The phenomenon that became the Summer Movie Blockbuster began with a shark — to be specific, mechanical Bruce in Steven Spielberg's "Jaws," released in 1975.

So it's fitting that, like a shark, the summer movie knows it must keep moving or die. As usual, there's more action than angst in the sequel-laden summer of 2007 — at least 14 of them opening between the beginning of May and the end of August. With more than 90 movies premiering over the next four months, that means around 15 percent of them are sequels (and the percentage is much higher if you count only major studio releases).

Semantics aside, there's a lot here you've seen before. And liked so much you want to see it again. And again.

With that in mind, here are the "Coming soon to a multiplex near you" in which I'm most interested:

Blockbusters

(The Inevitables, the Unavoidables)

"Spider-Man 3" (opens today) — Fans have been panting over the web-slinger's third outing for three years — ever since the film's release date was announced before its predecessor even hit theaters in 2004. Spidey gets in touch with his dark side and faces two new villains: Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace). Tobey Maguire returns as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, as does Sam Raimi as director. Reportedly, the duo chose Sandman as Spidey's next nemesis, but Raimi had to be persuaded to add Venom because he felt the character lacked humanity.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (May 27) — Johnny Depp fans have had it much easier. They had to wait only a year for his next appearance as Cap'n Jack, along with swashbuckling Keira Knightley, somewhat less swashbuckling Orlando Bloom, the presumably still-undead Geoffrey Rush and octopus-faced Bill Nighy. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" ended with a real cliffhanger: Depp seemed doomed. But never count a rogue — and, more importantly, a moneymaker — out. And Rolling Stone Keith Richards (on whom Depp said he based his character) joins the crew as Teague Sparrow, Jack's daddy.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (July 13) — The wonderful wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) and his pals are biding their time and allowing most of the other major franchises to slug it out early in the season. Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), Hermione (Emma Watson) and assorted familiar faculty members (Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman) must deal with a major — and malicious — power shift at Hogwarts as well as the dreaded Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). New director David Gates already is signed up for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Fingers crossed

(Familiar franchises that could go either way)

"Ocean's Thirteen" (June 8) — OK, so these movies are little more than George Clooney and friends fooling around and having fun. But you know what? Sometimes watching George Clooney and his friends fool around and have fun is just what you want. Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle and other regulars are back, but this time the guy who gets the "Ocean" treatment is Al Pacino, who has double-crossed one of the original 11, Elliott Gould. We all know 13 is an unlucky number, but not even a centuries-old superstition would dare cross Clooney.

"Evan Almighty" (June 20) — "The Office's" Steve Carell replaces Jim Carrey as the mere mortal summoned by the Almighty (the mighty Morgan Freeman) to do his bidding. In this case, build an ark, just like Noah. Lord knows what's going to go two-by-two inside. The movie also features Ed Helms, also from "The Office." If you're wondering what happened to "Bruce Almighty," Carrey opted out of the sequel, as did Jennifer Aniston.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Aug. 3) — Between "The Departed" and "The Good Shepherd," Matt Damon had quite a 2006. Still, it's always good to have a franchise in your back pocket, and this one has proved not only lucrative but a success with the critics. Jason Bourne continues to delve into his largely forgotten past while at the same time being tracked by a government agent who means him no good. The big news, however, is the director: Paul Greengrass, who made last year's "United 93" — for which he earned an Oscar nomination.

Sleepers

(Ones you haven't heard much about)

"A Mighty Heart" (June 20) — Based on the true story of Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman), the courageous journalist who was murdered by terrorists in Pakistan, the movie focuses more on wife Mariane's (Angelina Jolie) desperate search for him when he first goes missing. Could be Oscar bait. It's a powerful story, and it's taken from Mariane's book, which gives it added poignancy. And the director is Michael Winterbottom ("Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story").

"Becoming Jane" (Aug. 3) — What with the "Princess Diaries" movies and last year's "The Devil Wears Prada," Anne Hathaway is becoming something of a summer regular. Here, she plays a pre-fame Jane Austen, in love with a young Irishman ("The Last King of Scotland's" James McAvoy). James Cromwell and Julie Walters are her overbearing parents. Reportedly, Kate Winslet, Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley were considered for the role of Jane.

"The Invasion" (Aug. 17) — It's based on the material by Jack Finney that was turned into the 1956 classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and the 1978 classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." This time, it's Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig who stumble on to extraterrestrial trouble. Craig was working on this film when he learned he'd been named the new 007.

Artsy

(Ones you've barely heard about)

"Killer of Sheep" (today) — One of the first 50 films to be chosen by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry. Charles Burnett's movie about everyday life in an African-American community came out 30 years ago. As an anniversary present, it's getting a fully restored, spruced-up rerelease.

"Jindabyne" (June 1) — This is based on the Raymond Carver short story "So Much Water So Close to Home." The title comes from the name of a small Australian village where Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney's unhappy marriage is further strained by the discovery of a young woman's corpse.

"Evening" (June 29) — With a heavyweight cast led by Meryl Streep, Claire Danes, Vanessa Redgrave, Toni Collette, Glenn Close and Natasha Richardson, this picture probably has more estrogen in it than all the rest of the summer movies combined. It's about a dying woman who drifts off into a pleasant remembrance of things past while her daughters struggle with losing her. It's no day at the beach, but there are other movies for that this summer.