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* Marley still box office top dog *
Film fetches $24.1 million for a total of $106.5 million. In second spot is Adam Sandler's Bedtime Stories. [More]

10,000 BC clubs weekend competition *
Moviegoers went hunting for their inner caveman on the weekend, spending $35.7-million (U.S.) to give the prehistoric adventure 10,000 B.C. top spot at the box office. [More]

1939 the best-ever year for film: British survey *
British filmgoers consider 1939 -- the year of Gone With the Wind, Wuthering Heights and The Wizard of Oz -- as the greatest year in Hollywood history, according to an Internet survey. [More]

2008 not a record year for studio releases, but no one's complaining *
With the downturn in the economy and continuing ascent of the internet, movie-makers are quite satisfied with status quo as the year draws to a close. [More]

2008 Oscar winners -- a few surprises . . . *
No Country for Old Men lived up to its front-runner status at Sunday's Academy Awards, winning the first two of its eight categories, adapted screenplay for the Coen brothers and supporting actor for Javier Bardem. [More]

300 leads second box office charge *
The Warner Bros. movie -- the story of vastly outnumbered Spartans defending against Persian invaders -- shot past the $100-million mark after just a week in theatres, bringing its total to $127.5-million. [More]

300 remains atop North American box office *
An ancient epic about the famous Battle of Thermopylae in Greek history, wins anew at the North American box office. [More]

300 sets new record at North American box office *
An ancient epic about the famous Battle of Thermopylae in Greek history, set a new record at the North American box office. [More]

9-11 Movie Passes Box-Office Test *
Audiences hit the road (and displayed their lack of priorities) with Robin Williams as his family-vacation romp RV opened at No. 1 with $16.4-million (U.S.), while the acclaimed Sept. 11 drama United 93 debuted with $11.6-million. [More]

A concise history of the Oscars *
The highlights of the first 76 Oscar celebrations. . . [More]

A cynic lands a miracle *
A surprise $85,000 donation from a famous director is earmarked for a Cambodian museum [More]

A drama of home improvement *
Frances Mayes's bestseller Under the Tuscan Sun tells the story of a woman who buys a villa and has it renovated. So how do you make a movie about that? [More]

A folk-mock star: Eugene Levy never blows A Mighty Wind *
In A Mighty Wind, which opens on Friday, Christopher Guest and his gifted ensemble of improvisational actors, do for -- or to -- Sixties folk music, what they have previously done for amateur theatre in Waiting for Guffman, or dog competitions in Best in Show. [More]

A happy birthday for Cruise as War triumphs *
Tom Cruise celebrated his 43rd birthday yesterday atop the holiday box office in North America with War of the Worlds, the costly alien-invasion thriller directed by Steven Spielberg. [More]

A lucrative line of family violence *
Rick Skene is one of the busiest movie stunt co-ordinators in the country and his brother and son have joined him in the business, LEAH McLAREN writes. [More]

A rude shock from Down Under *
Only a few days in, a controversial Aussie film is provoking jeers and walkouts, writes MATTHEW HAYS [More]

A socko Québécois invasion *
Québec director Denys Arcand's new film must be considered a serious contender for the Palme d'or, writes LIAM LACEY [More]

A Turkey in every pot, but Potter's no turkey *
Goblet of gold still glitters at the box office. [More]

A-list: Box Office Prophets *
A wonderful site for movie stats, records set, film reviews and commentary... [More]

Academy partially lifts screener ban *
Hollywood studios partially reversed their ban on special video copies for awards groups, capitulating to widespread criticism that the move would make it harder for smaller films to win Oscars. [More]

Acting can be a shark pit *
Sometimes a role in a movie can literally mean swimming with the sharks, as actors Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis found out shooting Open Water, writes GUY DIXON. [More]

Adult acting world no child's play *
The historic best-actress Oscar nod for a 13-year-old may inspire more starstruck parents and put the spotlight on new changes in B.C. law, ALEXANDRA GILL writes. [More]

Ahoy, Hollywood! *
JONATHAN FOWLIE meets Gordon Laco, a boat captain from Midland, Ont., whose passion for Napoleonic-era ships and expertise in naval history landed him on a film set with Russell Crowe for seven months [More]

Alexander not great at box office *
Alexander the Great may have conquered millions in his march across the Persian Empire 2,400 years ago but moviegoers in North America easily repelled his advances over the weekend. [More]

Alexandre (Sacha Trudeau) faces the world *
As Pierre Trudeau's middle son steps reluctantly into the spotlight to promote his film on Iraq, he tells SARAH HAMPSON about lessons his father taught him: Confront your fears. Never enter politics [More]

All hail 007, King of Scotland *
The CBC is showing a 1961 staged version of Macbeth tonight. REBECCA CALDWELL discovers how the film, starring a then-unknown Sean Connery, got made. [More]

All is forgiven as Cannes welcomes back Hollywood *
Dispelling concerns about tense international relations between Paris and Washington over the Iraq war, Cannes Film Festival organizers promised a full complement of Hollywood movie stars for the event next month. [More]

Alliance action sparks union outcry *
News this week that Halifax production company Salter Street Films was closing shop is another example of the need for federal regulators to protect Canadian television drama, argued a coalition of unions representing actors and film production crews. [More]

Amazing what's in store at Documart *
High-school sluts, fag hags and obsessive compulsive teens were just a few of the topics pitched at this year's CTV Canadian Documart. [More]

Amityville makes debut on top of box office *
The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, the African desert adventure Sahara, slipped to second place with $13.1-million, lifting its 10-day total to $36.4-million, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

An animated battle for the box office *
Warner Bros. Pictures' costly new entrant The Polar Express goes up against reigning champ The Incredibles at the weekend box office, but is unlikely to dislodge the hit superhero cartoon. [More]

And the cash cow jumped over the moon *
Warning: I'm going to reveal the ending of every kids' movie that is out now, came out recently or is due soon. It's easy, because it's always the same ending. Everyone gets rich. Filthy, stinking, fish-eyed rich. [More]

Angelina Jolie looking beyond acting *
Thanks to her new film, Beyond Borders, Angelina Jolie's off-screen activities are once again overshadowing her acting. [More]

Angels underperforms at box office *
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle snatched the weekend box office halo from reigning champion The Hulk, but the feisty action comedy sequel failed to match the performance of its predecessor. [More]

Anger fights off the competition *
Anger Management kept its grip on the No. 1 spot at the North American box office for a second weekend... [More]

Anger muscles into top spot at the box office *
Anger Management bullied its way to the No. 1 box-office spot, earning a whopping $44.5-million (U.S.) in its debut weekend, according to studio estimates yesterday. [More]

Animated 3-D 'Beowulf' Slays 'Bee' at box office *
The animated telling of "Beowulf," who rids a Danish kingdom of the feared beast Grendel, slew the box office over the weekend, giving a huge boost to 3-D films in the process. [More]

Anthony Minghella: One shot worth a thousand words (Schneller) *
Sometimes an entire movie boils down to a single scene. One perfect, definitive moment that, if creative lightning strikes, communicates the essence of a film. [More]

Ararat distributor, Turkish group said in talks *
Turkish newspapers were reporting yesterday that the Istanbul-based distributor of Atom Egoyan's award-winning film Ararat is in contact with associates of a right-wing nationalist group that forced the distributor this week to postpone Ararat's screening in Turkey. [More]

