Jessica Chastain sure pulled out the big guns in her riveting performance in last year's Oscar-nominated thriller, "Zero Dark Thirty." As tough-as-nails CIA agent Maya, on the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, this terrorist-hunting genius stops at nothing to smoke America's most hated terrorist out of his hole, and a damn good job she does.

The ubiquitous redhead has made the movie industry her own in the same way Lena Dunham has dominated the small screen with "Girls." But what would happen if the two switched places? It would probably look a lot like this great spoof video on Clipnation, in which Dunham (portrayed by comedian Chelsea Davison) auditions for "Zero Dark Thirty" with the same aplomb and charming neuroses that make her Hannah Horvath a beloved (albeit, polarizing) figure.

One suggestion to Lena if she wants to play a CIA agent, though: maybe lose the cardigan?

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When it was announced that "Family Guy" genius (in our eyes, anyway) Seth MacFarlane would host the daddy of all awards shows this year, more than a few expertly waxed brows were raised. And now, perhaps, they're being raised even higher. For nearly a billion years over eight decades, the black-tie ceremony has ended with the penultimate award for Best Picture… but not anymore — at least, not this year.

"Ending the Oscars with the Best Picture is so 2011," MacFarlane explained. OK, he didn't really say that, but we're pretty sure that's what he's thinking. Because this funny man has some big plans to shake up this show which tends to be steeped in tradition.

As reported by Vulture, MacFarlane is teaming up with the triple-threat Kristin Chenoweth (Broadway's "Wicked," "The West Wing," "Glee") for a "special show-closing musical performance." According to Academy Award producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, it's a "can't miss moment." And they definitely wouldn't lie. We can only imagine what this duo has in store, but one thing is certain: it must be better than "Amour"/ "Argo"/ "Lincoln"/ "Life of Pi"/  "Beasts of the Southern Wild"/  "Silver Linings Playbook"/  "Les Miserables"/ "Django Unchained" and "Zero Dark Thirty"... combined!

Don't forget to tune in for our Oscars red carpet live stream Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET on MTV.com.

Stick with us for everything about the 2013 Oscars including our Oscar winners list, predictions and full fashion coverage!

K.Stew's really is a beauty made for music videos. We can't get over the simple black and white cutaways to her and the sad, yet gorgeous, look on her face just kinda breaks our hearts. You know, kinda like Foster's song.

39. Jake Gyllenhaal in The Shoes' "Time to Dance"

No matter what role Gyllenhaal takes on, one thing remains the same: He's just a little bit off-kilter. He's got a little bit of the crazy eyes, you know? That works to his benefit in this clip, where he's having a mesmerizing yet creep murder fantasy. If it doesn't get your spine tingling, we're not sure what will.

38. Helena Bonham Carter in Rufus Wainwright's "Out of the Game"

The "Harry Potter" villainess pins up her hair and aches with romantic longing amongst the halls of the Dewey Decimal System. Helena lip-synchs along to Wainwright's vocals (so it obviously sounds a bit better than "Sweeney Todd") whilst the actual singer takes on not one but three library-dweller supporting roles. We can't remember the stacks being quite so entertaining.

37. Shia LaBeouf in Sigur Ros' "Fjogur Piano"

The Beef gives us the full sausage as he goes full frontal for the Icelandic band in this very NSFW video. In other words, it's seven minutes of LaBeouf in la buff. You're welcome.

36. Scarlett Johansson in Bob Dylan's "When the Deal Goes Down"

Like the song itself, ScarJo is transported back to the 1950s to recreate a time when the Internet never existed and Super 8 cameras were revolutionary technology. The combination of heartfelt and nostalgic makes this one of Bobby D's simplest, yet memorable, late-career entries.

35. Mickey Rourke and Jennifer Love Hewitt in Enrique Iglesias' "Hero"

If the corporate brass allowed it, we would somehow find a way to insert a video of Mickey Rourke beating a singer to death in every single listicle we do. Keep in mind, this was years before Rourke's big comeback when he was still wondering what exactly happened to his career and life. We'd like to think he exorcised some demons on Iglesias' head.

34. Angelina Jolie in The Rolling Stones' "Anybody Seen My Baby?"

It's not so much the running down the street in lingerie part that we find a little perplexing. It's that Sir Mick does what anyone looking for their object of affection would do: randomly sing a question to the nearest subway attendant. There is also an old guy grabbing his boobs for some reason.

33. Natalie Portman in Devandra Banhart's "Carmensita"

We don't really get too involved in the celebrity dating scene, but it's impossible not to mention that Natalie Portman started going out with Devandra Banhart after meeting him on the set of this bizarre, Bollywood-inspired video. We've seen this video 20 times and We're still trying to find the moment when Portman said, "Yep. I want that." It was one of the few times Brooklyn Vegan and US Weekly readers had something in common. Of course, she's since moved on to a ballerino, so there's that.

32. Jack Black in Beck's "Sexx Laws"

We feel like any joke we write won't be as funny as the video itself, in which a refrigerator has sex with an oven and a pink-pantsed zebra does a 360 with his human torso. And then it gets weird. Few people can turn Jack Black into an ensemble player, but Beck scores here.

31. Mischa Barton in James Blunt's "Goodbye My Lover"

Judging by this video, the UK singer-songwriter changed the title of this 2004 single from "I Know We're Breaking Up, But Can We Have Sex One Last Time?" to the slightly more elegiac current title. It's cool, man. Every guy's been there. Just usually not with Mischa Barton.

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In New York, the "subway glance" is an art form that takes years to master. Too blasé and the other person doesn't notice; too blunt and your picture ends up on PervertsontheSubway.com. The key is to go subtle until one of you is about to exit the train, then lock eyes like you're about to draw on Clint Eastwood in some old western. They're out of your life forever anyway; might as well make it count.

29. Courteney Cox in Counting Crows' "A Long December"

You can only have so much sexual tension with clean-cut, short-haired preppies like Matthew Perry before wanting to go the dreadlocked musician hippie route. Unfortunately, as both the video and real life shows, Cox and head Crow Adam Duritz didn't work out and Cox returned to her WASPy television life. At least you tried, Courteney. It was the dreads, wasn't it? Should've stuck with Springsteen.

28. Sarah Michelle Geller in Stone Temple Pilots' "Sour Girl"

So many questions on this one: Is Weiland double-jointed or does he only dance by undulating? Is that Owen Wilson hugging the fake Teletubbies? Was it in the "Buffy" contract that Sarah Michelle Geller had to go goth in every other role she played to subtly promote her vampire-slaying meal ticket? At what point do the terms "avant garde" and "postmodern" become synonyms for "nonsense"? This is like something you would see on a remake of "This is Spinal Tap."

27. Robert Downey Jr. in Elton John's "I Want Love"

Note to all you aspiring music video directors: It's not hard. Just get an empty, lavish house, one camera and Robert Downey Jr. and you're done. Stop overthinking it.

26. Juliette Lewis in HIM's "Buried Alive By Love"

We're not shy about our love for Juliette Lewis, who vacillates between scene-stealing actress, hedonistic rock star and overall weirdo (in a good way). So hanging out with a heavily tattooed Finnish rock band in an empty, ornate theater is probably a pretty normal day by her standards.

25. Bill Paxton and Judge Reinhold in Pat Benatar's "Shadows of the Night"

It's WWII pilots Judge Reinhold and Pat Benatar versus Nazi radio operator Bill Paxton in this 1982 video (though Paxton will always be Chet in "Weird Science" to us). Benatar always had that bad-ass streak in her, but bum-rushing Nazi headquarters and blowing the base up is on some next-level, "Where did you pull that one out of?" tip.

