With summer just around the corner, a tidal wave of new movie releases will hit theaters. Here are five must-see films that will be perfect additions to any vacation plans.

The Dark Knight Rises

Considered by many to be one of the most anticipated releases of the summer, the conclusion to the DC Comics-based series will premiere in July. The Dark Knight Rises, the third movie in the Batman trilogy, serves as the sequel to the widely successful Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008). The screenplay, co-written by brothers Christopher and Jonathan Nolan, still includes Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, but two new villains from the comics are introduced: Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) and Bane (Tom Hardy). The movie follows Batman eight years after the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent as he deals with both the Gotham City Police Department and Bane’s attempts to destroy the city. Featuring both seemingly innocuous conversations and intense fight scenes, The Dark Knight Rises is a must-see in the coming summer vacation.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

This uniquely historical fantasy film, based on the novel with the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith, is directed by Timur Bekmambetov and co-produced by Bekmambetov and Tim Burton. According to the movie’s official site, the dark yet comically twisted storyline is accentuated by dramatic 3D effects and hyperbolic plot twists, as the axe-wielding Abraham Lincoln fights off “vampires and their slave-owning helpers”. The film follows Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) on his quest as a vampire hunter; his goal is to avenge his mother’s death and kill as many vampires as possible.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is the third installment in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, based on the set of childrens’ fiction novels by Jeff Kinney. With the same eccentric characters of Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron), and the rest of the Heffley family, the film, directed by David Bowers, can be a great family-friendly addition to any day. With scenes from both the third and fourth Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, The Last Straw and Dog Days, the movie covers the innocent summer adventures of Greg and Rowley as they experience their preteen and teenage years.

Men In Black III

With returning actors Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, the revival of the Men In Black series is not a movie to miss this summer break. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the films are based off the Lowell Cunningham comic The Men In Black. After Agent J (Smith) realizes his fellow partner Agent K (Jones) and the world’s fate is in his hands, he must go back in time to 1969 in order to fix the problems in the present. Working with the young Agent K, played by Josh Brolin, J must save the world, the agency he works for, and the life of his dear friend. MIB³, 10 years after the release of Men In Black II, is a perfect action film to see while on vacation.

To Rome With Love

This Woody Allen-directed romantic comedy set in Rome is another upcoming release for the summer. Starring renowned actors and actresses such as Alec Baldwin, Penélope Cruz, Jesse Eisenberg, and Woody Allen himself, the film features dialogue in both Italian and English, along with a range of shots displaying Rome’s distinct atmosphere. Following four different stories of people in Italy—whether they be residents, visitors, Americans, or Italians—To Rome With Love outlines the predicaments they find themselves in and how they deal with them. The film’s release date is set for August, a charming way to end the summer.

This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on May 18, 2012.