Summer of Sequels

Do it again, do it again, you like it, you like it!

That’s the cheer this time of year — at least at the multiplex, where an especially virulent case of sequelitis could power Hollywood to a record-breaking summer.

Leading off the summer movie season last weekend, “Spider-Man 3” slugged a grand slam — racking up a record $151 million in its first three days and accounting for 80 percent of the tickets sold at North American box offices.

And there’s plenty more where that came from, with 13 additional sequels (including the Vegas-set “Ocean’s Thirteen”) arriving before Labor Day.

That number’s not quite a record, according to veteran box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Media by Numbers, citing 2003’s 15-sequel summer lineup.

But many observers think 2007 could mark Hollywood’s first $4 billion box-office summer, thanks in large part to repeat visits with such big-screen favorites as Spidey, the animated ogre Shrek, teen wizard Harry Potter and “Pirates of the Caribbean’s” Capt. Jack Sparrow.

“Clearly, the public loves these sequels — they’re established brands,” comments Rafe Cohen, president of Galaxy Theatres, which operates multiplexes at the Cannery and Neonopolis and is considering a third Southern Nevada location. “They’re invested in the concept and they know the characters.”

And while “people complain about the lack of originality,” Dergarabedian says, “they seem to like those brands they can count on.”

Take “Spider-Man 3.” Critics (including this one) warned moviegoers that it was the least of the three installments (so far) based on the Marvel Comics favorite, but that didn’t stop record numbers of moviegoers from being snared in the movie’s web.

“The marketing is so good, people are going to get caught up in the fervor,” in Dergarabedian’s view. And “Spider-Man 3’s” success is “a great way to immediately set the tone for summer in a positive way.”

For audiences, “it’s the energy” surrounding a sequel’s at-long-last arrival that cements its appeal, Cohen says. “You go to opening day and the crowd is pumped up, ‘Star Wars’ is opening and they’ve been camping out, the movie starts, and the energy and excitement” explode. “That’s such a thrill.”

In many cases, opening day is opening night, with midnight shows launching round-the-clock screenings for the biggest “can’t-wait” attractions.

“It takes a lot of great marketing to pull people out of their easy chairs, drive their cars filled with expensive gas and buy expensive movie tickets, but put ‘Shrek 3’ out there and no one’s thinking about how much it costs,” Dergarabedian says. “If you love the movie, it’s never a bad value.”

Not every sequel coming this summer looms as a can’t-miss, however.

“What’s the expiration date on a sequel?” Dergarabedian wonders. After all, it’s been 12 years since Bruce Willis battled bad guys in a “Die Hard” movie. He’ll try again June 29 in “Live Free or Die Hard,” but “you’ve got to hope people are still intrigued by the concept or the character.”

Especially with multiple movies clogging the cinematic onramp, waiting to zoom into multiplexes.

“We live in an unforgiving world,” Galaxy’s Cohen acknowledges. “You’ve got two weeks and you’d better perform. If you have three to four new films” and one’s not attracting audiences, “you pull from the bottom.”

With so many multiplexes competing in Southern Nevada, however, “you have a window of opportunity,” Cohen adds. “That’s one of the strengths of this market, because they’re all big complexes.”

Despite their dominance, sequels aren’t the only seemingly sure things this summer.

On the comedy front, those wonderful folks who brought you “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” reteam for another raucous comedy, “Knocked Up,” in which stoner Seth Rogen and stunner Katherine Heigl deal with the life-altering consequences of a one-night stand.

Multiple remakes range from John Travolta’s return to musicals in “Hairspray” to a live-action version of the cartoon “Transformers” which captivated kids in the ’80s.

In the animation department, penguins continue their march in “Surf’s Up,” while TV’s favorite cartoon clan hits the big screen in “The Simpsons Movie.” And Pixar, which has become as trusted an animation brand as its corporate parent, Disney, has a new entry, “Ratatouille.”

“On paper, it looks like the perfect summer,” Dergarabedian says. And while audiences sometimes succumb to “blockbuster fatigue,” this summer’s lineup offers “a good enough mix of different types of movies” to guarantee the proverbial something for everyone.

To help you separate the can’t-miss from the wait-for-DVD, here’s a tipsheet on the summer’s major releases. (Keep in mind that release dates are subject to change.) So stock up on the Visine, pass the popcorn — and roll ’em!