24. Evan Rachel Wood in Marylin Manson's "Heart-Shaped Glasses"

With wink-wink allegations of actual sex in the video, Marylin Manson goes from grave to cradle by featuring then-girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood. The couple have sex while being doused with blood, which is basically Manson's version of the missionary position. Not to be confused with Nelly's probable new single "Heart-Shaped Asses."

23. Jennifer Love Hewitt in LFO's "Girl on TV"

"The only problem is she's a movie star" says LFO about the "girl on TV." Doesn't lead roles in "Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties" and "The Tuxedo," the latter called "silly beyond comprehension" by Roger Ebert, stretch the word "star" a bit thin, though?

22. Gary Oldman in Guns N' Roses "Since I Don't Have You"

How do you salvage a marginal covers album recorded for the sole purpose of fulfilling a contractual obligation? Put penciled-in eyebrows and white makeup on Gary Oldman and have him tie you up, roast you on a spit and throw your car -- with you in it -- into the ocean. This is actually one of Oldman's normal roles.

21. Charlize Theron in Brandon Flowers' "Crossfire"

Some guys have some weird, macho bullshit complex about being rescued out of a precarious situation by a girl. But when you're about to get into a fight and your girlfriend kicks the guy's ass, you better go ring shopping the next day. Here, ninjas do to Killers frontman Brandon Flowers what most people who hear his band's music dream of doing.

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The video's fine, but we really just wanted to get this earworm stuck in your head again. You're welcome.

19. Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone in Aerosmith's "Crazy"

With "Amazing" and "Livin' on the Edge," Alicia Silverstone was already Aerosmith's go-to actress for wild child, "Screw you, Dad" roles. When she was partnered with frontman Steven Tyler's daughter Liv (in her on-screen debut), MTV couldn't play this video enough. The video features what teenage girls normally do for fun middle-aged men assume teenage girls do for fun e.g., engaging in pillow fights, participating in amateur stripper nights and seducing farmboys.

18. Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell in Gnarls Barkley's "Smiley Faces"

Playing off the "Who is Gnarls Barkley?" marketing campaign, Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell play a music historian and A&R man, respectively, delving mockumentary-style into the origins of the mythical Gnarls figure. Turns out they were swinging with Duke Ellington, jamming at Woodstock and hanging with Warhol and Lou Reed. This video is basically a hipster's "Forrest Gump."

17. Eddie Murphy in Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time"

Four years after playing Prince Akeem in "Coming to America," Eddie Murphy takes on the role of another African ruler in this John Singleton-directed video centered around ancient Egypt. With cameos by Iman, Magic Johnson and The Pharcyde (briefly seen as a dancing group), the video's special effects were groundbreaking for its time and is closer in style and length to a short film than a conventional music video. Best line: Magic after seeing someone beheaded for not entertaining the Queen: "That's cold."

16. Kim Basinger in Tom Petty's "Last Dance With Mary Jane"

It may not be the apex of human civilization, but every guy has had the "Would you have sex with [famous actress or model]? What if she was dead?" conversation with his peers. This kind of talk usually ends around the age of 13, but some guys keep it going well past the appropriate time. This video's the PG-rated visual representation of that conversation.

15. Christina Hendricks in Broken Bells' "The Ghost Inside"

Is there anything more soul-crushing than giving both legs and a hand for a shot at fame, only to discover that your best place for success is actually a desolate, barren wasteland? Broken Bells likes metaphors.

14. Danny Aiello in Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach"

Danny Aiello has always been the go-to actor when you need a working-class, exasperated middle-aged man? In fact, we're pretty sure he was born 40 years old, but that's a different article. Yes, it was the 1980s, but you still have to question Madonna's choice of baby daddy; we know mullets and sleeveless tees were the look back then, but you know that guy is still rocking that outfit 30 years later.

13. Kristen Bell in Yeasayer's "Madder Red"

Who would have thought some weird, veiny one-armed bulbous creature would inspire such pathos? What could have been simply a weird love affair between Kristen Bell and her ball-shaped lover turns into a sad tale of lost love and remorse. Though we're still wondering if that thing went to a regular hospital or animal clinic.

12. Michael Cera in Islands' "No You Don't"

"Don't buy dope from the man you don't know," sings Islands frontman Nicholas Thorburn in this "High School Academic Anti-Drug Supplementary" video. So begins Michael Cera's drug trip into psychedelic worlds and purposefully cheesy 1980s graphics. We're still not sure if doing acid with the actor would be the most or least pleasurable drug experience ever. Discuss.

11. Keanu Reeves in Paula Abdul's "Rush Rush"

Taking its cue from Nicolas Ray's "Rebel Without a Cause," this really needs to be remade today with James Franco and, just for fun, an aging Paula Abdul still portraying a high school student. Among a myriad of bizarre shots, we're most enthralled by the incongruous opening shot of Keanu imitating a cymbal-clapping toy. Avant-garde cinema of the highest order.

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We still have hope that these two will find love if only to see how eccentric and outlandish their offspring could possibly be. Apparently they met while performing repeatedly at the same club in Los Angeles, which means that the opportunity for the great reality show "Zach and Fiona Act Brilliantly Weird Together" goes fulfilled only in our heads.

9. Macaulay Culkin in Michael Jackson's "Black or White"

We could have gone with George Wendt for this one, but in 1991, no one could touch Macaulay Culkin after "Home Alone." After the stereotypical "turn the music down" parental yell, Culkin does what every 12-year-old kid wanted to do at the time. He will later show up as a hip-hopper and look tougher than Michael Jackson. Too bad the song is kind of lame, though. Eh. There's always the morph scene.

8. Chevy Chase in Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al"

The normally high-minded singer/songwriter Paul Simon goes the low-concept goofball route by throwing himself and Chevy Chase in a white room and engaging in awkward, white-guy-at-wedding dance moves. It doesn't hurt the comic effect that Chase has about three feet on the diminutive singer.

7. Scarlett Johansson in Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around…Comes Around"

See, that's the thing with hooking up with a person who's already dating someone else. If they cheated on that person with you, don't be surprised if you're the next victim. Then, if this video is any indication of real life, they will die in a horrible, fiery car accident. The end.

6. Jamie Bell and Evan Rachel Wood in Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends"

This single from 2004's "American Idiot" deftly speaks on the emotional consequences of having a loved one away at war. In stark contrast to "Heart-Shaped Glasses," Wood displays the same level of gravitas that made her role in "Thirteen" so memorable.

5. Johnny Depp in Petty's "Into the Great Wide Open"

You can go to roundtable discussions. You can read Passman's book. But really, all you'll ever want to know about how the music industry operates -- its perpetual elevating and dismissing of anyone who's ever written a hit song -- is contained in these six-plus minutes. Petty had 15 years of recording locked in before penning this cautionary tale. Trust him on this one. Look for appearances by Gabrielle Anwar as the girlfriend, Faye Dunaway as the manager and a pre-"Friends" Matt LeBlanc as the guy getting a tattoo in the video's closing seconds.

4. Justin Timberlake in Elton John's "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore"

This uncomfortably honest 2001 song sees Sir Elton waxing on getting older and what happens when your perceived best years are behind you. As 1970s John, Justin Timberlake transcends role-playing into embodiment, nailing not only the visual aesthetic of the flamboyant singer, but the emotional heft of the lyrics. Look for Pee-Wee Herman as John's longtime manager John Reid.

3. Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox in Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie"

Everyone knows that one couple that is constantly breaking up, getting into fights, punching walls, throwing sharp or heavy objects and then eventually getting back together. After a while, it gets kind of annoying. But somehow, Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox make it seem interesting, stealing bottles of vodka, fighting in bars and eventually becoming engulfed in flames. We're guessing she went Method and visualized Michael Bay's face during the fight scenes for added realism.

