With the release of Oz: The Great & Powerful in cinemas - reportedly budgeted at $325 million! - and Jack The Giant Slayer - budget: $195 million - opening in the States, we can announce that blockbuster season has officially begun! We'll have plenty of time to look forward and predict what we think this summer's best and brightest will be, but now would be a good time to look back over the biggest movies of 2012, and see if time has made them better, worse… or if we even remember them!

JOHN CARTER
Release: March 9th
Budget: $250 million
Worldwide Box Office: $282 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 51%
What Do We Think Now? Disney put A LOT of their eggs in this basket, putting a fantastic director like Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-E) at the wheel of one of their most expensive movies to date. Initially thought to be a flop, it did eventually make its production budget back - reports of the production AND promotion budget are somewhere around $400 million - but the film has already been forgotten by most. Which is a shame, as it's a perfectly acceptable Sunday afternoon movie. But Disney were obviously expecting for a lot more than that.
Sequels? Highly Unlikely.

THE HUNGER GAMES
Release: March 23rd
Budget: $78 million
Worldwide Box Office: $686 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
What Do We Think Now? With the end of Harry Potter and Twilight franchises, there was a space to be filled, and The Hunger Games succeeded by being both teen-friendly and a pretty good movie in its own right. There are still problems with the movie - that jittery camerawork, and its HUGE debt to Battle Royale - but they were easy to forgive when in the presence of the so-hot-she's-nuclear Jennifer Lawrence.
Sequels? The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is out this November, with Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2 out in November 2014 and 2015 respectively.

WRATH OF THE TITANS
Release: March 30th
Budget: $150 million
Worldwide Box Office: $301 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 26%
What Do We Think Now? A huge improvement of Clash Of The Titans, but somehow coming away with a lower score (Clash got an RT score of 28%), Wrath is actually a lot better than you remember it being. The 3D was hugely improved, the visuals and battle scenes were epic, and there was an ACTUAL TITAN in this one! Yes, the acting and story were pants, but that's not really what we came here for, is it?
Sequel? There are rumours of Death Of The Titans to be released some time in 2014.

BATTLESHIP
Release: April 11th
Budget: $209 million
Worldwide Box Office: $303 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 34%
What Do We Think Now? Another movie that was considered to be a flop in release, Battleship went on the make its budget back, with change to spare. The brainless plot has become less annoying in the year since its release, but it's over the top spectacle isn't something to be fully enjoyed on anything other than a massive cinema screen. Lots and lots of explosions ensure that it's never a dull watching experience, so we guess that's something.
Sequel? Nope. Thank God.

MARVEL'S AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
Release: April 26th
Budget: $220 million
Worldwide Box Office: $1.51 billion.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
What Do We Think Now? The biggest hit of 2012, and the third biggest of all time, does The Avengers stand up to repeat viewings? Yes, and then some! Still as funny, cheeky and action packed as ever, Marvel's Avengers Assemble was the most purely entertaining movie of last year.
Sequel? The Avengers 2 is set to be released on May 1st 2015.

DARK SHADOWS
Release: May 11th
Budget: $150 million
Worldwide Box Office: $238 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 38%
What Do We Think Now? Firstly, how can a comedy cost so much money? There was one or two explosions, but this movie cost more to make than most action movies do. Burton needs to have his budgets taken away from him so he can go back to basics, back to being good again, as Frankenweenie proved. Dark Shadows was actually okay, if admittedly a bit schizophrenic in its storytelling. Depp's weirdness was overshadowed by Eva Green's vamping villainess, and she remains the most memorable part of the movie.
Sequel? Everyone involved seems to agree that this was a one off.

MEN IN BLACK 3
Release: May 25th
Budget: $215 million
Worldwide Box Office: $624 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%
What Do We Think Now? Ten years after the stinky MiB2, everyone expected this to bellyflop after rumours started leaking of last minute script changes while the film was still shooting. Little did we know it would go on to become one of the biggest hits of the year, and while it was nowhere near as good as the original, it was a damn site better than the sequel. But it's fair to say that this particular franchise should be left well and truly alone… for at least five years when it gets rebooted.
Sequel? Men In Black 4 seems doubtful, but don't be surprised to see a Jaden Smith-starring reboot around 2020.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN
Release: May 30th
Budget: $170 million
Worldwide Box Office: $396 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 48%
What Do We Think Now? Somewhat overshadowed by the gossip surrounding its star and director, SW&TH can take solace in the fact that it was much better than that other 2012 Snow White movie, Mirror Mirror. But it's fantastic visuals and the solid performances from Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth still don't hide the fact that Kristen Stewart doesn't work as an action leading lady, and the plot was… was there even a plot?
Sequel? It's unclear, with both a sequel and a Huntsman-only spin-off reported to be in the making.

PROMETHEUS
Release: June 1st
Budget: $130 million
Worldwide Box Office: $403 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74%
What Do We Think Now? Without a doubt the most talked about movie of 2012, Prometheus was one of the most divisive films of the year. A sort of, not really, semi-prequel to Alien, the movie answered some questions with more questions disguised as answers. Probably the most visually breath-taking movie of last year, with fantastic use of 3D, Ridley Scott has given us something we want to keep coming back to, whether we like it or not.
Sequel? Rumoured for release some time in 2015, under the working title of Paradise.

