With the release of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” Friday marks the official launch of the summer movie season, that time of year where studios crowd in as many big-budget spectaculars as possible in hopes of cashing in on those hot-weather dollars. But with such a crowded market, it’s not just the studios’ fates on the line — it’s the stars’.
Here are seven actors with something to prove in the coming months.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
The wrestler-turned-action hero has helped create some major box office revenue, but his biggest hits have been franchises that he joined along the way (“Fast Five,” “Fast & Furious 6,” “G.I. Joe: Retaliation”).
While he’s led family comedies and action vehicles to much smaller numbers, his upcoming “Hercules” epic (out July 25) is a different story — Johnson is hoping “Hercules” will be the latest franchise starter.
Whether or not he proves a box office draw on his own will be a career defining moment for him.
Scarlett Johansson
Sidelined to a supporting character in “The Avengers,” Johansson will take her big leap into lead action hero territory with “Lucy” (in theaters Aug. 8), a thriller in which she stars as a woman who can use far more of her brain than the average person .
The filmmakers are hoping moviegoers are hungry to see Johansson shoot ’em up on her own, and if it’s a huge hit, it could persuade Marvel to give her a “Black Widow” stand-alone film.
The movie comes from director Luc Besson, who has struggled to connect with audiences of late. This could spell trouble.
Seth MacFarlane
MacFarlane is a massive success story on TV with hits “Family Guy” and “American Dad!” And “Ted,” which he directed, was one of the biggest box office hits of 2012. But MacFarlane has yet to lead a movie with an onscreen role.
Whether his R-rated comic Western “A Million Ways to Die in the West” (out May 30) is more like “Ted” or more like MacFarlane’s flop of an Oscars-hosting gig will determine whether he launches a successful film acting career.
Channing Tatum
Hollywood desperately needs bankable leading men for its nonsuperhero films and Tatum seemed the perfect fit. Coming off smash hits like “21 Jump Street” and “Magic Mike,” the studios were ready to make him an action star. But last summer’s “White House Down” proved to be one of the biggest box office disappointments of the year.
This summer, Tatum returns to form with “22 Jump Street” (June 13), which should perform as well as the original. More revealing will be the fate of the Wachowskis’ sci-fi flick “Jupiter Ascending” (July 18) in which Tatum stars opposite Mila Kunis as an elf-like alien warrior who has to protect her from alien royalty.
If “Jupiter Ascending” bombs like the Wachowskis’ last two — “Cloud Atlas” and “Speed Racer” — it could spell trouble for Channing Tatum, action star.
Tom Cruise
Speaking of action stars, Cruise was once the biggest in the world. But recent outings “Jack Reacher” and “Oblivion” failed to make much of a mark. His latest flick, “Edge of Tomorrow” (June 6) looks like more of the same and has very little buzz.
It seems likely his box office appeal will continue to edge away from his onetime high status.
Melissa McCarthy
At this point, McCarthy is a hit machine with standout supporting roles in flicks such as “Bridesmaids” and “This is 40.” Last year she solidified herself as the comedy queen with back-to-back hits, “Identity Thief” and “The Heat.”
But the difference between those and the upcoming “Tammy” (July 2) is that she’s finally top-lining solo. Susan Sarandon stars as her grandmother on the road trip, but it’s not being billed as a must-see duo the way the last two were with Jason Bateman and Sandra Bullock, respectively.
If McCarthy can bring in the dollars on her own, she’s set for life.
Chris Pratt
One of the biggest gambles of the summer is Marvel’s attempt at launching a new franchise, “Guardians of the Galaxy” (Aug. 1). While it’s a collaborative effort between many superheroes, Pratt seems to be the focus thus far (Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, after all, are just voices, the name Dave Bautista doesn’t mean much to most moviegoers and Zoe Saldana has not been a second thought in marketing campaigns so far).
Pratt’s a fan favorite on “Parks and Recreation,” and he gotten into serious shape for this movie. But he has no track record at the multiplex.
If the movie bombs, he still may avoid blame, but if it’s a smash, we’ll likely be seeing a lot more of him on the big screen.