2012 Promises A Slew Of Box Office Blockbusters

By Michael Lopez

Notice anything interesting at your local movie theater? We may still be in December, but the 2012 blockbuster posters are already going up. And judging by the trailers and teaser pix we've seen so far, there is A LOT to get excited about.

One of next year's most anticipated flicks is clearly The Dark Knight Rises. This third installment of the Christopher Nolan Batman franchise may be its last, but we expect it to go out with a bang! Still shrouded in secrecy, there are reports about famous Gotham villains like Catwoman, Bane, and Ra's al Ghul causing on screen havoc. But even more interesting are the rumors about a caped crusader sidekick. Could Joseph Gordon Levitt be sliding into Robin's tights? We'll find out on July 20.

Another biggie is undoubtedly The Avengers. A who's who of the Marvel universe, this fanboy fest promises killer scenes with Iron Man, Captain America, and the Incredible Hulk. And if that weren't enough, it's got sci-fi god Joss Whedon at the helm! Look for The Avengers to arrive on May 4.

And speaking of fantasy, Middle Earth fans are chomping at the bit to get a glimpse of the first Hobbit scenes. A prequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, this epic two-part movie saga promises to expand the legend and will bring back a ton of your favorite characters. Expect to see Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, and Orlando Bloom return to their signature roles. Even fan fave Gollum is slated to make an appearance.

Another biggie to look out for is The Hunger Games. Based on the bestselling novel, it mixes in action, sci-fi, and plenty of conspiracy theories. Original author Suzanne Collins has signed on to adapt the screenplay, so you can bet it will keep all of the book's thrills intact.

In the comedy world, Men In Black III will definitely be packing seats on Memorial Day weekend. This latest installment's got Will Smith, weird aliens, and a bit of 20th century time traveling.

There will also be a ton of Tr3s faves making their mark on the big screen next year. Expect strong box office numbers from Sofia Vergara's Three Stooges movie. The Amazing Spider-Man with Martin Sheen should rake in a huge lump of cash too. We're also extremely stoked to see Javier Bardem duke it out with James Bond in Skyfall.

So keep racking up those movie theater rewards points, because next year there will be plenty of reasons to plant yourself in front of the big screen!

Which 2012 movies are you most exicted about? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 2012 Movies, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Hot Stuff, James Bond, Javier Bardem, Joss Whedon, Men in Black III, Movies & CineMás, skyfall, sofia vergara, Suzanne Collins, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit, The Hunger Games, The Lord Of The Rings, The Three Stooges