THE SIX DEGREES OF SUMMER: FILMS

(Fox Atomic/20th Century Fox)

OPENS > July 10

SO WHAT? Based on the book by Larry Doyle (who also wrote the screenplay), everyone’s fave super-powered cheerleader-Hayden Panettiere-plays Beth Cooper, who is called out as the object of the class valedictorian’s (Paul Rust) affection during his graduation speech. The two end up spending the evening avoiding crazed exes, eating ice cream and tearing around the city in the tiniest SUV ever (so, basically Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist, for the summer).

Beth Cooper director Chris Columbus helmed the first two Harry Potter flicks: 2001’s Sorcerer’s Stone and 2002’s Chamber Of Secrets.

2. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

(Warner Bros.)

OPENS > July 17

SO WHAT? Do we even need to say it? Young and old alike are seriously stoked for the cinematic version of Harry Potter’s sixth installment. Whereas previous films have only hinted at the pure evil of Lord Voldemort, this chapter delves deep inside what made Tom Riddle into the nastiest being known to wizard-and will give Harry Potter & Co. clues to their own survival.

David Thewlis, who plays the full moon-challenged Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter films, is the real-life boyfriend of Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), who’ll grace the silver screen this summer in Land Of The Lost.

3. LAND OF THE LOST

(Universal)

OPENS > June 5

SO WHAT? Will Ferrell, Danny McBride and Friel star in this big-screen adaptation of the campy 1970s TV series of the same name (you may also remember the briefly lived ’90s series, too). If you don’t, Ferrell plays a scientist who suddenly finds himself living in a prehistoric era. Ferrell + McBride + dinosaurs + purposefully cheesy effects = Golden Summer FunTM.

Both Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel, who stars in (500) Days Of Summer, have sang in several of their respective movies. Everyone knows they sang "Baby, It’s Cold Outside" together in 2003’s Elf, but they both also performed songs for Winter Passing, the 2006 film in which they again co-starred.

4. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

(Fox Searchlight)

OPENS > July 17 (limited)

SO WHAT? Here’s what we know: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Brick, Stop-Loss) works for a greeting card company. Okay, that’s adorable. He falls for super-cute new co-worker Summer (the super-cute in real life Deschenal), when she tells him she loves the Smiths in the elevator at work. Okay, that’s even more adorable. And even though this is a countdown of the days in the couple’s relationship after the breakup happens, we still wanna see it and cheer for Team Love. Who wouldn’t want to see these two end up together? (Besides Ben Gibbard, that is.)

Okay, stick with us, here: (500) Days Of Summer is director Marc Webb’s first feature-length film. He’s more widely known for directing music vids for bands such as My Chemical Romance, the All-American Rejects and Jimmy Eat World. He directed the video for My Chem’s "Helena," which was a song prominently featured in House Of Wax, which starred Jared Padalecki, who in turn played Dean Forester for five years on Gilmore Girls, alongside Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore), who is now starring in this August’s Post-Grad Survival Guide… See what we did there?

5. POST-GRAD SURVIVAL GUIDE

(Fox Atomic)

OPENS > August 14

SO WHAT? If you’re graduating this spring, take note: Our economy is in recession. But if you and your shiny degree are having trouble landing a job in these tough times, take heart. You can move back home with your parents, take a random, beneath-you job, and a quirky, feel-good comedy will ensue (who knows? You might even meet your dream guy/gal in the process). Wait, does that sound like a movie plot? It is. And it stars Alexis Bledel (Rory of Gilmour Girls fame). At least she’s still getting work.

Both Bledel and Rob Zombie have graced the pages of AP. Bledel in AP 202 (May 2005), for her turn in Sin City, and Rob Zombie was featured on the covers of AP 81 (April 1995), AP 128 (March 1999( and AP 161 (December 2001).

6. H2: HALLOWEEN 2

(Dimension)

OPENS > August 28

SO WHAT? Apparently eleventy-seven entries into the Mike Meyers slasher franchise (counting originals, sequels, trilogies, spin-offs and remakes) simply weren’t enough. Director Rob Zombie (you may know him from that one band he was in) is back with his second version of Halloween. His first one surprisingly did not suck, so we’re definitely down to see what kind of crazy twist he puts on the sequel. Plus, by the end of August, we’re more than ready for a scary movie to add some chill to the oppressive summer heat and humidity.

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