Arcand carries off the Oscar for best foreign film *
Canada's premier director, Denys Arcand, showed his usual self-effacing irony last night after winning his Oscar for The Barbarian Invasions when he waived the opportunity to make the usual acceptance speech. Known as a critic of American culture and its excesses, he made the ultimate statement by not making one at all. [More]

Arcand's film opens festival *
The Barbarian Invasion strikes a note of optimism in an uncertain year, writes ALEXANDRA GILL from 28th kickoff [More]

Are We There Yet? debuts atop N. America box office *
The comedy -- starring Ice Cube -- was expected to gross 18.5 million US dollars in its debut. Ticket sales results will be confirmed tomorrow. [More]

Are you looking at me? *
Director Adam Goldberg and actress Christina Ricci have a philosophical discussion on the nature of celebrity with LIAM LACEY, and how it inspired the film I Love Your Work [More]

At the festival Schmooze, look for the guy in black *
Andrew Ryan demystifies the real motivation for the Toronto International Film Festival -- the schmooze factor. [More]

Audiences 'fools' for McConaughey and Hudson *
Fool's Gold found real treasure as the romantic adventure starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson led the weekend box office with a $22 million debut. [More]

Audiences anted up for the Warner Bros. caper Ocean's Thirteen *
. . . still, number 13 proves somewhat UNlucky for the caper flick franchise. [More]

Audiences fall for paranoid teenager, drop Tarantino *
Enough moviegoers watched the Peeping-Tom thriller "Disturbia" to send it to a $23-million (U.S.) debut at the top of the weekend box office, according to studio estimates yesterday. [More]

Audiences flock to holiday films, 2006 year-end results up over previous year *
Much to the chagrin of the gloom-and-doom merchants who insist the end of cinema is nigh, Hollywood ticket sales this year are on course to beat 2005 by 5 per cent. [More]

Audiences smitten with 50 First Dates *
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore spread the love at the North American box office as their romantic comedy 50 First Dates opened at No. 1 during a weekend marked by Valentine's Day, according to studio estimates issued yesterday. [More]

Audiences warm to desert adventure *
Matthew McConaughey's Sahara heated up the weekend box office, with the action flick set in the African desert making its debut at the top with $18.5-million (U.S.). [More]

Author sues Steven Spielberg, Nick Park *
We think author hasn't got a (chicken) leg to stand on... [More]

B2K crew serves up the top box-office hit *
Recently split teen R&B band B2K put the moves on the North American box office as its dance flick You Got Served made its debut at No. 1 with $16-million (U.S.), according to studio estimates yesterday. [More]

Baby Mama Delivers a Box Office Win *
Baby Mama, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's comedy about surrogate motherhood, delivered the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office with $18.3 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

Back from the grave to bore us to death *
The second-scariest thing about Freddy vs. Jason, the gross-out horror movie that pits sinew-skinned, claw-handed Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street series against hockey-masked, sword-swinging Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th series, is that it has been No. 1 at the North American box office for two weeks in a row, grossing about $50- million (U.S.). [More]

Bad boys dislodge pirates from top box-office spot *
Bad boys old and new ruled the North American box office this weekend. [More]

Bad timing, a Hollywood obsession *
How important is timing to a movie's success, anyway? The folks who've already staked out dates for summer 2004 think it's major. [More]

Bangkok Dangerous reaches No. 1 in slow weekend *
The total weekend box office gross was expected to reach just $66 million, the lowest figure since the $59.5 million reported for the weekend of Sept. 21, 2001. [More]

Barbarian Invasions: Laughing in the face of death *
RAY CONLOGUE talks to Denys Arcand, whose acclaimed new movie about a terminally ill man looks set to revive his own drooping career. [More]

Barbershop clips rivals at the box office *
The Barbershop comedy sequel enjoyed a hair-raising debut at the North American box office, while the hockey drama Miracle also scored with moviegoers, according to studio estimates issued yesterday. [More]

Barbershop cut too deep for some *
First film evoked unintentional controversy with jokes about black icons. [More]

Basketball movie achieves box office 'Glory' *
The college basketball saga Glory Road triumphed at the weekend box office in North America, narrowly beating fellow newcomers Last Holiday and Hoodwinked, according to studio estimates issued today. [More]

Batman Begins holds onto top box office spot *
The debut of Bewitched could not hex Batman Begins, which held onto first place at the US box office for the second straight week, according to preliminary figures released today. It was the 18th weekend in a row the box office declined, passing a 1985 slump of 17 weekends that had been the longest since analysts began keeping detailed figures on movie grosses. [More]

Batman can't rescue box-office slide *
The Caped Crusader led the charge at the North American box office as Batman Begins sold an estimated $46.9-million (U.S.) worth of tickets in its first weekend, reigniting a lucrative superhero franchise that burned out eight years ago. [More]

Batman debuts at $46.9-million *
Batman was powerful enough to rule the box office on the weekend, but the caped crusader was unable to pull Hollywood out of its worst slump in 20 years. [More]

Batman fends off Mummy at Box Office . . .again. *
Taking in an additional $43.8 million this weekend, narrowly beating out The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (which brought in $42.5 million) to nab the #1 spot for a third straight week, Warner Brothers The Dark Knight is a sure bet to wind up the second highest domestic grossing film of all time. [More]

Batman No. 1 but overall box office still sliding *
Batman Begins took in $26.8-million (U.S.) to remain the top movie for the second straight weekend, but it could not keep Hollywood from sinking to its longest box office slump in recent memory. [More]

Batman tops US box office for fourth consecutive week *
The weekend haul lifted the Warner Bros. Batman sequel to No. 3 on the all-time domestic box-office charts with $441.5 million. [More]

Bee Movie reveals some box-office sting in second week *
Seinfeld fans might not have wanted to see their hero as a bee in its opening week, but strong word of mouth or "buzz" might have helped this week. [More]

Beijing bans Da Vinci Code *
The decision to protect the national film industry came two weeks after Catholic protests against the screening of the film in Beijing were branded as "medieval." [More]

Beloved C.S. Lewis series headed for big screen *
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the beloved fantasy novel by C.S. Lewis, will be made into a film in New Zealand, a newspaper reported Friday. [More]

Ben Stiller learns what 'heartbreak' really means at box office *
Despite early expectations that it would top $20 million in its opening weekend, The Heartbreak Kid failed to knock off The Game Plan at the box office, opening only at number two. [More]

Ben Stiller led the North American box office for a second weekend with Night at the Museum *
Ben Stiller's playful Night at the Museum was the top box office draw during the New Year's weekend with $37.8 million. [More]

Bertolucci snubs U.S. censors *
No compromise on big-studio picture with NC-17 rating. [More]

Bertolucci the bourgeois *
It seems the only revolution in the director's life these days is one against the U.S. censor, SIMON HOUPT writes. [More]

Between Iraq and a hard place *
Living in a country between Afghanistan and Iraq, the Iranian director Samira Makhmalbaf felt compelled to tell its stories, LIAM LACEY writes [More]

Big Fish reels in a bundle at the box office *
Tim Burton's Big Fish took in $14.5-million (U.S.) to land the No. 1 spot at the North American box office on the weekend, according to studio estimates yesterday. [More]

