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Summer 2012 officially gets underway in the U.S. this weekend when superhero team-up The Avengers is unleashed in to over 4,000 theaters. Ahead of the season kick-off, it's worth taking a look at what Summer has to offer this year, and which movies have the most box office potential.Heath LedgerChristopher NolanAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneSam RaimiWill SmithMatt DamonJeremy RennerDwayne JohnsonBruce Willis

After the overall box office set records in February and March, business slowed down considerably in April. At around $721 million, it was down nine percent from last April's record $793 million, and it was also a bit off from 2010's $753 million. April 2012 did see higher revenue than every other April on record, though it probably didn't crack the Top 10 in ticket sales. None of the month's new releases made much of a dent, so the fact that the box office didn't take a bigger hit was due mostly to The Hunger Games's incredible ongoing performance.Nicholas StollerJason SegelJudd ApatowJason Statham

Four new nationwide releases landed with a thud this weekend, which allowed Think Like a Man to repeat atop the domestic box office chart. The Top 12 earned just $97.1 million on the final weekend in Spring 2012, which is obviously way off from the same frame last year when Fast Five opened to $86.2 million.Nicholas StollerJason SegelJudd ApatowEmily BluntJason StathamJames McTeigue

A week ahead of its U.S. debut, Marvel's The Avengers opened in 39 foreign territories and scored a truly heroic $185.1 million. The movie took first place in all of its markets, and set new opening weekend records in a dozen of them as well.

The big winner on Friday appears to be a movie that isn't even out yet—audiences largely rejected all four brand-new movies, which may be the latest sign that anticipation for The Avengers is reaching a fever pitch. Thanks to the middling performance of the newcomers, Think Like a Man and The Lucky One easily held on to the top two spots.Zac EfronJason SegelNicholas StollerJason Statham

The Summer movie season has finally arrived, and as usual the first month is full of ambitious, expensive movies. However, The Avengers is the only one with guaranteed blockbuster status, and there are still questions surrounding the box office potential of Dark Shadows, Battleship and MIB 3. It's going to take an above-average performance from at least one of these other would-be blockbusters for May 2012 to top May 2011's record $1.04 billion. Tim BurtonJohnny DeppTaylor KitschSacha Baron CohenWill SmithTommy Lee JonesJosh BrolinOren PeliWes Anderson

On what will forever be known as "that weekend before The Avengersopened," four new nationwide releases hit theaters. With its strong cast and connection to Bridesmaids, The Five-Year Engagement appears to have the best chance of finishing in first, though its theater count (2,936) trails that of Aardman Animation flick The Pirates! Band of Misfits (3,358). The Raven and Safe also debut this weekend, though neither of these titles has much of a chance of cracking the Top Three. Nicholas StollerJason SegelJudd ApatowJason StathamRobert De Niro

The Summer movie season officially starts in the U.S. when The Avengers opens on May 4th. Overseas, though, the season has actually already gotten underway with Battleship's foreign rollout. This extended schedule is indicative of the growing importance of the overseas market to Hollywood's bottom line—last year, international grosses accounted for 69 percent of overall sales, compared with 66 percent in 2010 and 64 percent in 2009. Christopher NolanTobey MaguireKirsten DunstAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneWill SmithJoe RothKristen StewartCharlize TheronChris HemsworthDwayne JohnsonBruce WillisRidley ScottJ.J. AbramsJohnny DeppTim BurtonAdam ShankmanTom CruiseMatt DamonJeremy RennerArnold Schwarzenegger

Thanks to strong openings in China and Russia, Battleship took the top spot at the overseas box office away from Titanic 3D this weekend. That didn't stop Titanic 3D from adding a healthy amount to its already impressive total, though, and it even managed to retain first place in China ahead of Battleship.Taylor KitschWoody AllenLuc Besson

With its affable cast and broadly-appealing battle-of-the-sexes premise, Think Like a Man easily took the top spot at the box office this weekend ahead of The Lucky One and four-time champ The Hunger Games. In fourth place, Chimpanzee exceeded expectations and set a few minor records. Overall, the Top 12 earned $126.1 million this weekend, which is a slight improvement over the same frame last year.Tyler PerryZac EfronJoss Whedon

In the three week contest to see what movie could defeat The Hunger Games, movies like Wrath of the Titans, American Reunion, and Titanic 3D all could have been contenders. When it became clear that none of these titles were going to get the job done, it was widely assumed that The Lucky One would finally defeat Katniss this weekend. While the Zac Efron/Nicholas Sparks tearjerker did out-gross The Hunger Games on Friday, though, it was surprise hit Think Like a Man that officially put an end to The Hunger Games four-week reign at the top of the box office.Tyler PerryJoss Whedon

After ruling for four weeks, it's a foregone conclusion that The Hunger Games will finally give up its place atop the box office—the big question, though, is whether The Lucky One or Think Like a Man winds up replacing it. Nicholas Sparks romance The Lucky One, opening in 3,155 locations this weekend, has seemed like the safe bet for a while now. However, Think Like a Man appears to be receiving a surge of interest, and Sony/Screen Gems has managed to get the movie in to 2,015 theaters (up from an estimate of 1,800). Also opening this weekend is Disneynature's fourth documentary, Chimpanzee, though it's only reaching 1,563 theaters and could end up outside of the Top Five. Channing TatumAmanda SeyfriedZac EfronTaylor SchillingMichael EalyRegina HallTaraji P. HensonChris RockTracy Morgan

A full month ahead of its U.S. release Battleship set sail overseas, though it was a much older ship that wound up claiming first place at the foreign box office this weekend.

Male moviegoers were split between the three new releases this weekend, which allowed the female-skewing Hunger Games to take the top spot at the box office for the fourth-consecutive frame. Among the new movies, The Three Stooges fared best, though The Cabin in the Woods also had a decent showing. Lockout, on the other hand, didn't even reach the modest levels of other recent Luc Besson productions. Without any breakout opener, the Top 12's combined $106.7 million gross was off nine percent from the same weekend last year.

As expected, it was a quiet day at the box office on Friday the 13th. The Hunger Games maintained its grasp on first place, while The Three Stooges and The Cabin in the Woods had solid openings and were close runner-ups. Lockout, on the other hand, had an unsuccessful launch down in sixth place.

Three new nationwide releases enter the fray this weekend, though there's a good chance that The Hunger Games claims the top spot for the fourth time in a row. The Three Stooges will practice their particular brand of slapstick at 3,476 locations, while The Cabin in the Woods opens at 2,811 theaters and Lockout blasts off at 2,308 venues. Chris HemsworthJoss WhedonLuc Besson

While the end of April 2011 did deliver a blockbuster with Fast Five, the time period traditionally serves as an opportunity to clear out some modest movies ahead of the beginning of Summer. Since late April 2012's most ambitious movies are a Nicolas Sparks adaptation, a Judd Apatow production and an Aardman Animation flick, it seems like late April 2012 fits more in the traditional model. Zac EfronChanning TatumTyler PerryNicholas StollerJason SegelEmily BluntJason Statham

20th Century Fox International is reporting that Titanic 3D opened to an estimated $11.6 million from 2,400 3D screens and 66 IMAX 3D screens in China on Tuesday. That's Fox's best opening day ever in China, and it's more than double Titanic 3D's weekend debut in any of its other markets.

Wrath of the Titans held on to the top spot at the foreign box office over Easter weekend, though Titanic 3D opened across most of the world and racked up a very solid figure as well. The Hunger Games also hung in well overseas despite paling in comparison to its domestic tally, and American Reunion had the best start yet for the American Pie franchise.