SEQUELITIS HOLLYWOODITIS

A host of sequels flex their muscles in a summer with a decidedly familiar look:

“Shrek the Third” — It’s back to the land of Far, Far Away as the big green guy (once again voiced by Mike Myers) and pals become embroiled in a fight for the throne. Justin Timberlake joins returnees Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas and Rupert Everett in the vocal cast. (May 18)

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” — Yo, ho, yo, ho, a pirate’s life is definitely endangered, as Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and friends (Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom) team up with a former foe (Geoffrey Rush) and other brigands in a do-or-die clash to rule the seas. (May 25)

“Hostel: Part II” — More gore’s in store at that sinister Slovakian hotel, where three American exchange students (Lauren German, Bijou Phillips, Heather Matarazzo) check in for a getaway stay that threatens to slay them. (June 8)

“Ocean’s Thirteen” — When a casino owner (new addition Al Pacino) double-crosses Reuben (Elliott Gould), Danny (George Clooney) and the gang (including Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle and Andy Garcia) return to Neon Nirvana to avenge their pal. (June 8).

“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” — A new superpowered rival (played by Doug Jones, voiced by Laurence Fishburne), along with the returning Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon), give the Marvel-ous foursome (Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis) some trouble. (June 15)

“Evan Almighty” — Obnoxious “Bruce Almighty” anchorman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell), newly elected to Congress, finds an even greater calling when the Almighty (Morgan Freeman) instructs him to make like Noah and build an ark. (June 22)

“Live Free or Die Hard” — After a dozen years, detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) returns to action, battling high-tech terrorists plotting to shut down the U.S. economy. (June 27)

“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” — Trouble’s brewing as Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) begins his fifth year at Hogwarts, where an authoritarian bureaucrat seizes power — and doubts Harry’s claims that the villainous Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned. (July 13)

“The Bourne Ultimatum” — After a Moscow shootout, title spy Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) races to uncover the final clues to his past before a government agent tracks him down. Julia Stiles, Chris Cooper, Joan Allen and Brian Cox return, as does “Bourne Supremacy” director Paul Greengrass. (Aug. 3)

“Daddy Day Camp” — In a who-asked-for-it sequel to 2003’s “Daddy Day Care,” Charlie (Cuba Gooding Jr., taking over from Eddie Murphy) and Phil (Paul Rae, replacing Jeff Garlin) operate the title summer camp. (Aug. 8)

“Rush Hour 3” — After taking Las Vegas by storm in 2001’s “Rush Hour 2,” detectives Lee (Jackie Chan) and Carter (Chris Tucker) head to Paris, where they tangle with Chinese Triads. (Aug. 10)

“Mr. Bean’s Holiday” — Bumbling Rowan Atkinson’s back in funny business and touring France, where he unwittingly comes between a boy and his father and discovers love, not necessarily in that order. (Aug. 31.)

DO-OVERS

The familiarity factor continues with remakes of movies and TV shows:

“Nancy Drew” — The savvy teenage sleuth (Emma Roberts, Eric’s daughter and Julia’s niece) returns to the big screen, investigating a movie star’s murder while accompanying her father to L.A. (June 15)

“Transformers” — Dueling Autobots and Decepticons use Earth as a battleground, forcing hapless humans to fight back in a big-screen version of the ’80s cartoon hit featuring “Disturbia’s” Shia LaBeouf and “Las Vegas’ ” Josh Duhamel. (July 4)

“Hairspray” — You can’t stop the beat in the Tony-winning musical version of John Waters’ 1988 cult fave, with John Travolta in drag as a plus-size ’60s housewife whose bubbly daughter (newcomer Nikki Blonsky) integrates a TV dance party. Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah and Michelle Pfeiffer top the supporting cast. (July 20)

“No Reservations” — An uptight chef (Catherine Zeta-Jones) finds child care on the menu when she becomes guardian of her niece (“Little Miss Sunshine’s” Abigail Breslin) in a translation of the 2002 German comedy “Mostly Martha.” (July 27)

“The Simpsons Movie” — TV’s favorite cartoon family hits the big screen to pile up the “D’oh” as Homer faces the worst screw-up of a disaster-filled life — and tries to save the world from suffering the consequences. (July 27)

“Rescue Dawn” — Werner Herzog fictionalizes his 1997 documentary “Little Dieter Needs to Fly” as a U.S. fighter pilot (Christian Bale), shot down over Laos during the Vietnam War, leads a POW escape. (July)

“Underdog” — The ’60s cartoon favorite goes live-action as a lab accident zaps a canine (voiced by Jason Lee) with serious superpowers. Patrick Warburton, James Belushi and Peter Dinklage (as the scheming Simon Barsinister) lead the human contingent. (Aug. 3)

“The Invasion” — The aliens-on-the-loose classic “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” inspires yet another remake, this one with Nicole Kidman as a Washington psychiatrist who discovers an extraterrestrial epidemic. (Aug. 17)

