As June approaches and the academic year winds down, the inevitable signs of summer begin to emerge: the days get warmer and sunnier, the nostalgia of childhood summers returns, and theatergoers are bombarded by a plethora of major studio releases. Due to a variety of reasons, summer has traditionally been the movie season, and this doesn’t seem likely to end any time soon.

The 2008 summer blockbuster season will be a tough act to follow, with a surplus of massive releases such as The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Wall-E, and Indiana Jones: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (which managed to bring in over $300 million in the US alone, despite a torn fan base). Although it’s not entirely clear yet, the 2009 summer season also offers a handful of promising films.

Star Trek

The blockbuster season kicks off early this spring with several heavyweights, including Star Trek, which is set to be released on May 8. Aside from being the first Star Trek film since 2002’s Nemesis, it is the eleventh overall and the first since 1991 to be based off the 1960s TV series.

Rather than continue the previous story line, Star Trek aims to detail the earlier adventures of the Enterprise and its crew, serving as a prequel to the original series. During the course of the film, an ambitious James Kirk begins piloting the Enterprise whilst a young Spock copes with his half-human, half-Vulcan heritage.

In addition to its return to form, the film is also notable for the use of a star-studded cast including both newcomers and familiar faces. Zach Quinto, previously best known for his role as the villainous Sylar in NBC’s Heroes, makes his debut as Spock, while Chris Pine (The Princess Diaries 2, Just My Luck) takes a break from romantic comedies to pick up the part of James Kirk, a role previously occupied by William Shatner. John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) also appears as Sulu. However, older fans may rejoice. Leonard Nimoy, famed for his performance as Spock, reprises this role as an older version of Spock from the future.

Of the few critical reviews available, most range from indifferent at worst to praising at best. Unlike many past endeavors, it has apparently been designed to appeal to devout Trekkies as well as casual fans. If this is so, Star Trek may go on to meet success.

Angels and Demons

Perhaps the most controversial of the potential blockbusters is Angels and Demons, a film adaptation of the widely acclaimed novel by Dan Brown. Another early contender, this film is slated to be released on May 15.

As the prequel to the 2003 novel The Da Vinci Code, it tells the story of Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and his struggle to prevent a dire tragedy. The pope has died and, per Catholic tradition, a conclave has been assembled to elect a successor. However, papal candidates begin dying and Langdon is contacted by CERN (The European Organization for Nuclear Research) following news that the Illuminati have obtained an antimatter bomb and plan to destroy Saint Peter’s Basilica during the conclave. Following the 2006 adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons has large expectations to meet. The Da Vinci Code was a massive success, earning $77 million in the US and $224 million worldwide during its opening weekend alone.

Yet Angels and Demons will face the same hurdle as its predecessor: harsh religious criticism. The Catholic Church was insulted by what they claimed to be inaccurate facts and blasphemy in the film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code. As a result, protests were staged outside screenings and boycotts organized, to which lead actor Hanks has responded critically. Accordingly, initial reviews of Angels and Demons are likely to be mixed. However, controversy can subside with time and Angels and Demons may go on to gain acclaim as The Da Vinci Code did.

Public Enemies

The 1930s possess a dark legacy, not merely for the economic woes of the Great Depression, but also for the resulting proliferation of organized crime. In dealing with this crime wave Public Enemies details the rise of J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) and the fledgling FBI as they test their worth against a plague of criminals.

From the plot information released, the film will primarily follow FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) and his hunt for John Dillinger (Johnny Depp), a gangster known for his creativity and wit. Known as the Public Enemy Era, the formative FBI fought notorious gangsters, such as “Baby Face” Nelson (Stephen Nelson), “Pretty Boy” Floyd (Channing Tatum), and Alvin “Creepy” Karpis (Giovani Ribisi).

The film is based on the 2005 nonfiction novel Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34 by Bryan Burrough. It was directed by Michael Mann and is set for release on July 1. Notably, many scenes were shot on location, such as the famous gunfight at the Little Bohemia Lodge as well as the alleyway outside the Biograph Theater where Dillinger was ultimately killed. An interesting mix of action film glory and historical realism, Public Enemies could prove a promising contender this summer.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

After a two-year-long lapse, the sixth installment of the famed Harry Potter series is set to be released on July 15. Entering their sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione struggle to balance the normal troubles of teens with those precipitated by the dark wizard Voldemort’s slow rise to power. The danger is also present from within Hogwarts, and drastic changes are visible as the series darkens dramatically.

Based on the popular book series by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter films have seen immense box office success and have risen to critical acclaim. Director David Yates (the director of the fifth Potter film, The Order of the Phoenix) returns here. Originally planned for a November release last year, Half-Blood Prince was delayed to ensure distributor Warner Brothers a summer hit. Summer blockbusters have an important part in culture. Critics anxiously speculate the releases as movie fans anticipate them, but how did the term originate?

The Origins of the Blockbuster

Typically, blockbusters are film releases that earn more than $100 million at the box office. However, the term hasn’t always been used to describe film releases. It actually has its origins in World War II, when blockbusters were known as massive aerial bombs used by the British. With 4,000 to 12,000 pounds of explosives, blockbusters could easily level any city block.

In the postwar environment, however, the term became used for hit plays. Although there are a variety of ideas on how this practice started, one commonly accepted theory is that the name was derived from the massive lines of theatergoers certain plays attracted, which could occasionally stretch over several city blocks.

Critics generally agree that the first “blockbuster” film was the 1975 release Jaws, which utilized a heavy advertising budget and the summer season to pass around $100 million in returns. Generally, blockbusters are made by the major studios, produced on massive budgets, and contain star-studded casts.

However, a blockbuster doesn’t necessarily have to be popular to gain its title. Many releases rely on an underlying legacy or franchise, and some sequels may draw in large numbers of viewers only to disappoint them. In recent years, as well, a growing and inventive independent film scene has gained followers, causing some to question such large-scale releases as blockbusters.

Images couresty of Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, and Paramount Pictures.