Big Momma makes big impression at box office *
Big Momma's House 2, with $28-million (U.S.) in estimated ticket sales, turned in the second-best January opening ever, trailing only the $35.9-million scored by the 1997 release of a special edition of Star Wars, according to Exhibitor Relations, which tracks box-office results. [More]

Bill kills at the box office *
Like the lethal exploding-heart technique unveiled in his new film, writer/director Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. 2 ruthlessly dispatched its rivals at the weekend box office in North America. [More]

Bill makes a killing at the box office (Strauss) *
The Coen brothers' reputations as ironists, postmodern stylists who play with Hollywood genres with a critical eye, may need reassessment after Intolerable Cruelty, as close to a classic Hollywood comedy as any director has assayed in recent years. The genre is screwball comedy — a sassy, rapid-fire comedy [More]

Biting the head off the North American box office 'Cloverfield' sets new records *
Monster movie Cloverfield -- about a giant lizard's attack on Manhattan -- debuted at the top of North American box office this holiday weekend, according to preliminary figures Sunday. [More]

Blades Of Glory Gold At Box Office *
Will Ferrell's latest comedy lands a triple axel at box office. . . twice! [More]

Blades Of Glory Twice Gold At Box Office *
But bad-boy directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez fell victims to a box office bloodbath on Sunday as their ambitious double feature Grindhouse bombed during its first weekend of release. evalu8.org reviewers LOVED it, however, so consider it again. [More]

Blades of Glory wins box office gold *
Figure-skating rivals become the sport's first men's pair. Tee-hee -- "gay blades." [More]

Blizzard: Reindeer nightmares *
Star Trek star LeVar Burton tells GAYLE MacDONALD that the 'stupid' animals were a challenge to direct in his upcoming family Christmas movie, Blizzard. [More]

Blockbusters can't dodge Ben Stiller *
A pair of summer blockbusters couldn't get out of the way of Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, which took the top spot in box-office earnings this weekend, according to studio estimates yesterday. [More]

Bloody graphic-novel-style epic 300 earns big numbers at North American box office *
The ancient battle of Thermopylae was the stuff of 2007's first certified blockbuster as the bloody action tale 300 debuted with ticket sales of $70-million (USD) over its opening weekend, according to studio estimates, yesterday. [More]

Bob Hope dies at 100 *
Bob Hope, ski-nosed master of the one-liner and favourite comedian of servicemen and presidents alike, has died, less than two months after turning 100. [More]

Bollywood tackles social stigma of AIDS *
For the first time, India's Bollywood film industry, famed for its frothy romances and lavish song-and-dance sequences, is tackling AIDS and the social stigma attached to the illness. [More]

Boogeyman scares up big box office numbers *
The new low-budget thriller Boogeyman haunted the No. 1 slot at the weekend box office in North America yesterday, a day when movie theatres will be lucky to scare up much business in the face of competition from the Super Bowl. [More]

Borat hauls in $29 million to remain top weekend box-office draw *
A make-believe son of the glorious nation of Kazakhstan continues to rule the North American box office. [More]

Borat makes benefit glorious at box office again *
A make-believe -- and often obnoxious -- son of the glorious nation of Kazakhstan continues to rule the North American box office. [More]

Borat shocks Hollywood with number-one box office debut *
Sacha Baron Cohen's Kazakh alter-ego Borat made glorious returns at the box office, surprising Hollywood with a No. 1 debut. [More]

Borat stuns rivals at North American box office *
The 20th Century Fox's comedy chronicles the journey of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's character Borat, a raucous TV journalist from Kazakhstan as he travels the United States as a kind of a latter-day -- and anti-semitic -- Andy Kaufman. [More]

Born to play Barbara Amiel *
Lara Flynn Boyle had never heard of Conrad Black's better half, but she found an affinity in her strength. [More]

Bourne Again tops at box office *
Spy thriller has $24.5 million opening day: "Bourne again" tops at box office. [More]

Bourne reigns supreme *
Matt Damon enjoyed box-office supremacy in North America over the weekend with his new spy thriller, while fellow Oscar-winner Halle Berry ended up as road kill with her widely panned turn in Catwoman. [More]

Bourne to be bad -- but GOOD at Box Office *
The third instalment in the movies based on the late Robert Ludlum's spy novels knocked The Simpsons Movie from atop the box office and eclipsed the August 2001 opening of Rush Hour 2 -- which took in $67.4 million, according to reports. [More]

Box office 'Treasure' found again *
Santa was good to Hollywood over the Christmas holiday, delivering hearty box-office returns more than 34 per cent higher than the same weekend last year. [More]

Box office buzz overwhelmed by crime boss *
A heroin pusher and a honey bee put some sting back into the movie business. [More]

Box office in grip of Ice Age 2 *
Ice Age: The Meltdown heated up the box office with a mammoth $70.5-million (U.S.) weekend, while audiences gave the cold shoulder to Sharon Stone, whose Basic Instinct 2 debuted with a paltry $3.2-million. [More]

Box Office Piracy: Scandal in the High Cs -- movie studios still obsessing about Pirates . . . *
. . .and we don't mean the "of the Caribbean" kind, either. [More]

Box Office Prophets predicts Number one spot for Ratatouille *
The rat who acts as chef in a French restaurant in Paris feasted on choice North American box office receipts this weekend. [More]

Box office rebounds as Kutcher claims 2 top spots *
The new animal cartoon Open Season tracked down the No. 1 spot at the North American box office, distributor Sony Pictures said Monday. [More]

Box Office Reports 'Epic' Takeover *
Oscar contenders get boost from nominations. . ."Dreadful movie, possibly the worst I've seen," says evalu8.org film critic, John T.D. Keyes. [More]

Box Office Scores 2004: Meet the record holders *
Millions of Americans went shopping for comedy over the holiday weekend, giving the star-studded Meet the Fockers the record for the best single Christmas Day box office take. [More]

Box office topped by dreadful Epic Movie *
We say the title stands for "Every Possible Insult to Cinema-lovers," or perhaps "Every Possible Innuendo & Cliché." [More]

Box Office: Carrey proves divine *
The new Jim Carrey movie Bruce Almighty bounced The Matrix Reloaded from the top spot at the North American holiday box office, setting a new record for a non-sequel comedy. [More]

Boxing film production in Toronto takes a punch *
The U.S. Congress is taking a punch at the Toronto production of Cinderella Man, a Ron Howard film starring Russell Crowe as former American heavyweight boxing champion James Braddock. [More]

Brad Peyton and The Spider and the Fly: Hollywood takes a gander *
Earlier this year, Brad Peyton was barely paying the rent on his tiny apartment. Now, Tom Hanks has hired the Newfoundland native to create the full-length feature, The Spider and the Fly, writes GAYLE MacDONALD [More]

Break-Up earns $38.1M to top box office *
by real-life romantic splits and hook-ups, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn's The Break-Up pulled an upset over the mutant world of the X-Men. [More]

Break-Up tops X-Men at the box office *
Supported by real-life romantic splits and hookups, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn's The Break-Up pulled an upset over the mutant world of the X-Men. [More]

Brokeback proves a holiday favourite *
Brokeback Mountain posted the highest per-screen average over the film-flush holiday weekend. [More]