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN
Release: July 3rd
Budget: $230 million
Worldwide Box Office: $752 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%
What Do We Think Now? Probably the most unnecessary reboot in cinema history ended up doing rather well in the box office, despite not having an original bone in it's body. It helped that Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone make one helluva adorable couple, but it doesn't help that the whole plot was hinting at a new direction, but never actually takes it. Note to Hollywood: stop with the superhero origin stories! Just assume we all know where they came from so you're not wasting everyone's time!
Sequel? Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti and Chris Cooper are joining the ranks as villains Electro, The Rhino and The Green Goblin, while The Descendants' Shailene Woodley will be coming on board as Mary Jane Watson. The Amazing Spiderman 2 is due in cinemas May 2nd 2014.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
Release: July 20th
Budget: $250 million
Worldwide Box Office: $1.08 billion
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
What Do We Think Now? Did anyone expect The Avengers not only to beat TDKR at the box office, but also to actually be a better movie? Next to The Dark Knight, Rises suffered in comparison by simply not being as good. But time has allowed us all to forgive the endless plot holes - How DID Bruce get from that prison hole into Gotham? - and to appreciate the movie for what it really is; a realistic superhero movie on an epic scale.
Sequel? There are rumours that Christian Bale or Joseph Gordon Levitt will appear in the Christopher Nolan produced Justice League movie, but a direct sequel is an almost definite no-no. Time for a reboot!

TED
Release: August 1st
Budget: $50 million
Worldwide Box Office: $545 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69%
What Do We Think Now? Ted was 2012's version of The Hangover; a relatively low budget, adult-aimed comedy that ended up making a killing at the box office. But repeat viewings show that Ted has a lot of sporadic highs, linked with a lot of filler moments, much like director Seth McFarlane's show Family Guy. Probably a good house-party movie, but unlikely to be remembered as comedy classic.
Sequel? Having both appeared at this year's Oscars, Mark Wahlberg and his teddy friend will return for Ted 2, due some time in 2015.

BRAVE
Release: August 3rd
Budget: $185 million
Worldwide Box Office: $535 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%
What Do We Think Now? Pixar needed to come back after the critically mauled Cars 2, and while Brave is certainly a step in the right direction, it's probably the most forgettable movie they've made since A Bug's Life. Yes, it went on to win Best Animated Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes, but there can't be many people who think it actually deserved it over the likes of Wreck-It Ralph. On the plus side, it was still an absolutely beautiful film to look at.
Sequel? Probably not, but Pixar seem to be prequelizing and sequelizing a lot of their back catalogue lately, so who knows?

THE BOURNE LEGACY
Release: August 13th
Budget: $125 million
Worldwide Box Office: $276 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 56%
What Do We Think Now? Did you also completely forget that this movie even existed? So did we, unfortunately down to its rather forgettable plot of DNA-changing drugs that… don't really do much. Jeremy Renner was fine, but was no Matt Damon. Rachel Weisz was fine, but didn't have much to do other than run and scream. It's actually a pretty decent movie, if you can forget that it has to compare to Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum.
Sequel? There are whispers of Damon returning for Bourne 5, with he and Renner either teaming up or going head-to-head. Watch this space…

SKYFALL
Release: October 26th
Budget: $175 million (estimated)
Worldwide Box Office: $1.1 billion (and counting)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
What Do We Think Now? We all had a sneaking suspicion that Skyfall was going to be good, but we couldn't have guessed it was going to be THIS good. Helping us all forget that Quantum Of Solace even existed, director Sam Mendes brought us the most relevant and visually lush Bond movie to date. Hindsight shows up its sometimes dodgy plot points, and while the action sequences were fantastic, there could've been one or two more of them. But still, Skyfall stands out as one of the most rewatchable movies of last year.
Sequel? Mendes has announced he won't be returning for Bond 24, so producers are currently on the hunt for his replacement. Our choices? Kenneth Branagh or Danny Boyle.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 2
Release: November 16th
Budget: $120 million
Worldwide Box Office: $829 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 48%
What Do We Think Now? Finally, it's over! But unfortunately, this was just when the series realised how ridiculous it was and embraced it's lunacy. The over-the-top acting and action sequences were properly hilarious, with everyone involved finally succumbing to madness around them. The most enjoyable of the series by far, but not exactly something you would recommend.
Sequel? All the books are done, with the other Stephaine Meyer's adaptation The Host out at the end of March. But expect a re-do of this series in the next decade or so.

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
Release: December 13th
Budget: $260 million (estimated)
Worldwide Box Office: $1 billion (and counting…)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 65%
What Do We Think Now? When news got out that director Peter Jackson was spreading the thin source material over three movies, fans were not impressed. But while evidence of padding is clearly evident - especially in the first 45 minutes or so - The Hobbit is still a fantastically entertaining movie. Yes, it's overlong, and no, it's not as good as the original three, but this was still fantastic cinema, with Jackson pushing the technical envelope with his higher frame-rates and special effects, and Martin Freeman made for a fantastic junior Bilbo.
Sequel? The Desolation Of Smaug will be in cinemas on Decemeber 13th of this year, while There And Back Again will be released on Decemeber 17th 2014.