2. Zach Galifianakis in Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothin'"

Does anyone even remember the "official" video for this directed by Hype Williams? This is proof that creativity will always trump budget; just put Galifianakis and singer Will Oldham on the comedian's North Carolina farm and see what happens. The incongruity between Kanye's urban, urbane demeanor and Galifianakis' lovable hick facade made this an instant classic.

1. Christopher Walken in Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice"

It's debatable who has the most fun in this: director Spike Jonze and Fatboy Slim for getting Christopher Walken to dance throughout the whole song, Walken, a trained musical theater dancer who rarely gets to show off this particular talent, or the viewer, who once again can revel in Jonze's surrealistic, absurdist tendencies. This wasn't Walken's first video -- he appeared in Madonna's 1993 song "Bad Girl" and Skid Row's 1995 power ballad "Breakin' Down" -- but this is his video magnum opus. A simple concept executed to perfection.

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(Originally published on Nov. 4, 2010, at 6:40 p.m. ET)

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Release Date: June 1
Starring: Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise
The Scoop: One of the most popular and acclaimed Broadway musicals in recent memory, "Rock of Ages" tells the story of a couple of small-town dreamers who get caught up in the big-city spotlight -- and it tells that story using the transformative power of '80s rock. That's enough for us, but if you're somehow not sold, the film version of "Rock of Ages" also features a Who's Who of Hollywood stars, including Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Rock on!

'Snow White and the Huntsman'

Universal

Release Date: June 1
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron
The Scoop: What if the classic fairy tale "Snow White" was actually a dark and moody fantasy epic? That's the premise behind "Snow White and the Hunstman," which features "Twilight" superstar Kristen Stewart as the titular heroine and Chris Hemsworth ("Thor") as the huntsman sent to kill her. Oh, and the evil queen? Well, thanks to Charlize Theron, who knows a thing or two about murdering rival chicks (see: her Oscar winning performance in "Monster"), we're pretty much going to be avoiding apples for the rest of our life. One of the most anticipated films of the year.

'Prometheus'

20th Century Fox

Release Date: June 8
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson
The Scoop: If it seems like decades since director Ridley Scott last filmed a sci-fi flick, that's because it has been. But since his previous two efforts in the genre happen to be the undisputed classics "Alien" and "Blade Runner," well, chances are the wait was worth it -- especially since "Prometheus," which stars the original "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Noomi Rapace, looks to be a prequel to the original "Alien." So will lightning strike a third time? "Prometheus" is set to prove that when you play with fire, you're going to get awesome.

'Jack the Giant Killer'

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Release Date: June 15
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor
The Scoop: If you think vampires, zombies and robots have all pretty much been exhausted at this point, don't worry, because the next big thing is coming -- literally. Yes, it's giants! "Jack the Giant Killer" stars Nicholas Hoult ("X-Men: First Class") as a regular dude who leads an expedition into the land of giants in order to rescue a princess in a modern mashup of "Twilight" and Jack and the Beanstalk." Stanley Tucci, who is required to be in everything (and be awesome in everything) costars, as does Ewan McGregor and noted non-giant Warwick Davis. No spoilers here, but our money is on Jack.

'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter'

20th Century Fox

Release Date: June 22
Starring: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper
The Scoop: If you study history closely, you can learn all sorts of fascinating details. For instance, did you know that our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, was actually a noted vampire hunter? Okay, it's not true, but imagining Honest Abe throwing down with Nosferatu is awesome enough that we're more than willing to overlook any (minor) historical inaccuracies. Benjamin Walker ("Flags of Our Fathers") plays Lincoln, who, after his mother is murdered by a vampire, decides to eradicate the creatures -- creatures which also happen to be behind the institution of slavery. Suddenly that whole Civil War thing makes a whole lot more sense.

'Brave'

Disney/Pixar

Release Date: June 22
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
The Scoop: Pixar has made a living -- and some undeniably great films -- by turning fish, insects, cars and robots into wonderfully animated main characters, but aside from "The Incredibles," actual humans have been few and far between. That's set to change in a big way when "Brave" hits theaters. Stepping squarely into Disney Princess territory, "Brave" tells the story of a plucky medieval Scottish lass who rebels against the traditional female role forced on her. Unfortunately, her desire for independence may unleash a hideous evil on the world, which means one thing: quest time! We'd pretty much follow Pixar into hell itself, so if they're "brave" enough to make this movie, we're "Brave" enough to watch it.

'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'

Paramount

Release Date: June 29
Starring: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Ray Park
The Scoop: The first "G.I. Joe" wasn't exactly an overwhelming success, but thanks to J.J. Abrams dragging his feet on "Star Trek 2," Paramount suddenly had a giant, blockbuster-sized hole in their 2012 schedule. And who better to call in an emergency than America's most trusted special agents, the folks at "G.I. Joe"? Things look a little bit different this time around -- Channing Tatum returns as lead Joe, but half the cast has been jettisoned in favor of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson -- and expectations are much higher, as "Step Up" and "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" director John M. Chu steps up behind the camera. The forces of evil have no shot.

'Magic Mike'

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Release Date: June 29
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Olivia Munn
The Scoop: Speaking of Channing Tatum, the beefy star is doing double duty on June 29, as "Magic Mike" and "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" go head-to-head at the box office. But they probably don't have quite the same target demographic anyway; "Magic Mike" is the story of a veteran male stripper (that's Tatum -- try not to hyperventilate, ladies) who takes a newbie ("I Am Number Four"s' Alex Pettyfer) under his wing. This one is directed by Steven Soderbergh, who was hoping Tatum could draw on the experiences he gained working a stripper himself as a young man.

'The Amazing Spider-Man'

Columbia Pictures

Release Date: July 3
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans
The Scoop: Considering Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" trilogy is one of the most successful franchises in film history -- and considering it just ended five short, short years ago -- the folks behind this reboot have some pretty big expectations to fill. Luckily, they've got a not-so-secret weapon: Emma Stone, who plays Gwen Stacy opposite spideriffic love interest Peter Parker ("The Social Network" star Andrew Garfield). We're not sure how amazing this "Spider-Man" is going to be, but we're very sure just how amazing Stone is -- and our Awesome-Sense is tingling like crazy.

'Ted'

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Release Date: July 13
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane
The Scoop: Seth MacFarlane can pretty much do anything he wants to do inside his Fox animation empire, but it turns out that what the creator of "Family Guy," The Cleveland Show" and "American Dad" really wants to do is direct. Hence "Ted," MacFarlane's directorial debut, which stars Mark Wahlberg as a mostly normal guy with one fairly major quirk: His best friend is his fully sentient childhood teddy bear (voiced by MacFarlane, naturally). That becomes an issue when Wahlberg meets the woman of his dreams (Mila Kunis, aka the woman of everyone's dreams). Sorry, Fox, but it looks like MacFarlane may have just found himself another career.

'The Dark Knight Rises'

Warner Bros.

Release Date: July 20
Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
The Scoop: When "The Dark Knight" came out in 2008, it became the second highest-grossing film of all time. And the expectations are even higher this time around thanks to a little movie director Christopher Nolan did in his spare time: "Inception." With the "Dark Knight" trilogy and the Christian Bale era both set to come to an end -- and with "Inception" stars Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt cranking up the fan dial -- "The Dark Knight Rises" is poised to become the film event of the summer. We're not sure how you can go higher than the perfection of "The Dark Knight," but if anyone can find a way to rise even further, it's Nolan. We can't wait.