Bucket kicks off weekend box office *
The Bucket List looks as though it has ended the three-week box office reign of National Treasure: Book of Secrets at North American theatres. [More]

Buffy's slays shark with remake of horror flick *
The Grudge, a low-budget horror movie starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, delivered an additional shock yesterday by selling $40-million (U.S.) worth of tickets in its first three days at the North American box office, doubling the expectations of its distributor. [More]

Cage, pregnant teen in box office shootout *
The Nicolas Cage adventure National Treasure: Book of Secrets as the top movie in North America, for the third week in a row. [More]

Cameron Diaz tops actress pay list *
Cameron Diaz is the world's highest-paid actress, snatching the title from Julia Roberts, the Guinness Book of Records said on Friday. [More]

Can Sylvia emerge from the shadow of an icon? *
Sylvia Plath is the crown princess of fetishized writers, one of those great American cult talents (Hemingway, Kerouac) whose life and work seem indistinguishable. Every young woman with a soupçon of literary pretension spends a few broody weeks with The Bell Jar and Letters Home beside her bed (Plath's poems, which are tougher, come later). [More]

Can the canapés, we want local films *
Forget Cannes. Forget Toronto. Let us now praise not-so-famous film festivals. Let's celebrate the smaller, regional festivals that crop up because audiences subjected to a steady diet of blockbusters want to see movies that reflect their own experience. Those low-budget festivals happen in small cities because emerging filmmakers are desperate for an audience. [More]

Canadian film inspires tears, applause at Cannes *
Denys Arcand's film about a French-Canadian man whose friends rally around him as he fights cancer won prolonged applause at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday and had many people wiping away tears. [More]

Canadian films still struggling at home, Statscan says *
Canadian films and videos continued to struggle on their home turf, with foreign entertainment grabbing the lion's share of this country's market in fiscal 2000-2001, Statistics Canada said Friday. [More]

Cannes clips *
Sweet, sensitive Claire Danes from television's So-Called Life fighting deadly killing machines out to destroy humanity? [More]

Captain Jack Sparrow plunders $62.2 million more in box-office loot *
Johnny Depp's boozy, woozy buccaneer Jack Sparrow has plundered the US and Canadian box office, with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest taking in a fistful of doubloons to maintain its Master-of-the-High-Cs ("cinemas," that is) record. [More]

Carrey tops box office with 'Horton Hears a Who' *
Family audiences headed for Who-Ville as 20th Century Fox's animated tale Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! debuted with $45.1 million, the best opening so far this year. [More]

Cars drives to the top of the box office *
The animated comedy Cars raced to first place at the weekend box office with a $62.8-million (U.S.) debut. [More]

Cars Leads Box Office Again *
With a projected take of $31.2 million, the Pixar animated movie outpaces Nacho Libre and the latest Fast and the Furious instalment. [More]

Cars wins box office race for second week *
With a projected take of $31.2 million, the Pixar animated movie outpaced Nacho Libre and the latest Fast and the Furious instalment. [More]

Cars wins box-office race with $62.8 million *
The animated comedy Cars raced to first place at the weekend box office with a $62.8 million debut, maintaining the Disney-Pixar cartoon brand's undefeated record with a seventh straight hit. [More]

Cars wins race to top of North American box office *
Pixar's animated comedy Cars raced to the top of box office in North America over the weekend, bringing in an estimated 62.8 million dollars . . . [More]

Celebs looking lovely in blood-red *
The hottest thing to be in this fall is not a plaid minikilt -- it's a blood feud. Everybody who's anybody is in some bitter battle or other, and they're all quite the show. [More]

Charlie's Angels throttles Hulk *
The angels have lost a little of their kick but they can still pulverize the opposition, even if he is big and green. [More]

Chicken Little rules roost *
The box office tumbled again despite solid weekends for the animated Chicken Little, which debuted with $40.1-million (U.S.), and the Desert Storm drama Jarhead, which opened with $28.8-million, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

Chicken wins, box office fails *
Chicken Little and Fantasy are chicken-feed in the movie boneyard. [More]

Chihuahua bounds to top of box-office *
A trio of stars lend their voices (and barks and growls) to cute canines in Beverly Hills Chihuahua, a movie some reviewers have described as "inexorable." Nonetheless, it topped the box office this weekend. [More]

China's iron beauty *
Riveting film star Gong Li plays a coy and flirtatious lover in her latest film, an unusual part for an actress known for her headstrong roles. But don't get the idea that Gong has gone soft, GUY DIXON writes [More]

Chocolate Factory still tops North American box office charts *
It's déja vu all over again at the box office in North America, with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory still in first place, Wedding Crashers second and Fantastic Four third, estimates released Sunday show. [More]

Chocolate Factory tops North American box office *
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory found sweet success at the box office in North America, grossing an estimated 55.3 million US dollars in its weekend debut, preliminary figures out show Sunday. [More]

Christmas glow outshines Twilight *
What would vampires be doing at Christmas, anyway? [More]

Christmas theme brings early gift to Box Office *
"In tough times, people are looking for comic relief and that's what we gave them," said Dan Fellman, distributor of this week's box office champ, Four Christmases. [More]

Chuck and Larry beat Harry at Box Office *
Two guys named Chuck and Larry edged out a teenager named Harry at the weekend box office. [More]

Click clicks at box office *
The Adam Sandler comedy Click took first place at the North American box office with weekend ticket sales of $40 million, according to studio estimates on Sunday. [More]

Clooney sports comedy fumbles ball at box office *
The gambling tale 21 kept up its winning streak as it took in $15.1 million to stay on top of the box office for a second-straight weekend. [More]

Close Up: Robert Altman *
The screen is blank, then our picture starts with an italicized crawl: This is a true story -- every quoted remark is accurate. But it's also a movie, a Robert Altman movie, and so it must abide by his distinctive style and conventions. [More]

Cloverfield is the Monster Hit of holiday weekend *
Paramount's tale of a giant reptile causing chaos in New York City surpassed the $35.9 million premiere weekend of the Star Wars special edition in 1997, the previous best for January -- Cloverfield debuted with $46 million. [More]

Cloverfield pulls down Monster $41M *
Paramount's tale of a giant reptile causing chaos in New York City surpassed the $35.9 million premiere weekend of the Star Wars special edition in 1997, the previous best for January. [More]

Colin Farrell to replace Heath Ledger in unfinished film *
Colin Farrell says it's an honour to help replace Heath Ledger in the actor's final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. [More]

Collateral box office disappointing for Cruise *
Crime may not pay for Tom Cruise. The box office superhero's first outing as a villain, in director Michael Mann's thriller Collateral, made off with a middling $24.4-million (U.S.) during its first three days at the North American box office, according to studio estimates issued yesterday. [More]

Columbus Day holiday boosts box office leaders *
Columbus Day was very good to new box office champ The Departed and the film it replaced last weekend, Open Season. [More]

Complete Unknown: Trailing the elusive Dylan *
Griffin Ondaatje and Craig Proctor have made a documentary on the myth of Bob Dylan in which Dylan barely appears -- which is fitting, given the subject matter, BRAD WHEELER writes [More]

