Ah, the sequel. A Hollywood concept notorious for producing subpar films and repeatedly disappointing movie-goers and critics alike. Throughout the history of filmmaking, it seems that very few have conquered the difficult task of producing a praise-worthy sequel. 

This summer, however, looks much more promising for the sequel. Second and third installments of some of the biggest names in movie history will be released starting at the end of May, which could attract record-breakingly large audiences and will undoubtedly achieve major success at the box office. 

Here’s a list of six sequel films worth seeing this summer:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II

Obviously this had to be first on the list. One of the most anticipated movie events of all time, the final installment of the Harry Potter series comes to theaters on July 15th. To those uninterested in the world of Hogwarts: be prepared for scores of enthusiastic and potentially emotional adolescents dressed as wizards pitching tents outside your local movie theater. Who knows—for this, they could start lining up on the Fourth of July.  

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Coming to theaters May 20, this 4th installment of the “Pirates” series features Penelope Cruz as a woman from Captain Jack Sparrow’s (Jonny Depp) past. Although former “Pirates” stars Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly are absent from “On Stranger Tides”, this shouldn’t affect the film’s quality as it is Depp’s presence that has made the series popular and enjoyable all along. Also, his onscreen chemistry with Cruz will definitely be interesting to watch.

3. The Hangover Part II

The immensely popular 2009 comedy, “The Hangover” already has a Part II, coming to theaters May 26. Judging by the trailers, the plot of “The Hangover Part II” is almost identical to that of the original, which could be a good or bad thing. The only major difference seems to be that instead of tearing up Sin City, this time, Alan, Phil and Stu adventure through Thailand—or “Thigh-land,” as Alan calls it. Despite the striking similarities to “The Hangover” itself, this new flick definitely looks amusing and is worth a trip to the theater. 

4. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

On July 1st, Shia LaBeouf returns to star in the third installment of this sci-fi action-adventure series, but his former counterpart, Megan Fox, is replaced by newcomer Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Although Fox’s absence from “Dark of the Moon” will disappoint teenage boys across the nation, the film can still expect huge success at the box office. The first two “Transformers” were incredibly well-received and traditionally draw a fairly diverse audience. 

5. Cars 2

Owen Wilson voices world-famous racecar Lightening McQueen once again in “Cars 2,” which comes to theaters on June 24. This time though, McQueen will be racing on a much bigger track, as the plot centers around his trip overseas to compete in the first ever World Grand Prix. McQueen is once again accompanied by the comically simple Mater, who is voiced by Larry the Cable Guy. Based on the success of the first “Cars”, the result of a collaboration between famous movie duo, Disney and Pixar, this sequel surely has the potential to be a very entertaining yet family appropriate film. 

6. Kung Fu Panda 2

The voice talents of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen and Dustin Hoffman return to the big screen on May 27 with this sequel to the animated 2008 hit, “Kung Fu Panda.”  The impressively star-studded cast and humorous adventure story will undoubtedly create an enjoyable movie-going experience for viewers of all ages. 

Reach Whitney here.