'Neighborhood Watch'

20th Century Fox

Release Date: July 27
Starring: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill
The Scoop: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill bring the star power and name recognition to this comedy, about a group of bros who form a neighborhood watch to get out of the house and accidentally end up having to save the world. But it's the man behind the camera that has real comedy fans buzzing: Akiva Schaffer. Schaffer, you see, is one third of the "Saturday Night Live" comedy splinter group Lonely Island, and you don't need to be on a boat to know that means major league laughs. His first film, "Hot Rod," wasn't exactly a smash, but with that under his belt, Schaffer is poised to knock "Neighborhood Watch" out of the park. Guess that island won't be lonely for much longer.

'The Bourne Legacy'

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Release Date: August 3
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton
The Scoop: Matt Damon may be gone, but his film legacy lives on in the form of "The Bourne Legacy," which examines the world of the "Bourne" series without technically being a straight sequel or prequel. Instead, Jeremy Renner heads a mostly new cast as the spy community and the other castoffs from Project Treadstone wrestle with the aftermath of "The Bourne Ultimatum." Film fans looking for some continuity between films can rest easy, as Joan Allen returns in the role of upper level agent Pamela Landy -- and Tony Gilroy, who wrote the first three films, writes and directs -- but this time around it's Renner, not Damon, who will make the movie sink or swim or kill a guy with its bare hands. Or all three at the same time. Hey, it is a "Bourne" film after all.

'Total Recall'

Columbia Tristar

Release Date: August 3
Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Bryan Cranston, Jessica Biel, Bill Nighy
The Scoop: Philip K. Dick is dead, alas, but his legacy lives on in the unending stream of sci-fi films adapted from his novels and short stories. And just when you thought there were no more to adapt, Hollywood has started remaking the legendary sci-fi author's earlier films, such as this redo of the 199o hit "Total Recall." While the original was a classic tongue-in-cheek Arnold Schwarzenegger action romp, though, the remake -- which stars Colin Farrell in the Arnold role -- aims to be a much more serious and gritty take on the tale of a man who messes around with his own memory and ends up fighting mutants on Mars as a result.

'Warm Bodies'

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Release Date: August 10
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich
The Scoop: The summer of Nicholas Hoult continues on August 10 as the star of "Jack the Giant Killer' takes on a menace of a decidedly ... deader variety in "Warm Bodies." Hoult plays a zombie who ends up beginning a relationship with a living girl. What she doesn't know? Well, the fact that he ate her last boyfriend. That will tend to put a damper on things, assuming the whole "zombie" part didn't do that already. So can Hoult do for zombies what R.Pattz did for vampires? If anyone can make the walking dead seem sexy, it's him.

'The Expendables 2'

Lionsgate

Release Date: August 17
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Jason Statham, Jet Li, et al.
The Scoop: If you've ever wanted to raid the local rest home, today is the day, because chances are  it will be emptied out as everyone heads to the theater to see their peers in action in "The Expendables 2." Okay, we kid. We're actually stoked to see Sly Stallone and his ragtag crew of action film veterans get back on the big screen, especially since Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are expected to have much bigger roles this time around. Despite the title, this pop culture grouping is quickly becoming irreplaceable.

'ParaNorman'

Focus Features

Release Date: August 17
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
The Scoop: "ParaNorman" writer-director Chris Butler may not be a familiar name, but fans of animation are certainly familiar with his work as the storyboard artist on films like "Coraline" and "Corpse Bride." Now he's taking that off-kilter aesthetic to new heights, as "ParaNorman" -- which features voicework from the likes of John Goodman, Caesy Affleck and Anna Kendrick -- tells the tale of a kid who uses his ability to speak with the dead to save his town from an ancient curse. Zombie movies: They aren't just for adults any more.

'Argo'

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Release Date: September 14
Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman
The Scoop: Director Ben Affleck -- yes, director is his primary credit these days, thanks to "The Town" and "Gone Baby Gone" -- also stars in this amazing true story about the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Kyle Chandler and more, "Argo" relates how a group of hostages managed to escape by pretending to be the crew of a fake movie invented by the CIA. "Good Night and Good Luck" writer Grant Heslov cowrote the screenplay with Affleck, so yeah, this one pretty much has awesome all over it. Is it too early for 2013 Oscar buzz yet?

'Savages'

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Release Date: September 28
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively
The Scoop: Based on Don Winslow's bestselling thriller of the same name, "Savages" tells the story of two potheads (Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch) who are blackmailed by Mexican drug lords after their shared girlfriend (Blake Lively) is kidnapped. Naturally, they embark on a mission to save her. And since "Savages" is directed by Oliver Stone, you can pretty much bet the house that all hell is going to break loose -- which may explain why notorious hell-breakers Uma Thurman, John Travolta and Benicio Del Toro are in the cast. It's always interesting when Stone goes to work.

'Frankenweenie'

Disney

Release Date: October 5
Starring: Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short
The Scoop: Way, way back in the day -- we're talking the early '80s -- an unknown artist by the name of Tim Burton developed a short film by the name of "Frankenweenie" for his bosses at Disney. And they hated it. Fast-forward over two decades and Burton, who in the interim has become an icon of cinema, finally gets his chance to realize his vision of a feature-length "Frankeweenie" film. Take one part Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and two parts "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and you'll have the formula for perhaps the most offbeat animated film of the young century. Looks like Burton gets the last laugh this time -- and best of all, we all get to laugh with him.

'The Gangster Squad'

Getty Images

Release Date: October 19
Starring: Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin
The Scoop: When you see the name of director Ruben Fleischer in the credits, you know it's a certain type of black comedy; after all, this is the guy who brought the world "Zombieland" and "30 Minutes or Less." But not so fast, folks, because "The Gangster Squad" has the kind of cast that serious dreams are made of, with Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte and a half dozen other big names powering the story of the cops who cleaned up L.A. in the 1940s. Now that's a gang we'd like to be part of.

'My Mother's Curse'

Getty Images

Release Date: November 2
Starring: Seth Rogen, Barbra Streisand, Adam Scott
The Scoop: Buddy comedies are a dime a dozen, and road movies are just about as cheap. You know what costs a little bit more, though? A buddy road comedy starring Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand. That's right: Rogen and Streisand -- THE Barbra Streisand, mind you -- play a mother and her inventor son who embark on a road trip in a quest to get backing for his latest crazy idea. An idea crazier than Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand costarring in a buddy road trip? Good luck getting funding for that, pal!

'Skyfall'

Sony

Release Date: November 9
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem
The Scoop: For a while there it looked as though we might never get another James Bond movie, or at least not one while Daniel Craig was still young enough to shake his martini. Luckily all the legal woes that had the franchise stuck in limbo have been cleared up, meaning "Skyfall," Craig's third mission for her Majesty's Secret Service, is a go. And this time around there's a new wrinkle -- or several of them -- as the story focuses on the secret past of Dame Judi Dench's unflappable M. Can Bond save the day again? Unless you're Chicken Little, we're guessing this is one "Skyfall" you can rest easy about.

'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2'

Summit

Release Date: November 16
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
The Scoop: Yes, you read that date right: Even though filming on "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" has long since been completed, New Line has decided to sock away some savings for a rainy day by waiting an entire year to release the final installment of "The Twilight Saga." That's basically a form of cruel and unusual punishment for the franchise's billions of fans, but we're guessing that any resentment over the long wait will be erased with one final look into Robert Pattinson's smoldering eyes. And hey, look at the bright side: The delay means you have another whole year to revel in "Twilight" mania. Oh, yeah.