Cost crunch hits movie theatres *
Canadians still love watching a good movie on the big screen, but the country's love affair with the cinema is waning, Statistics Canada says. [More]

Costner's last stand *
Kevin Costner poured his own money into Open Range, his epic western shot in Alberta and opening next week. Disney says it's too violent. The rest of Hollywood dismisses it as a stale genre piece. But, as the actor-director tells DAVID GIAMMARCO, he always has been a bit of a maverick [More]

Covenant debuts atop weakest box office in three years *
The Covenant -- a tale of supernatural teens trying to destroy each other at an elite boarding school -- ascended to the top of the weekend box office with a modest take of $9 million, according to studio estimates. [More]

Covenant leads weakest box office in three years *
The new supernatural thriller The Covenant conjured up the lead at a sluggish weekend box office in North America with the lowest sales for a No. 1 movie in three years. [More]

Crewson: 'I'm a consort of presidents and kings' *
Wendy Crewson joins a talented team of Canucks in the third season of 24, GAYLE MacDONALD writes. The White House setting is a familiar one for her. [More]

Cruise's 'Mission' underwhelms at US box office *
The film opened disappointingly at the weekend box office in North American, despite a whirlwind publicity tour by Cruise. [More]

Da Vinci Code boosts summer box office fortunes *
Moviegoers gave their blessing to the The Da Vinci Code over the weekend, spending an estimated $77 million to see the Tom Hanks religious thriller. [More]

Da Vinci code raises box office from the Dead *
"How Dark the Con of Man" -- see the film and find out what this means! [More]

Dallaire's Rwandan tale slated for film *
Halifax-based Salter Street Films has secured the rights to retired lieutenant-general Roméo Dallaire's upcoming book on his experience in Rwanda. [More]

Daniel Day-Lewis: Just call him Jack *
The residents of Souris are taking it all in stride as Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis and a film crew descend on a remote stretch of PEI's north shore [More]

Dark Knight continues to rule box office *
Batman epic rakes in more than $70-million (U.S.) on its second weekend of circulation; Step Brothers places a strong second. [More]

Dark Knight rewrites box-office record books *
Buzz has been building for weeks about director Christopher Nolan's follow-up to 2005's Batman Begins, with several reviewers hailing Heath Ledger's performance as worthy of a posthumous Oscar nod. [More]

Dark Knight swings past $500 million mark, while 'Tropic Thunder' trebles its box off rule *
Batman's rich alter-ego Bruce Wayne has added half a billion dollars to his riches. The Dark Knight on Sunday became the second movie in Hollywood history to top $500 million at the domestic box office, raising its total to $502.4 million, according to estimates from distributor Warner Bros. [More]

Date doctor defeats exorcist at the box office *
Will Smith's romantic comedy Hitch led the North American box office for a second consecutive weekend with $31.8-million (U.S.), narrowly fending off a strong challenge from the new Keanu Reeves sci-fi thriller Constantine ($30.5-million), according to studio estimates issued yesterday. [More]

Dawn of the Dead tops box office *
Audiences feasted on zombies as the fright flick Dawn of the Dead pulled in $27.3 million (U.S.) at the box office in its debut weekend and bumped The Passion of the Christ from the top spot. [More]

Debunking the myth of evil L.A. *
A filmmaker sets out to show a more just picture of the City of Angels [More]

Diary of a Mad Black Woman shocks box office *
The top spot at the North American box office this weekend went to a film by a formerly homeless playwright little known by movie fans. [More]

Director fired from Exorcist prequel *
Director Paul Schrader says he's been fired from work on the upcoming thriller, which is a prequel to the acclaimed 1973 original about a demon-possessed little girl. [More]

Disney blocks distribution of Moore's new documentary *
The Walt Disney Company is blocking its Miramax Films division from distributing Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, which criticizes President Bush's handling of Sept. 11 and connects the Bush family with Osama bin Laden's. [More]

Disney musical, family fantasy can't catch Jumper *
The globe-trotting thriller "Jumper" soared to a box office win with $27.2-million (U.S.) on a weekend when Hollywood offered something for everyone, with new films for action fans, teens, family audiences and the date-movie crowd. [More]

Disney spoof tops weekend box office again *
Disney's fairy-tale romantic comedy "Enchanted" charmed audiences again this weekend. [More]

Disney to cut jobs despite record box office sales *
It's Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow -- the drunken pirate famously modeled on the Rolling Stones' Richards -- who may have propelled Pirates to the all-time largest opening box-office gross. [More]

Disney's Ratatouille rules weekend box office *
The rat who wanted to be chef in a Paris restaurant proved he COULD take the heat in the kitchen. [More]

Disturbia holds on for third week as top box office draw *
Moviegoers continued to keep their eyes on the Peeping Tom thriller Disturbia, which fended off a weak batch of newcomers to remain No. 1 for the third straight weekend with $9.1-million (U.S.). [More]

Disturbia remains top box office draw *
The teen thriller "Disturbia" led the North American box office for a THIRD weekend, as another slew of lowly new releases tried to make an impact. [More]

Disturbia repeats as top box office flick *
The face of Hannibal Lecter was no match for Shia LaBeouf in a box-office battle of murder thrillers. [More]

Disturbia scares up $23 million at box office *
Movie-goers put the Peeping Tom thriller "Disturbia" under strong surveillance as the film took in $23 million to debut at the top of the weekend box office, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

Does this box office triumph prove that chick-flicks 'BITE'? *
Audiences found the vampire romance Twilight infectious in its opening weekend, pushing the movie to a take of $70.6 million. [More]

Dog Bites Man (you read it here first) *
Former Titanic heart-throb was mauled by a tiny California house-pet at this week's Hollywood Box Office showdown. [More]

Don't take the wrong message *
Mel Gibson's talked-about film should serve as a springboard for bringing Christians and Jews closer together, says Catholic theologian THOMAS ROSICA, not driving them apart. [More]

Duelling monsters gobble box-office competition *
Moviegoers were easy prey for a double dose of space invaders. [More]

Dukes of Hazzard wreak havoc at U.S. box office *
The South rose again at the box office in North America as The Dukes of Hazzard raced to the top in its first weekend of release. [More]

Dukes wipe out Crashers at box office *
The good ol' boys of The Dukes of Hazzard crashed past another pair of joke-cracking buddies to the top of the weekend box office. [More]

Easter box office lays an egg *
Horton the elephant retained the heavyweight crown at the North American box office Sunday, but the Easter holiday failed to prevent overall sales from resuming their downtrend. [More]

Eastwood wins best director Oscar *
Hollywood tough guy Clint Eastwood on Sunday won the second best director Oscar of his career for his dark boxing drama Million Dollar Baby. [More]

Eddie Murphy's 'Norbit' debuts on top of box office *
Three times the Eddie Murphy multi-player effect added up to a big win at the box office. [More]

Eddie Murphy's a box office hit. . .again *
Murphy's Norbit eats Hannibal for breakfast. [More]

Eight Below tops U.S. box office *
In its debut week, Eight Below grossed an estimated $20 million and topped the U.S. box office, Sunday. [More]

Eight Below wins dog-race to open at No. 1, edging out Date Movie *
Eight Below, a tale of survival among abandoned sled dogs, was the leader of the box-office pack with a $25 million US opening over the four-day holiday weekend. [More]

