrain and creeping panic as they search for an unknown escape route to the sea. Master diver Frank McGuire has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves for months. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's team-including 17-year-old son Josh and financier Carl Hurley are forced to radically alter plans. With dwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out. Soon, they are confronted with the unavoidable question: Can they survive, or will they be trapped forever?

Release Date:  February 11, 2011

Director:  Kevin Macdonald

Writer(s):  Jeremy Brock, Rosemary Sutcliff

Cast:  Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong

Synopsis:  In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.

Release Date: October 14, 2011

Director: David Frankel

Writer(s): Howard Franklin, Mark Obmascik

Cast: Jim Parsons, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Rashida Jones, Steve Martin, Anjelica Huston, Kevin Pollak, Rosamund Pike

Synopsis: Three avid bird watchers compete to spot the rarest birds in North America at a prestigious annual event.

Release Date: November 4, 2011

Director: Brett Ratner

Writer(s): Noah Baumbach, Bill Collage, Adam Cooper, Leslie Dixon, Russell Gewirtz, Ted Griffin, Jeff Nathanson, Rawson Marshall Thuber

Cast: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni, Michael Pena, Alan Alda, Gabourey Sidibe, Judd Hirsch

Synopsis: When a group of hard working guys find out they've fallen victim to a wealthy business man's Ponzi scheme, they conspire to rob his high-rise residence.

Release Date:  February 25, 2011

Directors:  Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly

Writer(s):  Pete Jones, Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Kevin Barnett

Cast:  Owen Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jason Sudeikis, Alyssa Milano, Jenna Fischer, Vanessa Angel, Alexandra Daddario, Richard Jenkins

Synopsis:  A married man is granted the opportunity to have an affair by his wife. Joined in the fun by his best pal, things get a little out of control when both wives start engaging in extramarital activities as well.

Release Date: April 29, 2011

Director:Mike Disa

Writer(s):Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards, Tony Leech

Cast: Hayden Panettiere, Joan Cusack, Bill Hader, Patrick Warburton, Amy Poehler, Glenn Close, Brad Garrett, Cheech Marin, Martin Short, Tommy Chong, Andy Dick

Synopsis: Hood vs. Evil will find a teen such as Red Riding Hood who will be training in a distant land with a mysterious, covert group called the Sister Hoods. When Red and the Wolf get called upon by Nick Flippers the head of the Happily Ever After Agency over to investigate the disappearance of Hansel and Gretel.

Release Date: October 21, 2011

Director: Tod Williams

Writer(s): Christopher B. Landon, Oren Peli, Michael R. Perry

Cast: Katie Featherston

Synopsis: As of right now, there's no official word on what this new chapter in the "Paranormal Activity" franchise is about. However, with the roaring financial success of the previous films, it seems Hollywood is already set to announce plans for another sequel as early as next year. Although there's no official plot released as of yet, you can bet there will be a lot more bone chilling moments with subtle use of documentary style camera angles, shadow movements, and more psychological terrifying moments. Be sure to enjoy your pleasant nights sleeping for now, as you probably won't get any once this new chapter hits to terrify audiences again in multiplexes.

Release Date: April 22, 2011

Director: Gonzalo Lopez

Writer(s): Brian Miller

Cast: N/A

Synopsis: Set to be shot documentary style, the film unearths lost footage from Apollo 18's undocumented and covert mission to the moon, revealing disturbing new evidence of other life forms.

Release Date:  TBA 2011

Directors: Michael Bartlett, Kevin Gates

Writer(s):  Michael Bartlett, James Fisher, Brett Weldele

Cast:  Robert Kazinsky, Jurgen Prochnow, James Fisher

Synopsis:  Set in London in a bleak and dystopian future, TIMELESS tells the story of Warren. He's a hit-man who has been taken under the wing of the questionable business man, Sloane. Warren's world changes forever one day when Sloane forced him to break one his rules which he always abides by. He then finds himself plunged into a world where all is not what it may seem. He suddenly has the power to travel back in time to wrong the rights of the past. But as events unfold, Warren must soon face a terrible conundrum. Is he truly traveling in time, or is he simply losing his mind? TIMELESS is a powerful story of lost love, redemption and one man's addiction to saving his soul-mate ... from himself.

Release Date:  March 2011

Director:  Kevin Munroe

Writer(s):  Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, Tiziano Sclavi

Cast:  Brandon Routh, Peter Stormare, Taye Diggs

Synopsis:  The adventures of supernatural private eye, Dylan Dog, who seeks out the monsters of the Louisiana bayou in his signature red shirt, black jacket, and blue jeans.

Release Date: TBA 2011

Director: Tibor Takacs

Writer(s): Joseph Farrugia, Tibor Takacs

Cast: Patrick Muldoon, Christa Campbell, William Hope, Jon Mack, Shelly Varod, Sydney Sweeney, Christian Contreras, Sarah Brown, John Laskowski, Owen Davis, J. Steele, Lincoln Frager, Brian Hankey

Synopsis:  Set to be released sometime next year, but no official word on the exact story for this film; outside the fact that it involves giant Spiders running around and terrorizing a large city.  Oh and it's in 3-D also.  Oh what fun.  Now you get to see giant mutant spiders terrorizing people in 3-D!  For those of you who couldn't tell, I was being sarcastic.  This film just sounds lame the more and more I read about it. 

