July was red hot with fewer releases than June, but all high profile, especially the record-breaking The Dark Knight, which is likely to reach the 500 million dollar mark, putting it second on the all-time list behind Titanic. Journey to the Center of the Earth and Mamma Mia! have good staying power while moderate hits Step Brothers and Hellboy II: The Golden Army outperformed Space Chimps, X-Files: I Want to Believe, Kit Kittredge, and Meet Dave at the box office. August shows plenty of promise as the final month to a great box office summer begins.

NOTE: All dates subject to change.

AUGUST 1

America the Beautiful - Documentary on pressures and society’s ideals surrounding appearance and cosmetic surgery follows Gerren Taylor’s ascension to supermodel fame. Julianne Moore, Anthony Kiedis, Jessica Simpson, and Paris Hilton also make appearances. (New York release)

Midnight Meat Train - A budding photographer encounters a serial killer, played by Vinnie Jones. Based on Clive Barker’s short story. (Limited release)

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - Adventurous couple Rick O‘Connell (Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn (newly cast Maria Bello) take off to the Far East on a new adventure, which also stars Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh.

Swing Vote - Comedy where Kevin Costner makes a big difference in the presidential election where Dennis Hopper and Kelsey Grammer play the candidates. Stanley Tucci, Nathan Lane, Paula Patton, and young newcomer Madeline Carroll also star.

AUGUST 6

Bottle Shock - Based on a true story set in 1976, Bill Pullman plays a man struggling to make ends meet so his dream of the best chardonnay wine can come true. Alan Rickman, Freddy Rodriguez, Dennis Farina, Eliza Dushku, and Bradley Whitford also star. (Limited release)

Pineapple Express - This action comedy has drug themes, crime elements, and murder as screenwriter/star Seth Rogen stars with James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Danny R. McBride, and James Remar. Judd Aptow co-wrote the story and produced.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 - The girls return in this book adaptation as the original television star cast of America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel have grown in popularity and talent.

AUGUST 8

Beer For My Horses - Toby Keith and Rodney Carrington star and co-write this action comedy about two rural deputies. Ted Nugent, Claire Forlani, Tom Skerritt, and Willie Nelson co-star. (Limited release)

Elegy - Penelope Cruz as an object of desire? Most audiences could agree with that premise in this romance drama written by Nicholas Meyer and starring Sir Ben Kingsley as a college professor. Based on Philip Roth’s Pulitzer Prize-winning short novel The Dying Animal. (Limited release)

Hell Ride - Larry Bishop, Michael Madsen, and Eric Balfour (a.k.a. Pistolero, the Gent and Comanche) star this crime thriller directed and written by Bishop. Vinnie Jones, Dennis Hopper, David Carradine, and Cassandra Hepburn. (Limited release)

AUGUST 13

Tropic Thunder - Action comedy where a group of actors are stranded as they film a war movie. Ben Stiller (who also directs), Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, and Bill Hader star in the ensemble comedy cast.