Every year, the best movies for kids are released in summer so that children can enjoy their vacation and make it a memorable one.

This is also the case with the summer of 2011, although it is likely to be better than its predecessors since it brings a gala of movies which have everything from talking cars, to pirates to superheroes who always save the day!

Thor

Released on May 6, 2011; Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba, Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins He may be arrogant and reckless but Marvel Comics’ hammer-wielding, God of Thunder (Hemsworth) delivers the final blow when he saves his new home, the earth, from the darkest forces of the universe. Featuring Oscar winners Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman, Thor is a must-watch, especially in 3D.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Released on May 20, 2011; Starring: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane and Geoffrey Rush The fourth instalment in this Disney franchise finds Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) and Barbossa (Rush) seeking the Fountain of Youth. The movie will be a delight for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean especially since it’s in 3D and has Penélope Cruz playing Sparrow’s love-interest.

Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom

Released on May 26, 2011; Featuring the voices of: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Gary Oldman, and Jean-Claude Van Damme Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom returns with the stellar voice cast. In this sequel, Po is living his dream as the Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends. All’s well until a new villain threatens to destroy whatever Po loves, prompting him to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.

X Men: First Class

Released on June 3, 2011; Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Oliver Platt and Kevin Bacon How it all started… the prequel to X-Men series is about the friendship of Charles Xavier (McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Fassbender) before they became Professor X and Magneto. The movie is likely to be special effects galore like the other X-Men movies.

Green Lantern

Releasing on June 17, 2011; Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins and Jon Tenney He is green, he is part of the Justice League but what made Hal Jordan take up the job of the defender of the universe is what this movie is all about. The movie is likely to light up your day with an original storyline and some action sequences set in the far end of the galaxy!

Cars 2

Releasing on June 24, 2011; Featuring the voices of: Owen Wilson, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Tony Shalhoub and Thomas Kretschmann Pixar’s Cars 2 sees the return of Lightning McQueen (Wilson) and tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) who travel to Europe and Japan en route to participate in the first-ever World Grand Prix.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Releasing on July 1, 2011; Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, John Malkovich, John Turturro, Frances McDormand and Tyrese Gibson The third instalment of Transformers brings back old characters as well as introduces new ones. Shot in 3D, it is during the course of the movie that the Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon, and hence begins a race against the Decepticons to reach it.

Zookeeper

Releasing on July 8, 2011; Starring: Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb, Sylvester Stallone, Adam Sandler and Cher Kevin James’s love life is in tatters and this prompts the animals at Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo to talk so they can help him succeed. Simple, isn’t it? Not simple when you have Adam Sandler and Sylvester Stallone providing voices for the animals. Winnie, the Pooh Releasing on July 15, 2011; Starring: Jim Cummings, John Cleese, Craig Ferguson. The classic adventures of the honey-loving bear make his feature-film debut. The voice cast includes Jim Cummings, John Cleese and Craig Ferguson.

HP & The Deathly Hallows: Part II

Releasing on July 15, 2011; Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Jason Isaacs and Bonnie Wright The fantasy-adventure series featuring Harry Potter comes to an end with this 3-D finale in which he battle evils, just as he had done in his preceding movies. But this time, it all ends for good.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Releasing on July 22, 2011; Starring: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving and Stanley Tucci Marvel Comics has its second big release of the summer with Captain America where Chris Evans stars as Steve Rogers, a sick soldier who gets transformed into a super-soldier dubbed Captain America. Together with his friends, he saves the world from the villainous Red Skull.

The Smurfs

Releasing on July 29, 2011; Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Hank Azaria, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, Sofía Vergara The classic cartoon of the 1980s makes its film debut, bringing characters like Papa Smurf, Gutsy Smurf and Jokey Smurf back to life. Watch out for the little blue creatures who will keep you entertained, as always!

Cowboys & Aliens

Releasing on July 29, 2011; Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde It may sound crazy but Cowboys & Aliens is about two different races – the gun-wielding cowboys and the little green men. Based on Scott Mitchell Rosenberg’s 2006 graphic novel, the movie is set in 1875 where a mysterious stranger (Craig) teams up with Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford) to save Earth from an alien invasion.

Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World

Releasing on August 19, 2011; Starring: Jessica Alba, Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega The Spy Kids franchise returns with a new plot and new characters. What remain the same are the director Robert Rodriguez and his innovative ideas!