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SEE NO EVIL

Plot: A psychotic killer bumps off teenagers at a dilapidated hotel.

Talking Points: This gore flick arrives courtesy of Lions Gate, the same studio that brought us Hostel, Saw and The Devil's Rejects -- and, oh yeah, the Oscar-winning Crash.

MAY 26

X-MEN: THE LAST STAND

• Kerry hayes / Fox and Marvel
• Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman in X-Men: The Last Stand

Plot: A cure for mutancy has been discovered, but mutant leaders Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) disagree on how to accept this information, potentially leading to an all-out war. Meanwhile, the late Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) rises Phoenix-like from the ashes.

Talking Points: While it once looked like this cinematic franchise had no end date (especially considering the rich history of its comic source), this chapter is being billed as the final part of the trilogy -- though talks have already begun concerning a spin-off for Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) ... Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) won't be back, but new to the fray are Beast (Kelsey Grammer) and Angel (Ben Foster) ... Ellen Page, who appears as teen hero Kitty Pryde, is currently dazzling audiences in Hard Candy.

JUNE 2

THE BREAK-UP

Plot: A quarrelling couple (Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston) decides to call it quits; unfortunately, neither wants to vacate the condo, leading to a series of obnoxious pranks orchestrated to drive the other person out.

Talking Points: After a rough 2005 -- we're talking purely on-screen, of course (Rumor Has It, Derailed) -- Aniston hopes to bounce back with the critical success of Friends With Money (that's working out nicely) and the commercial success of this comedy (to be determined) ... Vaughn, on the other hand, had a spectacular 2005 thanks to Wedding Crashers (a supporting role in Mr. and Mrs. Smith didn't hurt, either), and this picture should see his stock rise even higher.

JUNE 6

THE OMEN

Plot: In this remake of the 1976 horror classic, there's hell to pay when young Damien (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) is revealed to be the Antichrist.

Talking Points: Fox is releasing this on 6/6/06, proving someone in the marketing department has a wicked sense of humor ... Doubtless under the assumption that today's young audiences wouldn't respond to a thriller with veteran leads -- the 1976 original starred 60-year-old Gregory Peck and 40-year-old Lee Remick -- this casts 38-year-old Liev Schreiber and 25-year-old Julia Stiles as the diplomat couple who adopt Damien.

JUNE 9

CARS

• Disney & Pixar
• Cars

Plot: A cocky race car (voiced by Owen Wilson) discovers the pleasures of small-town life as he becomes acquainted with rural folks -- er, automobiles.

Talking Points: The latest Pixar-Disney feature will hold its world premiere at Lowe's Motor Speedway ... The vocal cast also includes Bonnie Hunt, Richard Petty and real-life race fan Paul Newman.

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION

Plot: The talents behind a radio show cope with the fact that their series has been cancelled.

Talking Points: This is a fictionalized account of the shutdown of Garrison Keillor's long-running radio program, with Keillor himself providing the script (and essaying the central role) and Robert Altman assuming the director's chair ... The star-studded cast includes Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline and Lindsay Lohan.

JUNE 16

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS:

TOKYO DRIFT

• Melinda Sue Gordon / Picturehouse
• Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin in A Prairie Home Companion

Plot: An American street racer (Lucas Black) moves to Tokyo and learns all about the underground sport of Japanese drift racing.

Talking Points: Vin Diesel left after one F&F film, and Paul Walker jumped ship after two, meaning this is basically an in-name-only sequel (the director and writer are also new to the party) ... Moviegoers will recognize the talented Black from such features as Sling Blade, Cold Mountain and Jarhead.

GARFIELD: A TALE OF TWO KITTIES

Plot: In this sequel to the modest 2004 hit, the fat cat travels to London and gets mistaken for a feline belonging to royalty.

Talking Points: The first Garfield flick was ghastly beyond measure, and one presumes this will be more of the same ... Bill Murray again provides the cat's voice.

THE LAKE HOUSE

Plot: A doctor (Sandra Bullock) and an architect (Keanu Reeves) fall in love while exchanging letters, but they eventually realize that they're actually living two years apart.

Talking Points: It may sound like a time-abbreviated remake of Somewhere In Time, but this is actually a remake of the 2000 Korean release Il Mare ... It's been 12 years since Reeves and Bullock displayed strong chemistry together in Speed.

NACHO LIBRE

Plot: A cook (Jack Black) at an impoverished Mexican orphanage decides to raise money by working the wrestling circuit.

Talking Points: Concocted by the director of Napoleon Dynamite (Jared Hess) and the writer of School of Rock (Mike White), this quirky comedy has the potential to be one of this summer's unexpected hits -- if The Break-Up hasn't already stolen its comic thunder ... Leading Mexican actress Ana de la Reguera makes her English-language debut as a nun.