Including "The Hangover, " five of this summer's 13 sequels are live-action comedies, such as Adam Sandler's family-oriented "Grown Ups 2" and "Kick-Ass 2" (Aug. 16), starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as an angst-ridden high-school student turned superhero with no actual superpowers.

WSJ: From 'The Heat' to 'Hangover': The Summer Comedy Boom

The cast includes John Travolta, Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro, but the main characters are played by young actors Blake Lively ("Gossip Girl") and Aaron Johnson ("Kick-Ass"), plus Taylor Kitsch, seeking redemption after starring in "John Carter" and "Battleship, " both big-budget road kill earlier this year.

WSJ: Salma Hayek, John Travolta and Benicio Del Toro in Oliver Stone's Savages