German-language drama about a chef whose simple and ordered life grows complicated when she suddenly finds herself having to raise her strong-willed niece – and her workplace decides to hire a carefree Italian as its newest chef. Written and directed by Sandra Nettelbeck. With Martina Gedeck (“Maybe, Maybe Not”), Sergio Castellitto (“Va Savoir”), August Zirner (“The Promise”), Ulrich Thomsen (“The World is Not Enough”), Sibylle Canonica (“Beyond Silence”) and Katja Studt (“Sunshine”). Also known as “Drei Sterne.” 105 min. May 10 limited. Paramount Classics.

Comedy about a high school nerd who gets himself expelled so he can reinvent himself at the high school across town. Screenwriter Ed Decter (“There’s Something About Mary”) makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by David Kendall (TV’s “The Growing Pains Movie”). With DJ Qualls (“Road Trip,” “Big Trouble,” “Lone Star State of Mind”), Lyle Lovett (“Cookie’s Fortune”), Eddie Griffin (“John Q,” “Undercover Brother”), Eliza Dushku (“Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”) and Zooey Deschanel (“Almost Famous,” “Big Trouble”). Flat. May 10. Sony.

Comedy-drama about a bright young music critic who struggles with the chronic depression that led to her suicide attempt at age 11 and chemical abuse while attending Harvard. Based on the 1994 bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Wurtzel (“Bitch”). Norwegian director Erik Skjoldbjaerg (“Insomnia”) makes his English-language directorial debut from a screenplay by Frank Deasy (“Captives”). With Christina Ricci (“The Man Who Cried”), Anne Heche (“John Q”), Michelle Williams (“But I’m a Cheerleader”), Jessica Lange (“Titus”), Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (“Titus”) and Jason Biggs (“American Pie 2”). 99 min. R: Language; drug content; sexuality/nudity; some disturbing images. May 10. Miramax.

Actioner about high school nerd Peter Parker, who after getting bitten by a radioactive spider soon discovers that he has acquired superhuman strength, the ability to shoot webbing from his wrists, and a talent for clinging to just about anything. Good thing too, because Parker’s not the only one in town to have recently acquired superstrength by way of lab mishap: local scientist-businessman Norman Osborn has been transformed into a psychotic menace dubbed The Green Goblin. Based on the 40-year-old Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee (“X-Men”). Directed by Sam Raimi (“Darkman,” “The Gift”) from a screenplay by David Koepp (“Stir of Echoes,” “Panic Room”). With Tobey Maguire (“Wonder Boys”) as Parker, Willem Dafoe (“Pavilion of Women”) as Osborn, Kirsten Dunst (“crazy/beautiful,” “The Cat’s Meow”) as Mary Jane Watson, Cliff Robertson (“Escape From L.A.,” “Family Tree”) as Uncle Ben Parker, Rosemary Harris (“Blow Dry”) as Aunt May, James Franco (“Whatever It Takes,” “Deuces Wild”) as Osborn’s teen son Harry, J.K. Simmons (“The Mexican”) as Parker employer J. Jonah Jameson, and Elizabeth Banks (“Wet Hot American Summer”) as Betty Brant. May 3. Sony.

CIA analyst Jack Ryan finds himself the victim of the president’s cowardly National Security advisor as he tries to track down neo-Nazi terrorists who want to start a new U.S.-Russian cold war – by planting a lost atom bomb at the Super Bowl. Based on the 1992 novel by Tom Clancy, whose previous novels “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games” and “Clear and Present Danger” were also made into films detailing Ryan’s adventures. Directed by Phil Alden Robinson (“Sneakers”) from a screenplay by Daniel Pyne (“The Hard Way,” “Doc Hollywood,” “White Sands”) and Paul Attanasio (“Donnie Brasco,” “Sphere”). With Ben Affleck (“Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” “Changing Lanes”), Morgan Freeman (“Along Came a Spider,” “High Crimes”), James Cromwell (“Space Cowboys”), Liev Schreiber (“Kate and Leopold”), Ciarán Hinds (“Oscar and Lucinda”), Bridget Moynahan (“Serendipity”), Michael Byrne (“The Musketeer”) and Alan Bates (“The Mothman Prophecies”). May 31. Paramount.

Comedy about a black man whose mild-mannered exterior masks his alter ego: an agent of the establishment-combatting all-black B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., which combats a villain determined to turn all black people white. Based on the Internet animated series created by John Ridley. Directed by Malcolm Lee (“The Best Man”) from a screenplay by Ridley (“U-Turn”). With Eddie Griffin (“John Q,” “The New Guy”), David Chapelle (“Screwed”), Aunjanue Ellis (“The Caveman’s Valentine”), David Sparrow (“Serendipity”), Neil Patrick Harris (“The Next Best Thing”), Chris Kattan (“Corky Romano”), Denise Richards (“Valentine”), Billy Dee Williams (“The Ladies Man”) and Chi McBride (“Disney’s The Kid”). May 31. Universal.