Release Date: January 7, 2011

Director: Dominic Sena

Writer(s): Bragi F. Schut

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy, Christopher Lee

Synopsis: A 14th century Crusader returns to a homeland devastated by the Black Plague. A beleaguered church, deeming sorcery the culprit of the plague, commands the two knights to transport an accused witch to a remote abbey, where monks will perform a ritual in hopes of ending the pestilence. A priest, a grieving knight, a disgraced itinerant and a headstrong youth who can only dream of becoming a knight join a mission troubled by mythically hostile wilderness and fierce contention over the fate of the girl. When the embattled party arrives at the abbey, a horrific discovery jeopardises the knight's pledge to ensure the girl fair treatment, and pits them against an inexplicably powerful and destructive force.

I know I claimed this movie was going to come out this year, in my film previews of 2010. However, due to production delays, this film was pushed back to early next year, 2011. I apologize again for the inconvenience to those that read last year's film previews by me.

Release Date: January 21, 2011

Director: Ivan Reitman

Writer(s): Elizabeth Meriwether

Cast: Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Cary Elwes, Lake Bell, Kevin Kline

Synopsis: A guy and girl try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it's not long before they learn that they want something more.

Oh great. Another year where we have two movies that have very similar plots...what are the odds?!?  (refer to part one of the 2011 previews that features the film, "Friends with Benefits") 

Release Date:  January 14, 2011

Directors:  Tony Jaa, Panna Rittikrai

Writer(s):  Tony Jaa, Panna Rittikrai

Cast:  Tony Jaa, Sorapong Chatree, Nirut Sirichanya

Synopsis:  Ong Bak 3 picks up where Ong Bak 2 had left off. Tien is captured and almost beaten to death before he is saved and brought back to the Kana Khone villagers. There he is taught meditation and how to deal with his Karma, but very soon his arch rival returns challenging Tien for a final duel.

Release Date: January 28, 2011

Director: Angel Gracia

Writer(s): Fina Torres, Luis Alfaro, Craig Fernandez, Jane Austen

Cast: Camilla Belle, Alexa Vega, April Bowby, Wilmer Valderrama, Nicolas D' Agosto, Kuno Becker, Adriana Barraza, Karla Souza, Alexis Ayala, Begona Narvaez, Leticia Fabian

Synopsis: Somewhat of a remake of Jane Austen's film, "Sense and Sensibility, with a latin twist.

Two spoiled sisters who have been left penniless after their father's sudden death are forced to move in with their estranged aunt in East Los Angeles.

Release Date: January 28, 2011

Director: Gus Van Sant

Writer(s): Jason Lew

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Ryo Kase

Synopsis: The story of a terminally ill teenage girl who falls for a boy who likes to attend funerals and their encounters with the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot from WWII.

Previously titled the " Untitled Gus Van Sant Project", it seems recently the name was decided on "Restless." Although I just barely heard about this movie recently, it sounds like a pretty good drama. Hence, I might consider seeing this movie sometime next year if the trailer is any indication how good the movie is.

Release Date: January 28, 2011

Director: Mikael Hafstrom

Writer(s): Michael Petroni, Matt Baglio

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O'Donoghue, Ciaran Hinds, Alice Braga, Toby Jones, Rutger Hauer

Synopsis: An American priest travels to Italy to study at an exorcism school. Only to end with more than they bargained for when a young girl visits them that claims to be possessed.

"The Rite" is inspired by true events that allegedly happened in the Vatican. Whether you want to believe that or not, that's how this film is being promoted. Although I find it hard to believe that any exorcism film could be better than the classic "Exorcist" movie. I do think this one has a unique concept of having the story take place in the Vatican; something that may even entice me to check out this film when it's released.

Release Date: April 22, 2011

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Writer(s): Lem Dobbs

Cast: Gina Carano, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton

Synopsis: Beautiful freelance covert operative Mallory Kane is hired out by her handler to various global entities to perform jobs which governments can't authorize and heads of state would rather not know about. After a mission to rescue a hostage in Barcelona, Mallory is quickly dispatched on another mission to Dublin. When the operation goes awry and Mallory finds she has been double crossed, she needs to use all of her skills, tricks and abilities to escape an international manhunt, make it back to the United States, protect her family, and exact revenge on those that have betrayed her.

Release Date:  July 1, 2011

Director:  Tom Hanks

Writer(s):  Tom Hanks, Nia Vardalos

Cast:  Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Rob Riggle, Nia Vardalos, Cedric the Entertainer, George Takei, Pam Grier

Synopsis:  Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband. The simple guy who has every reason to think his life has stalled will come to learn an unexpected lesson: when you think everything worth having has passed you by, you just might discover your reason to live.  

