It was an excellent year for theatergoers in 2010, and by all accounts, 2011 is shaping up to be just as exciting. From high octane action thrillers and comic-book adaptations to gut-busting comedies and family fare, there's no shortage of highly anticipated films coming our way in the New Year.

We're offering a detailed look at 30 of the most exciting movies that 2011 has to offer, starting chronologically with this January's slate of flicks and culminating with next December's holiday releases. Yesterday, we revealed the first 10 must-see movies of 2011, today we're unleashing the next 10, and tomorrow we'll unveil the final 10 flicks on our list. So hit the jump to see today's 10 movies -- including summer blockbusters like "Thor," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" -- as well as a gallery of photos from the eagerly anticipated flicks.

"Thor" (May 6)

What It's About: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is a mighty warrior serving the mystical kingdom of Asgard, but when his arrogant ways reawaken an ancient war, he's cast down to Earth in an effort to learn humility from humanity. But the stakes are increased when his half-brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) threatens the safety of both Asgard and Earth, forcing the Thunder God to make a stand for both his home world and his adoptive one.

Why We're Excited: As Marvel Studios continues to build up its arsenal towards "The Avengers," we've only really gotten to know Iron Man thus far. "Thor" will give us an excellent indication as to whether or not the Marvel team can catch lightning in a bottle multiple times — and we're sure they can.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (May 20)

What It's About: Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back in action, this time in hot pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. But the stakes are higher this go-around with a mysterious woman from his past (Penelope Cruz) and the vicious pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane) lurking out there in the Caribbean waters...

Why We're Excited: After suffering disappointment at the hands of the last two "Pirates" movies, we're certainly ready for a pick-me-up with the fourth installment. With old cast members gone and new ones in their place — all while keeping the essential Captain Jack, of course — "On Stranger Tides" could be the exact booster shot this franchise needs.

"The Hangover 2" (May 26)

What It's About: The boys are back in business for another alcohol-soaked adventure, except this time they're headed abroad to Thailand for Stu's wedding (and, presumably, pre-wedding bachelor party).

Why We're Excited: We might be more psyched if that fabled Mel Gibson cameo had panned out, but we'll certainly take Liam Neeson as an excellent replacement. Besides cameos, we're just excited to see what Todd Phillips has cooked up for his first ever sequel, and it'll be great to see the gang back together again.

"Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom of Doom" (May 27)

What It's About: After fulfilling his destiny by becoming the legendary Dragon Warrior, young Po (Jack Black) is left to confront an all-new threat in the form of Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), a deadly peacock who threatens to destroy kung fu forever.

Why We're Excited: We would have been excited about a "Kung Fu Panda" sequel no matter the cast list, but with new voice actors including Oldman, James Woods, Jean-Claude Van Damme and more, let's just say an impassioned outcry of "skadoosh" doesn't quite cover our excitement!

"The Tree of Life" (May 27)

What It's About: "The Tree of Life" follows the evolution of an 11-year-old Midwestern kid named Jack, who marvels at the world through the lessons of his father (Brad Pitt). But in adulthood, Jack (Sean Penn) is a lost soul who has to rediscover who he was and, most importantly, who he is.

Why We're Excited: The idea of Brad Pitt starring as Sean Penn's father (albeit in another era) is intriguing enough on its own, but the fact that this is only the brilliant Terrence Malick's fifth directorial effort is the real draw for us.

"X-Men: First Class" (June 3)

What It's About: Before they became Professor X and Magneto, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) were close friends who discovered their mutant powers alongside each other. But their friendship was put to the test — and ultimately destroyed — by the arrival of the greatest threat the world has ever known.

Why We're Excited: It's no secret that the "X-Men" films have been a bit imbalanced over the years, but the throwback to a 1960s setting and the promise of young Xavier and Magneto have left us thinking that "First Class" could be a first-rate comic-book movie.

"Super 8" (June 10)

What It's About: Little is known about the plot of "Super 8," save for the fact that it takes place in the 1980s, features one or more alien characters and serves as an homage to Steven Spielberg's body of work from the '70s and '80s.

Why We're Excited: Spielberg and J.J. Abrams working together on an '80s era science fiction flick — if that's not enough to get you into theaters to see "Super 8," then nothing is.

"Green Lantern" (June 17)

What It's About: When fighter pilot Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is selected to join the Green Lantern Corps — a group of galactic defenders that protect the universe from great evil — he's forced to confront his own arrogant and reckless ways, replacing them with enough bravery to save his world from utter destruction.

Why We're Excited: We'd be lying if we said we're not nervous about some of the visual effects we've seen thus far, but the charisma of Reynolds and the rich history of Green Lantern lore have us more than optimistic about this latest DC Comics adaptation.

"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (July 1)

What It's About: When Optimus Prime and his Autobot companions learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft stranded on the moon, they're forced to race against the Decepticons in an effort to locate it and learn its secrets.

Why We're Excited: Michael Bay says that this is his final "Transformers" movie, and that's really a win for everybody — his detractors won't have to put up with the series for much longer, but more importantly for his supporters, it means that he can break all the toys he wants without having to fix them for a fourth movie. In other words, expect an extraordinary amount of awesome Bayhem, the likes of which we've never seen before!

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" (July 15)

What It's About: The "Harry Potter" saga comes to an end as Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends must locate and destroy the rest of Voldemort's scattered Horcruxes, culminating in an epic battle for Hogwarts, wizardry and the fate of all human life.

Why We're Excited: Although the "Harry Potter" novels have been finished for years, fans of J.K. Rowling's beloved fantasy series have been putting off the mourning period until the final movie arrives in theaters. Well, that time is almost upon us, but the tears can wait — for now, we can't wait to see what director David Yates has cooked up with his interpretation of the final "Harry Potter" story of all time.

Check back tomorrow as our list of the most exciting movies of 2011 concludes!