Those wonderful summer months of sun and relaxation — well, torrential storms this year, but still — are the season when many blockbuster films appear. For 2011, there are many films that have come out (or have yet to) that are well worth watching. Some are sleepers that will likely to surprise movie-goers, while others are advertised so often one cannot help but watch them.

Here are my top five picks for films to watch this summer for the purpose of entertainment. These are not necessarily the “best” movies to come out this season, but they are fine ways to spend an afternoon or evening out of the heat – or rain, as the case may be.

No. 1: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II”

There is no reason anyone in this country, or in other countries, should skip this. It is the culmination of one of the most epic and influential movie franchises to hit the big screen. This momentous finale is going to be action-packed. It’ll also be a worthwhile watch for fans, considering the amount of time most people have spent reading the books and watching the previous seven installments. Try to take the time to watch the entire series again, so as to have the entire Potter drama fresh in your mind when you step out to see its end. Oh, and try your hardest to make the experience a real milestone by attending one of the midnight premieres, as those will be packed to the brim with devoted and enthusiastic fans.

No. 2: “X-Men: First Class”

There is no need to have seen the other X-Men movies, but you might as well watch them anyway, just so you can see how much better “First Class” is. But really, with the number of comic films yet to appear this summer, there may be an even better one. Just to be safe, maybe you should go see “Green Lantern” and “Captain America: The First Avenger.”

No. 3: “Cowboys & Aliens”

Yeah, yeah, I know, this movie looks like it is going to be super-cheesy and destined for the annals of bad sci-fi, but hear me out. I believe this movie is going to be so ridiculous it will be a fun romp. Just think about it for a minute – there are cowboys fighting aliens. Rugged and rowdy good ol’ boys duking it out with creepy crawlies from space. When “Starship Troopers” came out, people thought it looked terrible, but it is a really fun movie to watch and rewatch.

No. 4: “YellowBrickRoad”

You gotta mix a little horror with your summer fun at some point. This is my pick to make you wonder about what is lurking around the bend. OK, fine, it isn’t really that kind of horror, it is more like psychological thriller horror, but it has that nice “Blair Witch Project” feel without that movie’s dizzying camerawork and annoying snotty-nosed confessions.

No. 5: “Super 8”

I hesitate to put this on the list. I am convinced it will make for better home viewing than theater viewing due to its quaint similarities to “E.T.” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Of course, I am a bit odd. This movie is a must-see for everyone in the way the final Harry Potter movie is, as it is a fine example of quality filmmaking despite its few flaws. When I point them out, I’m really just nit-picking.

Honorable Mention: “Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon”

It will probably be as bad as the previews make it look, but it will still look and sound awesome. Also, big explosion movies are a staple of summer film watching.