Eleven films eligible for animation Oscar *
Eleven films, including Shrek 2, Shark Tale and the Japanese movie Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, are eligible to be nominated for the best animated feature film Oscar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced. [More]

Elf overpowers Master at the box office *
Will Ferrell's Elf scuttled Russell Crowe's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World to finish as the weekend's No. 1 movie at the North American box office, according to studio estimates yesterday. [More]

Enchanted still charms at box office *
Disney fairy-tale romantic comedy Enchanted stayed on top of the box office for a second weekend, while overall ticket sales returned to the slump after a booming Thanksgiving holiday. [More]

Enchanted weaves magic spell at box office *
Disney's fairy-tale romantic comedy Enchanted charmed audiences over the holiday weekend, taking home more than $50-million for the Thanksgiving five-day box office, according to studio estimates on Sunday. [More]

End of B.C. Film seed money decried *
Filmmakers in British Columbia have just lost a lucrative source of funding... [More]

Evan Almighty brings small flood to box office *
Steve Carell proved not nearly as all-powerful as Jim Carrey. [More]

Even blizzards can't stop Are We There Yet? *
According to studio estimates issued yesterday, Ice Cube's new comedy Are We There Yet? opened at No. 1 with box office of about $18.5-million (U.S.) in the three days beginning Jan. 21, exceeding the expectations of its distributor, Columbia Pictures. [More]

Ewan McGregor: How to spot a family man *
Famous for playing a junkie, today Ewan McGregor's addicted to work and being a dad, SIMON HOUPT writes. [More]

Exorcism thriller banishes US box office (low) spirits *
Low budget thriller The Exorcism of Emily Rose upset the apple cart to top the US box office this past weekend with a Beelzebub-banishing $30 million take. [More]

Exorcism tops box office *
The Exorcism of Emily Rose bedevilled the competition at the weekend box office in North America, grossing about 30.2 million dollars in its debut to take first place, according to estimates out Sunday. [More]

Exorcisms fail, love triumphs -- Heaven trumps Exorcism at box office *
Heaven beat the devil at the box office this weekend. [More]

Exorcist displaces Alien *
God vs. Satan cast out space creatures' bout at the box office. [More]

Exorcist prequel had its own demons *
The backstory of Exorcist: The Beginning is enough to make your head spin. . . [More]

Fahrenheit 9/11 heats up Alliance's bottom line *
The box office success of Michael Moore's controversial film Fahrenheit 9/11 has begun to spin revenue for its Canadian distributor Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. [More]

Fahrenheit burns up box office *
Michael Moore's red-hot documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 earned more in its first three days of release across North America than his Oscar-winning Bowling for Columbine did in its entire run, the film's distributors said yesterday. [More]

Failure to Launch takes off *
Failure to Launch, a romantic comedy starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker, took off at theatres, debuting as the top weekend movie with $24.6-million (U.S.). [More]

Family fare, horror share box office *
Inspector Clouseau bumbled his way to the top of the box office as Steve Martin's The Pink Panther debuted with $21.7 million (all figures USD) to lead a rush of new releases. [More]

Fans devour dinner with Kutcher *
Two guesses on who topped the weekend box office. Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher, that's who. [More]

Fantastic Four stops Hollywood's box office slump *
The Fantastic Four muscled War of the Worlds out of first place at the North America box office after a one-week reign, and managed to snap Hollywood's longest box office slump in more than two decades, according to preliminary figures released here Sunday. [More]

Fast and Furious . . . for kids *
'That pedal is the break. . . . Go.' LIAM LACEY hits the go-kart raceway and lives to tell about it [More]

Feel-good movies top New Year's weekend's box office *
Another good week for Ben Stiller, Will Smith. [More]

Feet, Royale again top weekend box-office draws *
A dancing penguin and the world's deadliest spy have settled in for a long stay at the top of the box office. [More]

Feet, Royale top weekend box office -- again *
The animated penguin tale Happy Feet remained the No. 1 movie for the third straight weekend with $17 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

Ferrell comedy 'Semi-Pro' only 'Semi-Successful' *
Will Ferrell's basketball comedy Semi-Pro dribbled to the top of the weekend box office, but it fell short of his previous blockbuster openings in the sports spoof genre. [More]

Ferrell comedy Semi-Pro stumbles at box office *
Semi-Pro's weekend take isn't bad for an R-rated comedy, but it's less than half what most analysts had predicted, given Ferrell's track record and the movie's heavy marketing push. [More]

Ferrell skates to top of US box office *
Stars-on-ice Will Ferrell and Jon Heder took the box office gold for the weekend. [More]

Film folks give kudos to the King *
Barely out of the starting block, and Peter Jackson's third -- and final -- The Lord of the Rings adaptation is already the toast of the town. [More]

Film offers rare glimpse of Parizeau *
'I am not a sad man,' former PQ leader reveals in newly released documentary [More]

Films: An autumn of hope *
Could it be true? Decent movies in theatres between the uninspiring summer and the traditional Christmas flurry of Oscar contenders? With new offerings from the likes of Weir, Tarantino, Campion and the Coens, LIAM LACEY writes, the fall is looking good [More]

Final Rings movie rules the box office *
Movie audiences shelled out a king's ransom for one last trip to Middle Earth. [More]

Finding Nemo sinks competition *
The deep-sea adventure Finding Nemo hooked the top spot at the box office Sunday with an estimated $70.6-million (U.S.) opening weekend... [More]

Fish Flushers Learn Life Does Not Imitate 'Nemo' *
Margie Valadez, a dispatcher for RotoRooter, is used to calls from upset customers whose watches, rings or even cell phones were accidentally flushed down the toilet. Lately, though, she's been taking calls from hysterical parents asking if plumbers can rescue fish. [More]

Flightplan tops US box office *
Airplane thriller Flightplan took the No. 1 position during its first weekend at the North American box office on Sunday, reaping an estimated $US24.7 million. [More]

Fog lifts at box office *
The crowds were not quite as thick as pea soup, but the horror remake The Fog pulled in enough fans to win a close race at the weekend box office with a $12.2-million (U.S.) debut. [More]

Fonda-Lopez Face-off Tops at Box Office *
Moviegoers Are Fond of Fonda-Lopez Pairing in 'Monster-In-Law,' Movie Takes in $24 Million (USD). [More]

Foolproof Canadian marketing blitz *
But is the unprecedented campaign for the film motivated largely by the glittering prize of Telefilm funding? GAYLE MACDONALD reports. [More]

Foolproof... box-office hit? Doesn't look that way *
Despite the biggest and most aggressive marketing blitz in Canadian film history, the caper flick Foolproof got off to a disappointing start at the box office on the weekend. evalu8.org's John T.D. Keyes didn't like this film much, either. [More]

Fools 'Rush' in -- to top box office *
New Line Cinema's Rush Hour 3, starring Chinese martial arts hero Jackie Chan, topped North American box office this weekend as this summer's last blockbuster, while Hollywood's hot summer season is approaching its end. [More]

Football team tackles Black Dahlia at box office *
It was another down weekend at the box office, although moviegoers helped Sony Pictures and Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson score with the football flick Gridiron Gang. [More]

Former child star makes box-office comeback *
The band of grown-up kiddie actors in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star beat back the bloodthirsty bat-creature of Jeepers Creepers 2 at the weekend box office. [More]