'Gravity'

Getty Images

Release Date: October 19
Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
The Scoop: Director Alfonso Cuarón has made some pretty sweet movies -- think "Children of Men," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Y Tu Mamá También" -- so you'd think he wouldn't have much trouble finding stars to appear in his upcoming sci-fi drama about an astronaut who is trapped in space after an accident. But one star after another came and went through "Gravity's" long development process. Luckily, though, Cuarón's own personal gravity finally captured two bona fide A-listers: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, who's in the lead role. With that kind of star power, chances are you'll have a hard time staying out of this film's orbit.

'The Silver Linings Playbook'

Getty Images

Release Date: November 21
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Julia Stiles, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Lawrence
The Scoop: Bradley Cooper does the rom-com thing in this adaptation of a novel by Matthew Quick. He and his abs star as Pat Peoples, an ex-teacher who is committed to a mental institution for four years. When he finally emerges, he decides to try and get back together with his former wife, with "The Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence acting as a go-between. And you thought your ex was crazy! David O. Russell ("The Fighter") handles directing duties.

'Les Miserables'

Getty Images

Release Date: December 7
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter
The Scoop: This high-powered adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel of the French Revolution has a lot to live up to, considering the "Les Miserables" musical is one of the most popular and successful shows in history. Director Tom Hooper knows a thing or two about period pieces, though -- you might know his last film, "The King's Speech," or his Emmy-winning miniseries "John Adams" -- and with a cast that includes Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe, he certainly has the talent to pull it off.

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'

New Line

Release Date: December 14
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage
The Scoop: The most unexpected part of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is the fact that we're getting to see the film at all. Hard to believe, but by the time this thing comes out, it will have been nine long years since Peter Jackson finished off "The Lord of the Rings" by winning 11 Oscars and earning enough money to buy a whole herd of miniature giraffes. Legal matters, though, sent "The Hobbit" into limbo for the last decade, which will make it all the sweeter when Martin Freeman finally gets to don his hairy prosthetic feet and embark on J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary quest as Bilbo, the hobbit who had the courage to leave home to find a dragon. About effing time.

'Life of Pi'

Mariner Books

Release Date: December 21
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Suraj Sharma
The Scoop: First off, before you panic, there's not really any math in "Life of Pi." Pi happens to be the name of an Indian kid who survives a shipwreck only to find himself stranded on an island with a menagerie of weird animals. Based on the novel of the same name by Yann Martel, "Life of Pi" is directed by Ang Lee, who previously won an Oscar for helming "Brokeback Mountain." "Life of Pi" was originally scheduled to debut on December 14, but wisely moved to avoid being steamrolled by "The Hobbit," so adjust your calendar accordingly.

'This Is Forty'

Getty Images

Release Date: December 21
Starring: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Melissa McCarthy
The Scoop: Paul Rudd and his best bro Judd Apatow are back together for another comedy from the Apatow factory, this time with a bit of a twist: Rudd and costar Leslie Mann are reprising their roles from the 2007 film "Knocked Up," with Jason Segel in support this time instead of vice versa. So what can you expect from "This Is Forty"? Well, given the cast and the pedigree, expect more of the patented Apatow humor -- and don't be surprised if a couple of years from now there's another spin-off featuring one of this film's supporting players.

'World War Z'

Getty Images

Release Date: December 21
Starring: Brad Pitt, Matthew Fox, James Badge Dale
The Scoop: There are zombie movies, and then there are zombie movies starring Brad Pitt. Which are you going to go with? Well, if you answered Brad Pitt, then you're in luck, because "World War Z" stars Pitt as a member of the human resistance fighting back in a war against the zombie horde. He's joined in his efforts by Matthew Fox ("Lost") and the always awesome James Badge Dale ("Shame"). And it's not just the talent in front of the camera that deserves a nod; directed by acclaimed filmmaker Marc Forster ("Monster's Ball," "Finding Neverland"), this adaptation of the popular Max Brooks novel was produced by Pitt from a screenplay cowritten by "Babylon 5" creator J. Michael Straczynski. Zombies, you don't stand a chance.

'Django Unchained'

Getty Images

Release Date: December 25
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson
The Scoop: Quentin Tarantino might have killed Hitler in his last movie, but that was pretty much just a warm-up for his most audacious film yet, "Django Unchained," which stars Jamie Foxx as a runaway slave who returns to the plantation to wreak vengeance on those who mistreated him. An all-star lineup of superstars (Leonardo DiCaprio, anyone?) and Tarantino favorites (Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson) round out this revenge fantasia. A Tarantino movie about slavery? That comes out on Christmas day? We're not sure the Internet will be able to handle it.

'The Great Gatsby'

Getty Images

Release Date: December 25
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton
The Scoop: The novel that has been described as the quintessential American story is being adapted for the big screen by a fairly unlikely figure: the unabashed ambassador of all things Australian, Baz Luhrmann. Frankly, though, it's hard to imagine the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic being in better hands, especially with Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan on board in the lead roles. Of course, audience attention may be a bit split -- DiCaprio's collaboration with Quentin Tarantino, "Django Unchained," comes out the same day -- but that's fine, as a Luhrmann-Tarantino double feature is a real Christmas gift.

'Lincoln'

Getty Images

Release Date: December
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones
The Scoop: There are films with serious pedigrees, and then there's "Lincoln," which exists on a whole different level: The story of America's most beloved and revered figure is being directed by Steven Spielberg, with acting legend Daniel-Day Lewis in the lead role. He's also supported in this adaptation of the Doris Kearns Goodwin book "Team of Rivals" by the stellar Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tommy Lee Jones among many, many others, leaving us with just one question: Is Spielberg also going to adopt a third name for this production? Either way, "Lincoln" is the perfect way to cap off what is shaping up to be a great year of cinema.

Getty Images

Sasha Baron Cohen has come a long way since Borat, not that we didn't love the not-so-politically-correct funny man from… er… where was he from again? Wherever it was, those days are behind him, because this comedian is about to show us his drama chops as the iconic Freddie Mercury in a biopic that's now set shoot in 2012-- like, in a few months.

Though nothing is official yet, producer Graham King (the force behind "Gangs of New York" and the soon-to-release "Hugo" among others) just confirmed to Cinema Blend that cameras should (finally) be rolling sometime next year, from a script that may or may not have been penned by scribe Peter Morgan.

In other words, details remain murky—but one thing is clear: King seems to have found somebody to love in Cohen, musing, "Who better to play Freddie Mercury than Sacha Baron Cohen?... He's so talented, and you see a side of him in 'Hugo' that no one has ever seen before. Very emotional, and very heartfelt."

All we can say is we've got our fingers crossed that this gets going according to schedule, because if anyone can harness the power of Queen, we're pretty sure it's Ali G Borat Bruno Cohen.

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'A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas'

Warner Bros.

Release Date: Nov. 4
Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris
The Scoop: Where do you go with a franchise after you've already based an entire hit movie around lampooning the war on terror? Why, to the North Pole, of course! Yes, John Cho and Kal Penn are back with their follow-up to "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay" and this time they're in the holiday spirit. We're not sure whether or not they will run into jolly St. Nick or not, but we can report that Neil Patrick Harris is back on board, meaning that this threequel is an early Christmas present for everyone to enjoy.

'J. Edgar'

Warner Bros.

Release Date: Nov. 9
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts
The Scoop: Leonardo DiCaprio take a break from his unofficial job as Martin Scorsese's muse, but don't worry, he's still in good hands: Multiple Oscar winner Clint Eastwood is behind the camera for this biopic starring Leo as the infamous head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover. "The Social Network's" Armie Hammer plays Hoover's close -- really, really close -- friend, Clyde Tolson in this story scripted by "Milk" writer Dustin Lance Black. A must see, especially if you want to win this year's Oscar pool.

