We took a few weeks off, but Movie Power Rankings is back, and just in time for the highly-anticipated Summer Movie season. Kicking things off in high style is this week’s No. 1, “Iron Man 3,” which scored a staggering $175 million in its first weekend of release. It’s the second-biggest domestic opening since the last time Robert Downey Jr. suited up as the character, in 2012’s “The Avengers.” But will RDJ return as Tony Stark in for “The Avengers 2” and “Iron Man 4”? The actor stated on “The Daily Show” that he”ll be “renegotiating” his contract (wink, wink), and those talks will either make Downey Jr. richer than Stark himself — or will result in someone else putting on the super suit (we nominate Gwyneth Paltrow) to lead a new take on the franchise. Either way, Iron Man isn’t going anywhere.
As for the rest of this week’s list…
May 8, 2013
1. “Iron Man 3”
The threequel is shaping up to be one of the biggest Marvel movies yet, but will there be a part 4?
2. “The Avengers 2”
Two new Marvel heroes are joining the fight against evil in the next installment. According to Joss Whedon, the mutant twin siblings Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver will be featured in the sequel. We have some ideas about who should play them. Who would you like to see in the roles?
3. “Mission: Impossible 5”
Tom Cruise has accepted yet another mission as Ethan Hunt, and signs say that “Jack Reacher” writer-director Chris McQuarrie may be calling the shots this time around, if he can fit it into his busy schedule. Movie Power Rankings will now self-destruct.
4. “Man of Steel”
Henry Cavill flies into action as Superman in a new poster for Zack Snyder’s reboot of the classic DC superhero.
5. “Star Trek Into Darkness”
J.J. Abrams’ anticipated reboot sequel is almost here, and so far, the reviews have been promising.
6. “Ender’s Game”
A group of pre-teens engage in elaborate war games in preparation to fight an alien menace. Good thing they have Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley to show them the ropes. Watch the action-packed first trailer here.
7. “Thor: The Dark World”
Hmmm, a superhero movie that’s dark and “gritty”? That’s a novel idea. And who better for the material that “Game of Thrones” vet Alan Taylor?
8. “Interstellar”
The cutest CIA agent in history, “Zero Dark Thirty’s” Jessica Chastain, has signed on for “Dark Knight Rises” director Christopher Nolan’s mind-bender of a sci-fi project, which will also star Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.
9. “White House Down”
Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx tangle with terrorists and “Olympus Has Fallen” comparisons in the Roland Emmerich film’s new trailer.
10. “Fast & Furious 6”
Check out this huge photo gallery featuring the huge muscles of Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and the rest of the massive cast, plus cars galore. Start your engines.
Movie Power Rankings will be updated every Wednesday at 5 pm PT.
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