Foster still aloft, but box office crashes *
Jodie Foster's Flightplan stayed aloft at the box office, as the airplane thriller took in $15-million (U.S.) to remain the No. 1 movie over a rush of new wide releases. [More]

Foster's Flightplan soars *
Jodie Foster piloted Flightplan to a No. 1 debut, her airborne thriller taking in $24.6 million (U.S.) to land ahead of Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, the runner-up with $20.1 million. [More]

Foster's Flightplan Propels Box Office *
Despite controversy among allegedly maligned stewardesses, Jodie Foster's airplane thriller Flightplan remained at high altitude, finishing first at the box office for the second-straight weekend with $14.8 million. [More]

Four Brothers plus a Singleton equals Box Office Topper *
The action flick Four Brothers zoomed into first place at the weekend box office in North America, with an expected take of 20.7 million dollars in its debut, according to preliminary figures released today. [More]

Four Brothers tops at weekend box office *
The John Singleton revenge flick Four Brothers beat its cinematic siblings to take the top spot at the weekend box office. [More]

Four Christmases, take Two *
Movie crowds kept up their holiday spirit as Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn's comedy Four Christmases rang up $18.2 million to lead the box office for a second-straight weekend. [More]

Four turtles overtake 300 soldiers at box office *
TMNT -- a computer-animated comedy resurrecting the reptilian superstars of the 1980s -- sold an estimated $25.4 million worth of tickets during its first three days [More]

Frankie Avalon: 'Don't forget, I was a teenage idol' *
As long as the questions are gentle, he pours on the charm, SARAH HAMPSON writes. When they get tough, she finds out what it's like to get the celebrity brush-off [More]

Freddy vs. Jason slays box office *
The horror team of Freddy vs. Jason had a killer weekend as the showdown between the bad guys of the Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchises opened with $36.4-million (U.S.). [More]

Freeman to release new film online *
Just two weeks after 10 Items or Less opens in theatres, it will be available for digital download from Clickstar, a company that Morgan Freeman's production company and Intel have founded to bring small movies to those who live far from boutique cinemas. [More]

French author sues Disney *
French children's book author has filed a lawsuit against Disney claiming that the superstar fish Nemo closely resembles his own creation, a smiling, wide-eyed clown fish named Pierrot. [More]

From dude to deity *
Keanu Reeves, advanced being.
Five years ago, those words strung together would have elicited derisive laughter. Before then, the closest the Toronto-bred actor came to representing a state of bliss was the ignorant kind associated with his perfectly embodied teenage doofuses from the Bill & Ted and Parenthood movies. [More]

Gamble wins at box office, but revenues down *
21 rakes in jackpot to debut in Box Office top spot. [More]

Game Plan leads weekend box office *
The Game Plan, the comedy starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, proved a surprise No. 1 in theatres this weekend, taking in $22.7 million. [More]

Game Plan still tops box office *
The Game Plan, the comedy starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, proved a surprise No. 1 in theatres again this weekend, taking in $22.7 million, according to studio estimates. [More]

Gangster beats bees at box office *
Hard-hitting crime drama American Gangster gunned down the opposition in North American theatres over the weekend, netting 43.6 million dollars. [More]

Garth, Mel -- chose another hymn *
Of all the sacred texts to bring to the screen, why did you pick the most adversarial Gospel? asks scholar DONALD HARMAN AKENSON [More]

Getting the skinny on Renée Zellweger *
The actress has spent the last few hectic years getting fat, then thin again to play mind-bogglingly different roles. The latest is a feisty and independent Civil War wildcat in Cold Mountain. [More]

Ghost Rider devilishly hot at box office *
Satan's bounty hunter has looted the wallets of movie-goers. [More]

Ghost Rider retains top spot at the weekend box office, despite poor reviews *
New Jim Carrey film -- The Number 23 -- comes in second [More]

Ghost Rider Revs Up Box Office *
Studio estimates show that Sony's film with Cage as a motorcycle stunt driver moonlighting as a collector of evil souls for the devil took in 44.5 million. [More]

Ghosts of the Abyss: Titanic tour a memorial in 3-D ****
Using remote-controlled robots, director James Cameron takes us inside rooms that haven't been visited for almost a century [More]

Gibson film stirs passionate debate *
Critics accuse star of anti-Semitism, while he screens movie for D.C. elite [More]

Gibson's Aztec film leads box office in quiet weekend *
Mel Gibson's bloody epic Apocalypto debuted as the No. 1 weekend movie. [More]

Gibson's gamble storms box office *
Mel Gibson's gamble on The Passion of the Christ paid off enormously, riding a storm of religious debate to a $117.5-million haul in its first five days, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

Gibson's Passion a box-office smash *
The Passion of the Christ was the top film for a third straight weekend, taking in $31.7-million (U.S.) and pushing its total beyond a quarter of a billion dollars. [More]

Giving good airport *
As anyone who has followed glossy-image merchant Bonnie Fuller from Us to the National Enquirer knows, the red carpet has gone big box. Paparazzi shots of Meg Ryan shopping at Ralph's or Nicole Kidman swigging a Starbucks have as much currency as portraits of them be-gowned and be-jewelled strutting into a movie premiere. [More]

Glory Road takes over top box office spot *
The college basketball saga Glory Road triumphed at the weekend box office in North America, narrowly beating fellow newcomers Last Holiday and Hoodwinked, according to studio estimates issued yesterday. [More]

Goblet on fire at the box office *
The bespectacled boy wizard has worked his biggest box-office magic to date. [More]

Golden Compass points the way at weekend box office *
The Golden Compass -- the children's film criticized by detractors as anti-religious -- topped North American box offices with a less-than-stellar 26.1 million dollars in weekend receipts, according to industry estimates. [More]

Golden Compass tops weekend box office *
The Golden Compass -- the children's film criticized by detractors as anti-religious -- topped North American box offices with a less-than-stellar 26.1 million dollars in weekend receipts, according to industry estimates. [More]

Golden Globe winners 2008 *
If you are in an Oscar pool, you might find these 2008 Golden Globes wins helpful in formulation your own best-guesses. [More]

Golden Globes may lack cachet of the Oscars, but the stars glitter just as brightly *
Foxx, Eastwood, Bening, Canada's perennial winner, Howard Shore take home Golden Globes at Academy Award "preview" [More]

Golden Globes will delay 2004 ceremony *
The Golden Globe Awards, often considered a crystal ball for the Oscars, will air a week later than usual next year. [More]

Golden moments at 2006 Golden Globes *
Last night's 63rd annual Golden Globes, the world's second most important movie prize night after the Oscars, were a breakthrough night for small budget, independent films that dealt with once-taboo topics such as homosexuality and transsexualism. [More]

Good, clean summer fun (Cole) *
You know how children want their food the same and are keen on recycling? Hollywood is like that too as it dishes up its kiddie menu over the next few months, STEPHEN COLE finds [More]

Good, clean summer fun (Groen) *
There's no use getting hot and bothered about summer's shallow fare, RICK GROEN explains. Studio bosses are taking a page from Scott and Spenser, in a tradition as old as literature itself. [More]

Gory Hostel dominates box office *
There's nothing quite like a torture movie to shake off festive spirits. [More]