'Immortals'

Relativity

Release Date: Nov. 11
Starring: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, John Hurt
The Scoop: You know what we haven't seen enough of this year? Oiled up men in leather straps hacking each other into itty-bitty pieces. Problem solved, because "Immortals" brings all the visual thrills of "300" combined with all the magic and mayhem of "Clash of the Titans." Plus it features Henry Cavill -- soon to be Superman in "300" director Zack Snyder's superhero reboot "Man of Steel" -- as a mythic hero of antiquity fighting back against the gods and, of course, Mickey Rourke. Now if only we can find a theater that encourages cosplay…

'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1'

Summit

Release Date: Nov. 18
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
The Scoop: Forget William and Kate, the real wedding of the century take place this November -- and unlike the royal wedding, this time around everyone is invited to attend. The most anticipated movie nuptials in years are here as Edward and Bella tie the knot and live happily ever after. Except, of course, the happily ever after part. You know how the saying goes, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a monster baby that threatens to upset the fragile balance in the vampire world. C'est la vie.

'Hugo'

Paramount

Release Date: Nov. 23
Starring: Chloe Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Asa Butterfield
The Scoop: In her young career, Chloe Moretz has already gained a reputation for her butt-kicking/blood-sucking roles in films like "Kick-Ass" and "Let Me In." This time around, though, Moretz finally gets to show off her girly side; she plays the young friend of an orphaned kid (Asa Butterfield) whose inheritance consists of a weird steampunk automaton. Together, the two of them try to repair their clockwork man and in the process discover a secret, magical world underneath the streets of Paris. Martin Scorsese takes a break from breaking faces for this offbeat fable.

'The Muppets

Disney

Release Date: Nov. 23
Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper
The Scoop: After far too long an absence, "The Muppets" are back on the big screen in a big way thanks in part part to big fan Jason Segel, who has set out to do no less than introduce a whole new generation to the magical charms of Jim Henson's beloved creations. And he's got a classic, old-school Muppets plot as well: Teaming up with his roommate, who happens to be a muppet himself, Segel sets out to help Kermit and the gang save their theater from imminent closure. Having fun is the easy part; catching the dozens of Hollywood cameos is going to be the hard part. At last, it's once again time to play the music and light the lights.

'The Descendants'

Fox Searchlight

Release Date: Nov. 23
Starring: George Clooney, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard
The Scoop: It's been seven long years since writer/director Alexander Payne's last film, "Sideways." And considering that film and his previous efforts "About Schmidt" and "Election" were all massively popular with critics and fans alike, that's about seven years too long. But the wait will all be worth it once "The Descendants" arrives, especially since it stars George Clooney as a man who has to reassess his life when his wife slips into a coma after an accident -- and he discovers that she was having an affair. You'd have to be in a coma to miss this one.

December

'The Sitter

Fox

Release Date: Dec. 9
Starring: Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell, Ari Graynor
The Scoop: One of the most important things a parent can do is pick the right babysitter. And one of the worst choices we can think of would be, say, Jonah Hill. That's pretty much the premise behind "The Sitter," which stars Hill as a slacker who decides to become a caretaker to earn a little extra payola. But when he gets invited to a big party while watching the kids, he decides to bring them along for a wild night of girls, gunplay and ganja. Imagine "The Hangover" with pre-teens.

'Young Adult'

Paramount

Release Date: Dec. 9
Starring: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt
The Scoop: Despite an impressive cast, it's the behind-the-scenes talent that makes "Young Adult" one of the most buzzed-about films of the season. That's because the film, which stars Charlize Theron as an author of YA books who embarks on a quest to prevent her girlhood crush from marrying someone else, reunites the "Juno' team of writer Diablo Cody and director Jason Reitman. Will they catch lightning in a bottle again? We wouldn't bet against it.

'The Iron Lady'

Weinstein Co.

Release Date: Dec. 16
Starring: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent
The Scoop: Let's see… Meryl Streep is starring in a high profile biopic about the life of one of the most famous politicians of the 20th century, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. We're going to go out on a limb here and suggest there's a pretty good chance Streep might earn her 17th Oscar nomination. You heard it here first. But if the subject matter sounds a bit stuffy, don't worry; Streep's "Mama Mia!" director, Phyllidia Lloyd, is behind the camera -- and as that film showed, these two know how to have a good time.

'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'

Warner Bros.

Release Date: Dec. 16
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace
The Scoop: You don't have to be the world's greatest detective to figure out that "Sherlock Holmes 2" is going to be one of the biggest hits of the holiday season. After all, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are back as Holmes and his trusty partner Watson. And this time around, they've upped the ante, with international superstar Noomi Rapace (the original "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo") helping track down Sherlock's arch-enemy, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). Deciding whether or not to see this epic is elementary indeed.

'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'

Sony

Release Date: Dec. 21
Starring: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer
The Scoop: Hardcore fans of Stieg Larsson's smash hit novel "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" have been wondering for months why Hollywood would want to remake the film when the original Swedish version was so good. Here's why: because the original didn't star Daniel Craig and it wasn't directed by David Fincher ("Fight Club," "Seven"). Add in breakout star Rooney Mara in the already iconic role of Lisbeth Salander and you have one remake that could very well eclipse the original.

'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol'

Paramount

Release Date: Dec. 21
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton
The Scoop: For all of you who have been shouting "Help me, Tom Cruise!" for the past few years, well, your prayers have been answered; Cruise is back in full-fledged action hero mode with "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol." This time around he's joined by "The Hurt Locker's" Jeremy Renner as the two try to find out why they've been cut loose, Jason Bourne-style, to fend for themselves. Plus they blow s**t up left and right and wear some awesome rubber masks. Good to have you back, Tom.

'The Adventures of Tintin'

DreamWorks

Release Date: Dec. 23
Starring: Andy Serkis, Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig
The Scoop: The dream team of director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson takes on one of the biggest characters in pop culture history: Tintin. Okay, so if you're not from Europe you may not be quite as familiar with Tintin, but trust us, tor tens of millions of people, this is as big as it gets. And with cutting-edge, motion-capture CGI and a cast that includes Daniel Craig (the guy is everywhere!) and CGI expert Andy Serkis, we have no doubt that Spielberg and Jackson will convert stateside audiences.

'We Bought a Zoo'

Fox

Release Date: Dec. 23
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church
The Scoop: Usually when you think about impulse purchase it's, you know, a pack of gum from the grocery store line or maybe that cute pair of pumps that keep staring at you from the department store window. And then there's Matt Damon's impulse purchase in this Cameron Crowe-directed dramedy -- a zoo. Damon plays a real-life guy who, when his wife falls ill, decides to buy a zoo in an attempt to change their lifestyle. Matt Damon + a bunch of random zoo animals = one film we just have to see to believe.

'In the Land of Blood and Honey'

Film District

Release Date: Dec. 23
Starring: Zana Marjanovic, Goran Kostic
The Scoop: For a "starless" film about forbidden love set against the anguished backdrop of The Bosnian War, you'll notice "Land of Blood and Honey" arriving in theaters with an impressive amount of interest. That's because the war drama marks the directorial debut of Angelina Jolie, who continues her global village ways by bringing to light the unspeakable atrocities committed during combat while also focusing the narrative on an ill-fated romance between a Serbian military officer (Goran Kostic) and Muslim-Bosnian civilian (Zana Marjanovic). This one packs more than star (behind the camera) power.

