The May 4 opening of “Marvel’s The Avengers” is a sure sign that another jam-packed summer movie season is officially upon us.

Besides being, first and foremost, pure escapism, the new movie also fits the bill in a number of other ways: It’s heavy on big-budget action and special effects; it’s about a bunch of comic-book superheroes; and, even though it isn’t technically a sequel, prequel, remake or reboot, in a sense it is akin to watching “Iron Man IV,” a third “Hulk,” “Captain America 2” plus “Thor 2” all rolled into one.

Opening dates are subject to change, but here are some of the highlights (and lowlights) of the months ahead:

MAY 11:

Reboot of the week: Based on the ’60s TV soap opera and cult favorite, “Dark Shadows” reunites frequent collaborators Johnny Depp (as the vampire Barnabas Collins) and director Tim Burton. Michelle Pfeiffer co-stars.

In “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith retire to India.

A stray dog becomes a “Darling Companion” to foundering married couple Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline.

MAY 16:

Move over, Borat and Bruno. In his latest raucous comedy, “The Dictator,” Sasha Baron Cohen plays a Middle East leader stranded in New York City.

MAY 18:

Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and Elizabeth Banks are pregnant women who learn “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”

No kidding, the action-packed “Battleship” is “inspired by” a popular board game.

MAY 25:

Sequel of the week: The effects-driven sci-fi comedy “Men in Black 3” reteams Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (who’s played by Josh Brolin in flashbacks).

“Chernobyl Diaries” is another faux-documentary suspense thriller from the makers of “Paranormal Activity.”

JUNE 1:

Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth have the title roles in the dark fairy tale “Snow White and the Huntsman,” with Charlize Theron as the evil Queen Ravenna.

Sequel of the week: the horror movie “Piranha 3DD.”

JUNE 8:

Prequel of the week: Director Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus,” a preamble to his outer space classic “Alien,” features Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace.

Sequel of the week: the animated family flick “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.”

Jane Fonda and Catherine Keener co-star in the promising mother-daughter comedy “Peace, Love & Misunderstanding.”

JUNE 15:

The questionable father-son comedy “That’s My Boy” co-stars Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg.

From Adam Shankman, the director of “Hairspray” (fittingly enough), comes the musical-comedy “Rock of Ages,” about an ’80s big-hair band fronted by Tom Cruise as one Stacee Jaxx.

The stellar ensemble of director Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom” includes Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis and Tilda Swinton.

JUNE 22:

In an apocalyptic romantic comedy, Steve Carell and Keira Knightley are “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.”

Pixar’s latest animated family film, “Brave,” is its first to feature a girl as the main character.

“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.” Enough said.

JUNE 29:

Sequel of the week: “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” with Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, Bruce Willis and Channing Tatum.

Tatum also stars in “Magic Mike,” directed by Steven Soderbergh, based on the true story of the actor’s own early years as a male stripper.

Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks play half siblings in the drama “People Like Us.”

Emily Blunt and Rosemary DeWitt play half siblings in the comedy “Your Sister’s Sister.”

Sequel of the week, part two: “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection.”

JULY 3:

Reboot of the week: In “The Amazing Spider-Man,” Andrew Garfield takes over the role of the comic-book superhero from Tobey Maguire, with Marc Webb in the director’s chair formerly occupied by Sam Raimi.

JULY 5:

“Katy Perry: Part of Me” is a 3-D concert movie.

JULY 6:

Director Oliver Stone’s gritty drug-dealing drama “Savages” features Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek and John Travolta.

JULY 13:

In the comedy “Ted,” Mark Wahlberg’s childhood teddy bear comes to life. Mila Kunis co-stars.

Sequel of the week: the animated family flick “Ice Age: Continental Drift.”

JULY 20:

Sequel of the week: Christian Bale returns as the caped crusader in the latest installment of the Batman franchise, “The Dark Knight Rises.” New to the mix are Anne Hathaway (as Catwoman), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard and Tom Hardy.

JULY 25:

“Ruby Sparks” is a new romantic comedy from the co-directors of “Little Miss Sunshine” (Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris).

JULY 27:

Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill play volunteer crime fighters in the comedy “Neighborhood Watch.” Hilarity reportedly ensues.

Sequel of the week: the dance movie “Step Up Revolution.”

AUG. 3:

Reboot of the week: Jeremy Renner steps in for Matt Damon in the action-packed espionage thriller “The Bourne Legacy.”

Remake of the week: Colin Farrell assumes Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role in the effects-driven futuristic thriller “Total Recall.”

Sequel of the week: “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.”

AUG. 10:

The more sophisticated comedy “Hope Springs” casts Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as longtime spouses who seek marriage counseling from Steve Carell.

The less sophisticated comedy “The Campaign” casts Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as political opponents.

AUG. 15:

“The Odd Life of Timothy Green” co-stars Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton as sudden parents to a mysterious 10-year-old boy.

AUG. 17:

Remake of the week: In “Sparkle,” the late Whitney Houston plays the inspiring mother of an aspiring singer (Jordin Sparks in the original Irene Cara part).

Sequel of the week: Sylvester Stallone, et al. return for “The Expendables 2.”

“Paranorman” is a stop-motion-animated film from the makers of “Coraline.”

AUG. 24:

Bike messenger Joseph Gordon-Levitt runs afoul of crooked cop Michael Shannon in the “Premium Rush.”

AUG. 31:

The Prohibition-era crime drama “Lawless” features Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain and Guy Pearce.