Drama, set in 1950s Trinidad, about a young Indian man whose fame as a healer brings him national acclaim and draws him away from his beloved community. Based on the novel by V.S. Naipaul (“A House For Mr. Biswas”). Directed by Ismail Merchant (“In Custody,” “Cotton Mary”) from a screenplay by Caryl Phillips. With Om Puri (“Kurukshetra”), Aasif Mandvi (“Random Hearts”), Jimi Mistry (“Born Romantic”), Ayesha Dharker (“The Terrorist,” “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones”), Zohra Segal (“Bhaji on the Beach”), Sakina Jaffrey (“Chutney Popcorn”) and James Fox (“Sexy Beast”). 117 min. May 3 in New York. ThinkFilm.

Documentary about the schizophrenic 20th-century dance figure whose choreography – which shocked 1912 audiences – marked the beginning of balletic modernism. Written and directed by Paul Cox (“Innocence”). Featuring Derek Jacobi (“Gosford Park”) as the voice of Nijinsky. May 29 limited. Wellspring.

Animated western about the U.S. cavalry’s capture and domestication of a wild horse – as seen from the horse’s point of view. Storyboard artists Kelly Asbury & Lorna Cook (“The Prince of Egypt”) make their feature directorial debuts from a screenplay by John Fusco (“Young Guns,” “Thunderheart”). Featuring the voice of Matt Damon. Rated G. May 24. DreamWorks.

Science fiction actioner, set ten years after the events depicted in “The Phantom Menace,” about an attempt on the life of Naboo senator Padmé Amidala, and the efforts of Jedi agents Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to discover the forces behind it. Directed by George Lucas (“The Phantom Menace”) from a screenplay by Lucas and Jonathan Hales (“The Mirror Crack’d”). Actors reprising their roles from “Menace” include Natalie Portman (“Where the Heart Is”) as Padmé, Ewan McGregor (“Black Hawk Down”) as Obi-Wan, Ian McDiarmid (“Sleepy Hollow”) as Palpatine, Samuel L. Jackson (“The Caveman’s Valentine,” “Changing Lanes”) as Mace Windu, Pernilla August (“Gossip”) as Shmi Lars, Frank Oz (“Blues Brothers 2000”) as Yoda, Anthony Daniels (“Return of the Jedi”) as C3PO, Kenny Baker (“Labyrinth”) as R2-D2, Andrew Secombe as Watto, Silas Carson (“Fever Pitch”) as Ki-Adi-Mundi and Nute Gunray, Oliver Ford Davies (“Just Visiting”) as Sio Bibble, and Ahmed Best as Jar-Jar Binks. Hayden Christensen (“Life as a House”) inherits the role of Anakin. Other newcomers to the series include Christopher Lee (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”) as the charismatic separatist Count Dooku, Temuera Morrision (“Vertical Limit”) as Jango Fett, Jimmy Smits (“The Million Dollar Hotel”) as Sen. Bail Organa of Alderaan, Ayesha Dharker (“The Terrorist,” “The Mystic Masseur”) as Queen Jomillia, Jack Thompson (“Original Sin”) as Cliegg Lars, Joel Edgerton (“Race the Sun”) as Owen Lars, Bonnie Piesse as Beru Whitesun, Graeme Blundell as Ruwee Naberrie, Claudia Karvan (“High Tide”) as Sola Naberrie, Keira Wingate as Ryoo Naberrie, Hayley Mooy as Pooja Naberrie, Trisha Noble as Jobal Naberrie, Jay Lavea Laga’aia (“The Navigator”) as Captain Typho, Alethea McGrath (“Dead Letter Office”) as Jedi academic Jocasta Nu, Matthew Rowan as indulgent senator Orn Free Taa, Marton Csokas (“The Monkey’s Mask”) as Poggle the Lesser, Matt Doran (“The Matrix”) as unsavory troublemaker Elan Sleazebaggano, Rena Owen as Taun We, Daniel Logan as Boba Fett, David Bowers as senate official Mas Amedda, Rose Byrne as a handmaiden Dorme, Susie Porter (“Better Than Sex”) as waitress Hermoine Bagwa, Stephen Boyle as Passel Argente, Ron Falk (“A Cry in the Dark”) as Dexter Jettster, and Phoebe Yiamkiati as Jedi hopeful Mari Amithest. Scope. May 16. Fox.

Drama following the interwoven stories of five characters, including: an arrogant attorney on the run after a hit and run; a professor whose wife is mugged; an insurance company manager troubled by his ex-wife and delinquent son; and a young woman recovering from a car accident. The “Clockwatchers” team of writer-director Jill Sprecher and screenwriter sister Karen Sprecher reunite. With Alan Arkin (“America’s Sweethearts”), Clea DuVall (“Ghosts of Mars”), Amy Irving (“Traffic”), Tia Texada (“Glitter”), Matthew McConaughey (“The Wedding Planner,” “Frailty”) and John Turturro (“Collateral Damage”). 103 min. R: Language; brief drug use. May 24 in New York and Los Angeles. Sony Pictures Classics.