Release Date: February 11, 2011

Director: Jon Chu

Cast: Justin Beiber, Miley Cyrus, Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris

Synopsis: Uh oh. The only thing worse than having to spend a damn fortune on Valentine's day to impress your lover, it's having to endure this piece of utter garbage. Boy, do I ever feel sorry for some of you guys out there that have girlfriends, who're huge Justin Beiber fans, as you know you'll probably get dragged to see this documentary around Valentine's day.

Anyways, for those curious on what this documentary is about. It basically chronicles Justin Beiber's career thus far, along with some footage from his 2010 concert tour.

Release Date: February 18, 2011

Director: Josh Radnor

Writer(s): Josh Radnor

Cast: Josh Radnor, Malin Akerman, Zoe Kazan, Michael Algieri, Richard Jenkins

Synopsis: Six New Yorkers juggle love, friendship, and the keenly challenging specter of adulthood. Sam Wexler is a struggling writer who's having a particularly bad day. When a young boy gets separated from his family on the subway, Sam makes the questionable decision to bring the child back to his apartment and thus begins a rewarding, yet complicated, friendship. Sam's life revolves around his friends-Annie, whose self-image keeps her from commitment; Charlie and Mary Catherine, a couple whose possible move to Los Angeles tests their relationship; and Mississippi, a cabaret singer who catches Sam's eye.

Release Date: December 16, 2011

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writer(s): Arthur Conan Doyle, Kieran Mulroney, Michele Mulroney

Cast: Rachel McAdams, Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris

Synopsis: Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.

Unfortunately, this film still hasn't received an official title as of yet. However, it's expected to be released next year.

Release Date: March 11, 2011

Director: Simon Wells

Writer(s): Simon Wells, Wendy Wells, Berkeley Breathed

Cast: Seth Green, Joan Cusack, Dan Fogler, Elisabeth Harnois

Synopsis: Based on a children book. A young boy named Milo gains a deeper appreciation for his mom after Martians come to Earth to take her away.

The story sounds a bit lame if you ask me, but it sounds like it should be a lot of fun for the kiddies to watch. Of course, it's also in 3-D, so you parents out there might end up forking over a few extra bucks to see this one....

Release Date: TBA 2011

Director: Dennis Dugan

Writer(s): Steve Koren, Robert Smigel, Ben Zook

Cast: Adam Sandler, Al Pacino, Dana Carvey, Shaquille O'Neal, Regis Philbin, Katie Holmes (rumored)

Synopsis:   In the film, Jack, a family man, deals with his twin sister, Jill, when she visits for Thanksgiving then won't leave. Adam Sandler will play both characters. Katie Holmes would play Sandler's wife; Al Pacino is set to play himself.

Release Date: November 23, 2011

Directors: Barry Cook, Sarah Smith

Writer(s): Sarah Smith, Peter Baynham

Cast: Bill Nighy, James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen, Miggie Donahoe

Synopsis:   Tackling the question that many kids often wonder.....how does Santa deliver all those toys in one night?  This Christmas movie highlights the technological advances of operations at the North Pole, revealing how Santa and his vast army of highly trained elves produce gifts and distribute them around the world in one night. However, every operation has a margin of error… When one of 600 million children to receive a gift from Santa on Christmas Eve is missed, it is deemed "acceptable" to all but one, Arthur. Arthur Claus is Santa’s misfit son who executes an unauthorized rookie mission to get the last present half way around the globe before dawn on Christmas morning. 

Release Date: December 11, 2011

Director: Mike Mitchell

Writer(s): Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger

Cast:  Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Andy Buckley, Tucker Albrizzi

Synopsis: As of right now, there's little if any information on this sequel; other than that it's also referred to as "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Threakquel" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks 3-D." From various sources about the story that I've gathered, it's essentially about how Alvin and his brothers go on a cruise chip, and get stranded on a deserted island. Whether or not their girlfriends, the Chippettes, will be joining them on this little adventure is still up in the air at this point as well.

Release Date:  December 9, 2011

Director:  Garry Marshall

Writer(s):  Katherine Fugate

Cast:  Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert De Niro, Lea Michele, Ashton Kutcher, Hilary Swank, Michelle Pfeiffer, Taylor Swift, Abigail Breslin

Synopsis:  For those of you wondering how could they possibly make a sequel to the romantic comedy, "Valentine's Day", then look no further than this movie set to be released next year around the holidays. 

The lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwine over the course of New Year's Eve.

Release Date: January 14, 2011 (limited)

Director: Richard J. Lewis

Writer(s): Mordecai Richler, Michael Konyves

Cast: Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Jake Hoffman, Minnie Driver, Dustin Hoffman, Scott Speedman

Synopsis: Take a ride through the life and memories of Barney Panofsky, a hard-drinking, cigar-smoking, foulmouthed 65-year old hockey fanatic and television producer, as he reflects on his life's successes and (numerous) gaffes and failures as the final chapters of his own existence come sharply into focus.