Returning entries in ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Fast and Furious’ and ‘Ironman’ anchor spring movie selections

The summer movie season starts amping up earlier and earlier – mostly because movie studios are trying to avoid pairing their films will something that might dilute the box office.

Unlike years past, movies make the bulk of their money in the first weekend of release – and if you

pick a bad weekend, it could doom a franchise.

While April is still kind of slow for movies, May has become just another month of summer.

There are a lot of movies coming out this spring, though, that have a lot of promise -- and there are others that have "dud" written all over them:

April

Scary Movie 5: This franchise should have been put out of its misery years ago. Charlie Sheen returns – and this time he brought along Lindsay Lohan. I think I’ll pass. (April 12)

Oblivion: Tom Cruise tries to prove (yet again) that he’s still a box office draw. Somehow, I doubt this sci-fi adventure about humanity trying to find a new home in space is going to prove that. (April 19)

The Lords of Salem: Horror movie fans know Rob Zombie is best when he doesn’t trying to ruin classic slasher flicks. This film revolves around Salem, Mass. – and what happens when a 300-year-old coven of witches visit modern times. The cast is uninspiring (stop casting your wife, Rob Zombie!). (April 19)

Pain and Gain: This movie is getting a lot of flack. Personally, I can’t take anything Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson are in seriously enough to get worked up over it. This is the true story of a group of body builders who get caught up in a criminal enterprise. (April 26)

The Big Wedding: This is an ensemble about family dysfunction at a wedding. It’s got “been done” written all over it. Still, I’m intrigued by the cast, which includes Robert DeNiro, Diane Keaton, Ben Barnes, Amanda Seyfried, Robin Williams, Topher Grace and Katherine Heigl. (April 26)

May

Iron Man 3: This franchise hasn’t disappointed yet. Still, I wasn’t impressed by the trailer. I hope the

flick is better than what I’ve seen on television so far. (May 3)

Tyler Perry Presents Peeples: Hopefully this will be as funny as some of his other stuff. I’m a little worried, though. It’s about a normal guy that gets introduced to his fiancee’s “upper crust” family. It could be funny – and it’s bound to be raunchy. (May 10)

The Great Gatsby: I’m surprised they’re releasing this one in the spring. It has Oscar bait written all over it. Still, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan – all performing in a classic tale – has the potential to be something special. (May 10)

Star Trek: Into Darkness: This is the movie I’m looking forward to most this year. The ‘Star Trek’ reboot was amazing, and this film has a great trailer. All the characters return to face off against a villain (reportedly Khan) that has attacked Earth. I can’t wait. The first time I saw the trailer I got chills. (May 17)

Fast and Furious 6: These movies are a guilty pleasure for me. I enjoy them. They’re never going to win any awards – but I find them fun. In this go-around, the group is pulling another heist in Europe –and they may be running into an old friend in the form of the presumed dead Letty. (May 24)

The Hangover 3: The first movie in this franchise was hilarious. The second was terrible. I don’t

have a lot of hope for the third film. It’s just a money grab, at this point. John Goodman is always awesome, though. This franchise should have consisted of one great movie – and nothing else. (May 24)

Before Midnight: This is a cult movie franchise that reunites Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy for a third go around. Personally, I am underwhelmed by all the movies in the franchise – but I know some people who swear by them. (May 24)

What do you think? What movie are you looking forward to the most this spring?