No question, alongside The Hobbit , Chris Nolan's The Dark Knight is one of the most highly anticipated blockbusters of the year.
It opens July 19, wrapping up what is bound to go down in cinematic history as one of the most epic trilogies ever.
Keeping with comicbook superheroes, Spider-Man gets a reboot this year with Andrew Garfield in the suit. The Amazing Spider-Man also opens in July.
Any new release from Pixar is reason to get amped, and their next offering looks like a step out of the Pixar box. It's called Brave, and it looks like a nominee for the next big thing.
Bourne again but not as we know it, without Matt Damon and without Paul Greengress at the helm. The Bourne Legacy instead stars Jeremy Renner. Will fans still embrace the series? We will find out in August.
Now next up after his Narnia outings, Kiwi filmmaker Andrew Adamson returns to the director's chair in 2012 for the much anticipated Lloyd Jones penned book to screen adaptation of Mister Pip. Shot in Papua New Guinea and Invercargill, British actor Hugh Laurie takes on the lead role. Kiwi actress Kerry Fox also stars.
Kiwi superstar Karl Urban takes a break from Star Trekking across the universe this year to instead take over from Sylvester Stallone - praise be - as the new Judge Dredd. In Dredd 3D. He promises no helmet will be removed in the making of this movie.
In November, cue the gnashing of Twihard teeth as the Twilight saga draws to a super mega-million dollar close, with Breaking Dawn: Part 2 taking it's bow from November 15.
Two big-hitters take the year out for us. The first is the delayed return and welcome sight of 007. Bond 23 with Daniel Craig in the dinner jacket. It’s called Skyfall and lands late November.
And to wrap up 2012? Of course, it’s Peter Jackson, Bilbo and his 13 dwarves. Set to dominate the box office globally, this first of Jackson's two 3D hobbit movies - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey takes over the world on December 13, and serves up an epic end to 2012.
3 News
For those of us feeling a little jaded after a fairly lack-lustre year of cinema, Martin Scorsese saves us from falling into the abyss.
Hugo is his first foray into 3D and is a masterpiece of storytelling, reminding us all of the enduring magic of the movies, a must see for all ages.
David Fincher's also back, with his version of the enormously successful The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. See what he and Daniel Craig can do with this dark and violent Swedish thriller, when it arrives in Kiwi cinemas in late January.
Swedish director Tomas Alfredson takes on the most British of stories this year; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, with Oscar buzz abounding for Gary Oldman.
The first out of the kiwi starting blocks for 2012 will be the return of the duck rockers. Siones 2: Unfinished Business hits screens on January 19.
George Clooney's form in Alexander Payne's The Descendants is getting plenty of awards chat, as is the film and director, deservedly.
Tilda Swinton's no stranger to the awards podium and we could see her up there again with her outstanding performance in We Need To Talk About Kevin, a gruelling watch but an excellent one. It hits here early February.
2011 was the year of the Gosling and he kicks of 2012 nicely as well with his Clooney pic Ides Of March, landing in February.
Michael Fassbender may get an Oscar nomination for shame, so might Carey Mulligan, which opens February.
Keeping it Kiwi this year, we've got a several to keep an eye out for.
While Conchord Bret McKenzie could yet tempt Oscar with his song-writing skills in The Muppets movie, he's also on the big screen in two little boys. Shot in and around Invercargill, it opens in March.
We also have a film called The Most Fun You Can Have Dying starring Matt Whelan (star of My Wedding And Other Secrets) hitting town late April.
There is enormous hype for the book to big screen blockbuster The Hunger Games. With a massive fan base frothing at the mouth for this first of no doubt many sequels, this could be the new potter.
The Avengers is the bargain movie of the year. For the ticket price you get Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, and a host of other superheroes. Sign me up.
Now one film I'm really, really excited about is Ridley Scott returning to his alien past for Prometheus.
This entire project has been shrouded in secrecy, rumoured to be a prequel to the earlier Aliens series and due to land on planet Earth in June.
3 News