'The Darkest Hour'

Summit

Release Date: Dec. 25
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella
The Scoop: You know how when you were a kid your parents told you that you shouldn't be afraid of the dark? Well, obviously they had never been eaten by invisible aliens. Unfortunately for Emile Hirsch -- and fortunately for fans of creepy sci-fi horror -- there are millions of Moscow residents who won't be able to say the same thanks to the fact that in "The Darkest Hour," those aliens blow them up. Half-survival story and half science-fiction creepout, "The Darkest Hour" is all kinds of awesome. Just remember to have a nightlight ready so you can get some sleep afterwards.

'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'

Paramount

Release Date: Dec. 25
Starring: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn
The Scoop: A decade later, making a movie about the terrorist attacks on September 11 is still a very dicey proposition, but if anyone can pull off this adaptation of the Jonathan Safran Foer novel, it's Stephen Daldry, who previously adapted "The Reader" and "The Hours" to critical acclaim. And the cast doesn't hurt: Newcomer Thomas Horn plays a kid whose father (Tom Hanks) is killed in the attacks, leaving him alone with his mother (Sandra Bullock) and a mysterious key. A final Christmas present from Hollywood to you.

'War Horse'

DreamWorks

Release Date: Dec. 28
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson
The Scoop: Steven Spielberg is known for his intense war movies (see: "Saving Private Ryan") and his touching family films (see: "E.T."). So what happens when he puts his chocolate in his own peanut butter? "War Horse," that's what. Just reading this one line plot synopsis will probably be enough to have you bawling: Jeremy Irvine plays a teen who heads to the front lines of World War I to find out the fate of a beloved horse that was conscripted into the army. Told you.

<<Back to September and October Releases

Paramount

The King of Rock and Roll's movie career is both the archetype and warning for every single performer on this list. "Love Me Tender," Presley's first of 33 films, made him a even bigger star than he was when it was released in 1956. But through the 1960s, the singer -- more specifically his manager Colonel Tom Parker -- favored quantity over quality, releasing a slew of critically panned films that watered down his once unshakeable sound. The worldwide celebrity continued yet the results were now unpredictable.

19. Janet Jackson

Columbia

A perennial television star in the 1970s and '80s -- remember Willis' girlfriend Charlene from "Diff'rent Strokes?" -- Jackson made the transition to film in 1993 in John Singleton's "Poetic Justice," a romantic road trip film featuring Tupac Shakur. Singleton's follow-up to "Boyz n the Hood" was a surprise hit, though Jackson chose to focus primarily on her music through the next decade. She's since tried her hand at comedy as Eddie Murphy's girlfriend in "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" and has recently turned up in a few Tyler Perry productions ("Why Did I Get Married?", "For Colored Girls").

18. Mandy Moore

United Artists

If you are a teenage girl, you can probably recite Mandy Moore's lengthy filmography by heart; if not, just know that the pop star starred in 18 movies between 2000 and last year, including the lead role in Disney's 2010 Rapunzel update "Tangled." While Moore's films have been more strikeouts than hits, she excels in films like "Saved!," the 2004 satire on fundamentalist Christianity that upended her stereotypical Goody Two Shoes image.

17. Tupac Shakur

Paramount

Tupac may be remembered as the embodiment of bravado and machismo, but his vulnerable, artistic talents were on display well before any of the rapper's headline-grabbing antics. Shakur's training as a student of Baltimore School for the Arts prepared him well for films like "Juice," "Poetic Justice" and "Above the Rim." With every role, Shakur's intensity dominated the scene, with the 1,000-yard stare of his eyes conveying more than most full scripts. If Tupac focused all his energy on acting, he could've been one of the greats.

16. Ice Cube

Columbia

Arguably the most successful rapper/actor and indisputably the most successful Ice-themed rapper/actor, O'Shea Jackson has gone from politically charged, incendiary emcee to building a mini-empire as an actor, screenwriter, producer and director. As Doughboy in John Singleton's classic urban drama "Boyz n the Hood," the rapper pulled off both the intimidating and heartfelt sides of his character. He would subsequently build up a wide roster of films, including drama ("Higher Learning"), action ("Anaconda") and, who would have guessed?, comedy, with the "Friday," "Barbershop" and "Are We There Yet?" franchises all successful enough to spark multiple sequels.

15. Dolly Parton

Columbia

The Queen of Country will always be known as one of the genre's preeminent and prolific singers and songwriters (more than 40 albums and counting), but when it comes to film, it's quality over quantity. Parton's first two roles, 1980's "Nine to Five" and 1982's "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" both garnered her Best Actress Golden Globe nominations, while her role in "Rhinestone" actually made Sylvester Stallone sound slightly more comprehensible. More recently, the singer can be heard in the animated feature "Gnomeo and Juliet."

14. Aaliyah

Warner Bros.

When her life was tragically cut short at the age of 22 in 2001, R&B singer Aaliyah Haughton was robbed of more than just a singing career. As Trish O'Day in the 2000 martial arts film "Romeo Must Die," the singer displayed an acting range well beyond her years. The success of "Romeo" led to the 2001 vampire film "Queen of the Damned," where the singer played Queen Akasha. While the film was panned, the singer was once again singled out for her acting ability. Upon her death, she was scheduled to star as Zee in The Matrix Reloaded, a role that eventually went to Nona Gaye, the daughter of legendary soul singer Marvin.

13. David Bowie

Warner Bros.

Nicolas Roeg's "The Man Who Fell to Earth," the story of an alien sent to Earth to retrieve the planet's water only to fall in love with the foreign land, couldn't have been more perfect for David Bowie's first starring role. An innovative musician who routinely incorporated theater, performance and character into his work, Bowie always seemed more alien (in both senses) than any of his peers. Whether as a vampire in "The Hunger," Andy Warhol in "Basquiat" or Jareth the Goblin King in "Labyrinth," Bowie's singular talents and unique view of the world ensure that a "standard" Bowie performance will never exist. And we wouldn't have it any other way.

12. Mos Def

Warner Bros.

The lyrical, thought-provoking emcee has always had a gift for performance, so it's no surprise Mighty Mos got his acting start at 14 in a made-for-TV movie. In addition to numerous theater and television appearances -- that's him as Dante Beze in the short-lived "The Cosby Mysteries" --  the rapper has primarily opted for lower-profile, yet artistically significant works including "Monster's Ball" and "The Woodsman." More recently, he starred with Jack Black in Michel Gondry's flawed but creative "Be Kind Rewind" and played Chuck Berry in the more flawed but less creative "Cadillac Records."

11. Dean Martin

Warner Bros.

With Frank Sinatra, part-time actor/full-time singer/fuller-time drinker Dean Martin led The Brat Pack, a group of entertainers in the 1960s who all appeared in each other's films and albums. Martin dominated nearly every entertainment field for more than a decade, and while he never won the awards, his film career spans nearly 40 years and includes a series of Westerns, war films and the classic caper film "Ocean's Eleven." We're partial though to 1968's "5 Card Stud," the first Western-noir ever produced.

10. Courtney Love

Sony

The Hole frontwoman should be on this list for every time she gave Oscar-winning performances of sobriety and normalcy (rimshot!). Before Hole even existed, Love could be seen in Alex Cox's "Sid and Nancy," -- insert joke here --the acclaimed biopic on Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. A decade later, despite massive studio misgivings, Love was cast as Althea Flynt, wife of hustler magnate Larry Flynt, in 1996's "The People Vs. Larry Flynt," earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress and a Golden Cup for passing every drug test. Shocking nearly everyone, Love would repeat the unanimous acclaim in "Flynt" three years later alongside Jim Carrey in "Man on the Moon."

9. Queen Latifah

Paramount

After the release of her third album "Black Reign" in 1993, Queen Latifah began her acting career in earnest as one of a group of African-Americans living in Brooklyn on the popular FOX show "Living Single. " The 1990s would bring the "U.N.I.T.Y." rapper minor roles, but it was her portrayal of Matron "Mama" Morton in Rob Marshall's "Chicago" that brought the Queen into a new level of royalty and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her acting career has had spotty results since ("Taxi"? Really?), but in her comfort zone, as in the 2007 musical "Hairspray," Her Highness still reigns.