COMEDY RELIEF

From high-concept crowd-pleasers to edgy indies, the multiplexes are alive with the sound of laughter:

“Waitress” — A pregnant, small-town waitress (Keri Russell) finds herself caught between an unhappy marriage and a risky affair in this Sundance hit featuring Nathan Fillion and Jeremy Sisto. (May 25)

“Knocked Up” — The “40-Year-Old Virgin” team of writer-director Judd Apatow and co-stars Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann (alias Mrs. Apatow) reunites for a tale of a one-night stand and its all-too-permanent aftermath. “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Katherine Heigl rounds out the starring cast. (June 1)

“License to Wed” — A marriage counselor (Robin Williams) torments an engaged couple (Mandy Moore, “The Office’s” John Krasinski) with a grueling marriage preparation course. (July 4)

“I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry” — Straight, single Brooklyn firefighters (Adam Sandler, Kevin James) pretend to be a gay couple so they can claim domestic partner benefits. (July 20)

“Hot Rod” — A bumbling wannabe stuntman (Andy Samberg) schemes to get back at his abusive stepfather. (Aug. 3)

“Stardust” — A small-town lad (Charlie Cox) promises his beloved he’ll retrieve a star that’s fallen into a nearby magical realm in a fantasy featuring Claire Danes, Ricky Gervais, Peter O’Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro. (Aug. 10)

“Superbad” — When their booze-soaked party plans go awry, high school seniors (Michael Cera, Jonah Hill) face the comic consequences. (Aug. 17)

“The Comebacks” — In this sports-movie spoof, a losing college football coach (David Koechner) vows to whip his latest ragtag team into winning shape. (Aug. 24)

“Good Luck Chuck” — The title character (Dane Cook) breaks up with his longtime girlfriend, who soon becomes engaged to someone else — a pattern that repeats itself with surprising regularity. “Fantastic Four’s” Jessica Alba co-stars. (Aug. 24)

“Balls of Fury” — A former ping-pong phenom (Dan Fogler) goes undercover, targeting the fiendish Feng (Christopher Walken) in the vicious realm of underground ping-pong. (Aug. 31)

THRILLS AND CHILLS

Plenty of things go bump in the night as these releases try to scare up some shocks:

“Mr. Brooks” — A respectable businessman (Kevin Costner) battles his alter-ego (William Hurt), a bloodthirsty serial killer. (June 1)

“1408” — A writer (John Cusack) who specializes in debunking paranormal phenomena checks into a notorious New York City hotel room, confronting genuine terror, in this Stephen King adaptation with Samuel L. Jackson. (July 13)

“The Strangers” — A trio of unknown assailants terrorize a young couple (Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman) on vacation. (July)

“I Know Who Killed Me” — After surviving kidnap and torture, the victim (Lindsay Lohan) claims to be someone else, raising questions of post-traumatic stress — or something more sinister. (July 27)

ANIMATION STATION

The latest cartoon cutups vying for family movie dollars:

“Surf’s Up” — A newcomer takes the annual Penguin World Surfing Championship by storm; the busy Shia LaBeouf, Jon Heder, James Woods and Jeff Bridges lead the vocal cast. (June 8)

“Ratatouille” — Pixar’s latest, from “Incredibles” writer-director Brad Bird, focuses on a rat living in a fancy French restaurant, who gets his chance to become a chef by helping a hapless human. (June 29)

“Bratz” — The teenage dolls with a “passion for fashion” make their big-screen debut in a musical cartoon. (Aug. 10)

DRAMATIC LICENSE

From fact-based dramas to literary adaptations, these releases counter summer’s “stupid season” reputation:

“Away From Her” — An Alzheimer’s-afflicted woman (Julie Christie) goes into a nursing home and transfers her affections to another patient (Michael Murphy), prompting an emotional crisis for her forgotten husband. (May 18)

“A Mighty Heart” — Marianne Pearl’s memoir about the life — and death — of her late husband, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and beheaded by militants in Pakistan in 2002. Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman and “The Namesake’s” Irfan Khan co-star for “Road to Guantanamo” director Michael Winterbottom. (June 22)

“Talk to Me” — An outspoken ex-con (Don Cheadle) talks his way onto the radio, spinning soul music and raising social consciousness in 1960s Washington, D.C. (July 13)

“Becoming Jane” — In 1790s Britain, a romantic fling with an Irish barrister (James McAvoy) changes the life of future author Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) in a fictionalized portrait featuring James Cromwell, Ian Richardson and Maggie Smith. (Aug. 3)