Steve Pratt looks ahead at the films which will be making the headlines in the next four months.

THEY’RE off. The opening of Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides this week means the summer blockbuster season is under way. Franchises, sequels and the occasional one-off are waiting to set box office records. In fact, it’s already begun.

Fast And Furious 5 gave a surprise early start with a record-breaking 80m dollar plus opening weekend. Not bad for the fifth in a franchise that most thought had had its day. Here are some of the other summer movies coming your way. X-Men: First Class (opens June 3) After three movies and a Wolverine spin-off, it’s back to the beginning and Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters to discover the origins of the rivalry between Professor X and Magneto.

Michael Fassbender’s Erik Lensherr and James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier do battle against a major world threat in the early Sixties before their friendship is tested. Among the cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar-nominated rising star from Winter’s Bone, Skins actor Nicholas Hoult and Mad Men’s January Jones.

The Hangover Part II (May 26) Rapid sequel for the box office smash.

Instead of Las Vegas, the friends are sent abroad to Bangkok for the wedding of Stu (Ed Helms). You hardly need telling that things don’t go according to plan. A monkey, dysentry and tattoos provide another night to remember for these party animals.

Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis star.

The female equivalent is Bridesmaids (June 24) which is a frankly filthy comedy seen from a female perspective.

It’s the girls who behave badly (the scene in the wedding dress shop with girls suffering from upset stomachs will put you off your dinner) led by co-writer Kristen Wiig, last seen in Paul.

Kung Fu Panda 2 (June 10) Further animated adventures for the Jack Black-voiced kung panda, now a respected Dragon Warrior. He and his chums, the Furious Five – including Tigress, voiced by Angelina Jolie and Monkey (speak up Jackie Chan) – unite to fight a threat to China from evil Lord Shen (Gary Oldman).

Green Lantern (June 17) Comic book capers with Ryan Reynolds as a chap who acquires superpowers and joins the Green Lantern Corps, dogooders keeping peace within the universe.

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (July 1) Or Transformers 3 by any other name. Shia LaBeouf is back, but Megan Fox has done a runner, replaced by former Victoria Secret’s model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Director Michael Bay directs again so expect lots of explosions.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (July 15) Time to say goodbye to the child wizard. He’s a man now although Lord Voldemort would be happy for him to vanish.

There’s a showdown at Hogwarts with the Dark Lord (and I don’t mean the PE teacher). Daniel Radcliffe stars with the usual gang in support.

Cars 2 (July 22) Pixar animation sequel in which Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) competes in the first ever world grand prix to find the world;s fastest car.

Captain America: The First Avenger (July 29) Steve Rogers takes part in a military experiment - totally safe, they assure him - and turns into a superman. Soon he’s off to fight a Nazi plot in Germany as the First Avenger. Chris Evans (not the Radio 2 gingernut, the American actor) plays him.

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (Aug 12). Prequel story of how the apes gained their intelligence. James Franco, fresh from an Oscar nomination for 127 Hours, plays a scientist monkeying around with genetics.

The Smurfs (Aug 12). The little blue people are at large in New York and it’s up to Neil Patrick Harris to get them home unharmed.

Cowboys And Aliens (Aug 19) James Bond and Indiana Jones take on aliens. Based on a graphic novel, this is set in the old west where a town is attacked by folk from outer space.

Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford star, Iron Man director Jon Favreau is at the helm.

Conan (Aug 19) Arnie played him last time now Jason Momoa is the muscular chap out to avenge the murder of his father.