8. Jennifer Hudson

Paramount

Few singers have had as much acting success from their debut performance as former "American Idol" contestant Jennifer Hudson. As the hot-blooded Effie White, member of the Supremes-styled Dreamettes, Hudson played opposite, and upstaged, Beyoncé and Eddie Murphy, taking over the film with her booming voice and towering presence. She went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and followed up "Dreamgirls" with a supporting role in "Sex and the City" and a lead role in "The Secret Life of Bees."

7. Bing Crosby

Paramount

The most popular performer of the 1930s and '40s, actor and singer Bing Crosby, along with frequent partner Bob Hope, made some of the most enduring films in history and became the first American pop star to successfully forge a career in film. While Crosby and Hope's "Road" series, a set of seven films combining adventure, humor and musical interludes and taking place in remote parts of the world, became the actor's most notable legacy, the "White Christmas" crooner picked up a Best Actor Academy Award for 1944's "Going My Way" and two Best Actor nominations for the film's sequel "The Bells of St. Mary's" and 1955's "The Country Girl."

6. Justin Timberlake

Sony

"Yogi Bear" and "The Love Guru" notwithstanding, the former 'N Sync megastar has done a 180 from his squeaky clean upbringing when it comes to film, choosing dark, grimy roles in films such as "Alpha Dog" and "Southland Tales." While the singer added to his comedy roster with this summer's comedies "Bad Teacher" and "Friends With Benefits," it was 2010's performance as Napster co-founder and Facebook mentor Sean Parker that silenced any remaining JT naysayers.

5. Barbara Streisand

Warner Bros.

Love her or hate her, they don't come much bigger than Babs, a multi-talented singer, actress, filmmaker and producer whose cinematic reign starts with an Best Actress Academy Award for 1968's "Funny Girl" and extends to this day with the "Fockers" series. In between, she remains one of the few entertainers who has picked up Oscar nominations or wins for Best Picture (1991's "The Prince of Tides," which she directed), Best Song (1976's "A Star is Born") and Best Actress (along with "Funny Girl," Streisand earned a nomination for 1973's "The Way We Were.") So basically Hall of Fame in every category you can envision.

4. Frank Sinatra

Columbia

The conventional wisdom about the Chairman of the Board is that his hubris at being "Frank Sinatra" overshadowed the necessity to, well, act in movies. But when he found the right roles -- see his harrowing, Oscar-nominated portrayal as a drug addict in "The Man With The Golden Arm" and the rough Captain Marco in the spy thriller "The Manchurian Candidate" -- no one could do confident better. Arguably his most well-known role, though, is the 1953 wartime classic "From Here to Eternity," a role that earned the actor his only Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

3. Mark Wahlberg

Paramount

Make all the Marky Mark jokes you want. Who would've thought in 2011, the erstwhile rapper and Funkiest of Bunches would be an A-list actor with an Academy Award nomination to his credit (Best Supporting Actor for Martin Scorsese's "The Departed"). Films like "The Substitute" and "Fear" are hardly the auspicious start any actor hopes for, but as local loser-turned-porn star Dirk Diggler in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Boogie Nights," Wahlberg received universal acclaim and went on to expand his résumé into comedy ("I Heart Huckabees," "The Other Guys"), drama ("Three Kings") and action ("The Perfect Storm"). Wahlberg's reign continues to this day, with his subtle portrayal of Micky Ward in "The Fighter" earning the actor his first Best Actor nomination at the Golden Globes.

2. Cher

MGM

If the only thing you know about the cinematic side of Cher is the recent flop "Burlesque," you have about 30 years of catching up to do. The singer/actress/variety show staple received a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe nomination for 1982's "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean," one of her earliest roles. "Silkwood" would win her the same award a year later, while 1987's romantic comedy "Moonstruck" with Nicolas Cage earned her a Best Actress Oscar (a rarity for a comedy). We'll always be partial, though, to her tough-but-loving Rusty Dennis, the mother of Rocky Dennis in "Mask." We may act tough, but that last scene gets us every time.

1. Will Smith

Columbia

In the late 1980s to mid-1990s, Will Smith helped usher in the post-Biz Markie lighter, playful side of hip-hop, both with family-friendly tracks ("Parents Just Don't Understand," "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson") and his massively successful TV show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Beginning in 1993, however, Smith showed that hip-hop's consummate goofball had a serious, dramatic side, with his searing portrayal of a young con artist in "Six Degrees of Separation." Leading roles in "Bad Boys" and "Independence Day" would follow, and Smith quickly found himself as one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood. Fifteen years later, he has yet to relinquish the throne. While Jazzy Jeff was busy getting thrown out of houses, Smith picked up Best Actor Academy Award nominations for his portrayal of boxer Muhammad Ali in "Ali" and in 2006's" The Pursuit of Happyness."

<< Return to 40-21

Originally published Feb. 10, 2011.

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Chris O'Dowd may be best known to audiences as the man whose delightful Irish brogue almost made us forget that there were any other characters in "Bridesmaids," but it seems his career in Hollywood is just getting started.

The actor has just signed on to appear in Australia's Goalpost Pictures' upcoming film "The Sapphires," Screen Daily reports.  The movie, inspired by a true story, details the career of 1960s Aboriginal soul singers The Sapphires, who perform for troops in Vietnam during wartime.

O'Dowd will star as the talent scout who discovers the girl group, played by Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Miranda Tapsell, and Shari Sebbens.

The actor, who teams up with "Bridesmaids" producer Judd Apatow later this year in "Knocked Up" sequel "This is Forty," will also be reunited with former co-stars Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm in Jennifer Westfeldt's "Friends With Kids."

The Sapphires' story makes its way to the big screen from the stage, where it was performed as a musical. The show, directed by Wesley Enoch, was written by Australian playwright Tony Briggs, the son of one of the group's singers, Laurel Robinson. The stage show, which opened in Australia in 2004, has been performed around the world, including a two-week run in 2011 at London's famed Barbican Center.

Filming for "The Sapphires" begins in Australia and Vietnam later this month.

Getty Images

Some people can't get enough of stories of love triumphing against all odds, and for them, there's a whole section of Netflix full of Nicholas Sparks movies.

For the more cynical movie-goer, or the guy or gal who just wants to know where Amy Pond goes when she's not slipping through the universe, there's "Not Another Happy Ending."

The movie, written by David Solomoms, tells the story of a girl whose happiness nearly ruins her life, and the handsome hero who sets out to make sure she's miserable.

Screen Daily reports that "Doctor Who" actress Karen Gillan will star as the film's protagonist, an author of dark fiction whose career success causes an ascent out of agony and leaves her unable to write.

Desperate to get her back in the swing of things, her publisher, played by "Game of Thrones" actor Emun Elliot, does everything in his power to make her unhappy, only to fall in love with her along the way.

The film's director, John McKay, says of his cast, "We have two of the newest, hottest, sexiest pair of lead actors out of Scotland. Just right for the kind of quirky, romantic indie movie not another happy ending is set to be.” This will be McKay's second time working with the Gillan, who stars as Jean Shrimpton in "We'll Take Manhattan," a BBC movie based on the relationship between the model and photographer David Bailey.

Killan isn't the only "Doctor Who" star getting the Hollywood treatment; the doctor himself, in the form of actor David Tennant, stars in British rom-com "The Decoy Bride" and 3-D horror "Fright Night," both scheduled for release this year.

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