Your guide to summer 2011's hottest movies

Biggest buzz

Cowboys & Aliens (7/29). Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are Old West buckaroos who encounter space visitors. (Wloszczyna)

Kung Fu Panda 2. No movie holds up better through the summer than animation for kids. Adults may hanker for something else, but young ones want to get their kung fu on. (Scott Bowles)

The Beaver (5/6). Stars Mel Gibson and is directed by Jodie Foster. Can Gibson overcome his badly tarnished image by talking via a beaver hand puppet? ( Claudia Puig)

Coolest sequels

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (5/20). Here's hoping Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow still has his yo-ho-ho. (Susan Wloszczyna)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (7/15). No other franchise has unfolded as patiently or skillfully as the boy wizard. This isn't a sequel. It's a finale. One not to miss. (Scott Bowles)

Cars 2 (6/24). Can Pixar top itself after hitting animation pinnacles with Up, Wall-E and Toy Story 3? (Claudia Puig)

Most romantic date flicks

Midnight in Paris (5/20). Woody Allen is more miss than hit these days, but word is his 41st feature is a keeper. Cast includes Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard. (Wloszczyna)

Larry Crowne (7/1). Tom Hanks directs himself and Julia Roberts. He's man enough for us guys to watch, and, apparently, cute enough for the chicks. (Bowles)

One Day (7/8) traces the 20-year trajectory of college friends. How can it miss with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess? (Puig)

Family must-sees

Kung Fu Panda 2. If the animated martial-arts comedy comes close to the visual pow and intelligent humor of the original, then a second helping of Jack Black would be welcome. (Wloszczyna)

Zookeeper (7/8). This story of zoo animals who help a zookeeper find the woman of his dreams stars Kevin James as Everyman, and the animals should keep the kids in the cineplex. (Bowles)

Mr. Popper's Penguins (6/17). Stars Jim Carrey and Angela Lansbury. This kids' classic seems like a perfect fit for Carrey's zanier side. Plus, who can resist that resonant Mrs. Potts voice? (Puig)

Just for adults

Larry Crowne. Tom Hanks is a down-sized worker who returns to college and falls for teacher Julia Roberts. (Wloszczyna)

The Tree of Life (5/27). Director Terrence Malick is back with this sci-fi drama about the loss of innocence in the 1950's starring Sean Penn as Brad Pitt's grown son. (Bowles)

Breakout hits

The Help (8/12). A weeper based on the best-seller about black maids in the South during the '60s. (Wloszczyna)

Captain America (7/22). Our comic-book heroes have been lackluster of late, but Captain America has always resonated between the coasts. (Bowles)

A Better Life (6/24) about a Mexican illegal immigrant working as a gardener in Los Angeles has been likened to the poignant Oscar-nominated The Visitor. (Puig)

Sexiest superheroes

Thor (5/6). Leathery armor, massive biceps and a really big hammer. What's not to like? (Wloszczyna)

Green Lantern (6/17). A close call, but Ryan Reynolds is the leader until other spandex-clad stars prove they also can do romantic comedy. (Bowles)

Captain America. The Army transforms Chris Evans from a brave but scrawny weakling into a super-soldier. Shirtless scenes and tight T-shirts attest to his new brawn. (Puig)

Guaranteed laughs

Bridesmaids (5/13). The gals get down and dirty as SNL's Kristen Wiig stars as a clueless maid of honor. Bonus: Shirtless Jon Hamm. (Wloszczyna)

The Hangover Part II (5/26). Director Todd Philips (Old School and Road Trip) is the funniest American director outside of Judd Apatow. (Bowles)

The Hangover Part II. If it's anything like the first crazy go-round, audiences will love that what happened in Vegas gets revisited. (Puig)

My must-sees

Super 8 (6/10) With J.J. Abrams directing/writing and Steven Spielberg producing, the kid- centric sci-fi trip could be this generation's answer to E.T. (Wloszczyna)

Thor. How will director Kenneth Branagh make an ancient superhero relevant to fanboys? (Bowles)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 ends the 7-part saga. The final installment is required viewing for any family living in the 21st century. (Puig)