Grandpa Omar *
Aging screen legend Omar Sharif tells LEAH McLAREN that Monsieur Ibrahim could well be his last leading role in a feature film, but he's looking forward to playing the doting grandfather in real life. [More]

Gregory Peck: The screen image was never far from the man *
He displayed as a person the same qualities of basic goodness that epitomized his roles, RICK GROEN writes [More]

Gridiron Gang carries the ball at the box office with $15 million debut *
It was another down weekend at the box office, although moviegoers helped Sony Pictures and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson score with the football flick Gridiron Gang. [More]

Gustav quiets Labour Day box office *
As kids trudge back to books, entertainment and special-effects take second place to real-life weather concerns. [More]

Halloween arrives early this year *
Rob Zombie's gory remake of the classic "slasher" movie took a commanding early lead at the North American weekend box office, according to preliminary estimates issued on Saturday. Looks like a fun romp, eh? [More]

Halloween kills at box office, sets record for Labour Day weekend *
Halloween came early and closed Hollywood's strong summer season with a record-breaking Labour Day weekend debut. [More]

Hanks versus Cruise -- the Battle of the Toms *
Does a star's personal philosophy and off-screen behaviour affect box office receipts? How far can a star push the limits of public endurance before a backlash is felt? Does the controversy of a film outweigh its strength as a story, or as entertainment? These, and other questions are about to be answered in coming weeks, as we see how well The Da Vinci Code fares in its opening next week, as measured against the already faltering Mission: Impossible III. [More]

Hannah Montana concert film sets box office record *
First, she sells out a nationwide concert tour. Now girl-next-door Miley Cyrus and pop-star alter-ego Hannah Montana are selling out movie theatres in such record-breaking style that the film's run has been extended. [More]

Hannah Montana rocks box office *
First, she sells out a nationwide concert tour. Now Miley Cyrus and pop-star alter-ego Hannah Montana are selling out movie theatres in such record-breaking style that the film's run has been extended. [More]

Happy Feet dance handily to No. 1 spot at box office *
The animated penguins of Happy Feet stomped all over the competition to stay No. 1 in U.S. box office receipts over the Thanksgiving weekend. [More]

Happy New Year For 'Fockers' *
Moviegoers embraced the dysfunctional family comedy "Meet the Fockers" for the second straight week, as the star-studded sequel earned $42.8 million to retain its No. 1 slot at the weekend box office. [More]

Happy penguins look likely to beat out Bond at box office *
James Bond has met his match -- not a fellow spy but a tap-dancing penguin, in what some are calling the musical version of March of the Penguins. [More]

Harrelson: 'I make films for subcultures' *
From his childhood boycott of processed cheese slices to his new film documenting Woody Harrelson's crusade for organic living, Ron Mann has always been the master of the marginal, SARAH HAMPSON writes [More]

Harry Potter dominates weekend box office *
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire grossed $101.4-million (U.S.) in its debut weekend, the best results yet for the franchise, according to studio estimates released Sunday. [More]

Harry Potter holds top box office spot for third week *
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire made $20 million for a total box office of $230 million, topping the U.S. box office for the third week in a row. [More]

Harry Potter keeps magic alive at box office *
The third weekend was still a charm for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which remained the top movie with a take of $20.45-million (USD). [More]

Harry Potter sets new box office record *
The new Harry Potter film is casting a lucrative spell at the box office worldwide, as Warner Bros. opened the fifth big-screen version of JK Rowling's best-selling novel series Wednesday in a massive release. [More]

Harry Potter star muses darkly on character's fate *
Daniel Radcliffe, the star of the blockbuster Harry Potter movies, said yesterday that he believed the boy wizard might be destined to die in later episodes of the story. [More]

Harry Potter waves wand, makes megabucks *
With a flick of his wand, young wizard Harry Potter conjured up $92.7-million (U.S.) worth of ticket sales at the North American box office with his latest film, setting a new opening record for the hit franchise, according to studio estimates issued Sunday. [More]

Harry Potter works magic in $77.4M debut *
Harry Potter remains a box-office charmer. [More]

Harry Potter's fire goblet overflows *
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is poised to be China's biggest box office hit this year, reaping more than 80 million yuan (US$9.8 million) since its release nearly a month ago. [More]

Harry's magical Thanksgiving feast *
A boy wizard and a country-music legend outclassed a flurry of box-office newcomers over Thanksgiving. [More]

Hawayein: Bollywood gets real *
Mobs descend on innocent bystanders, killing, raping and maiming thousands in New Delhi as news of Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination spreads like the rising flames in the city. [More]

Hawke eyes IPO for latest project *
Telefilm take note: An investment firm is raising money to finance movie projects by letting film buffs buy a piece of Ethan Hawke, or at least a share in a project he's involved with, and trade that as a stock. [More]

Hayden Christensen: Darth star *
Hayden Christensen bulks up in Sydney to play a 'non-wimpy' intergalactic villain and misses Toronto, GAYLE MacDONALD finds [More]

Heavy Metal crushes competitors at box office *
Ratatouille also performed well over the holiday since last weekend's initial, three-day haul of $47 million fell short of some box office watchers' expectations. [More]

Heist thriller has 'Inside' track at box office *
Washington's reunion with Spike Lee put them on the inside track at the box office. [More]

Hellboy beats Hancock *
Eccentric graphic novel antiheroes battled it out last weekend. . . [More]

Hellboy rises to the top *
A wisecracking demon from hell took down The Rock for the weekend's box-office title. [More]

Hepburn made the misfit into a star *
Katharine Hepburn, who died last Sunday at age 96, was it for me, I-T. Weekday afternoons in front of the Million Dollar Movie, she was mine -- my role model, my mentor, my substitute mother. It was the 1970s; my own (single) mother was at work. Through Kate's on-screen careers, I plotted the ways I would be, too -- glamorous lawyer, glamorous journalist, gritty frontier woman, queen. [More]

Here's looking at you, kids *
Raised by parents who are more likely to rent Chaplin or Hepburn, some of today's kids are spurning Hollywood blockbusters for the classics, REBECCA CALDWELL writes [More]

Hero's arrival cheered at box office *
Hero, Jet Li's acclaimed martial-arts epic, vanquished giant snakes, serial killers and a gang of superbabies to make its debut as the top weekend film. . . [More]

Hide and Seek takes top spot at box office *
Robert De Niro's fright flick Hide and Seek had a strong debut in its opening weekend, taking in $22 million (U.S.) to become the top movie and fending off a rush of Academy Awards contenders. [More]

High School Musical 3 boogies to top of box office *
HSM3 cashed in with 42 million dollars in weekend ticket sales, trailed by Saw V, which scared up 30 million dollars. [More]

Hitchhiker tops box office *
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy thumbed its way to the top of the box office, debuting at $21.7 million to beat out the explosive XXX brand. [More]

Hoffman, Witherspoon Win Lead-Acting Oscars *
Reese Witherspoon as country singer June Carter in Walk the Line and Philip Seymour Hoffman as author Truman Capote in Capote won the lead-acting Academy Awards on Sunday. [More]

Holding court in Cannes *
Canadian Charlotte Mickie is in the big leagues of global film distribution. LIAM LACEY finds her hunkered down in a back office, doing deals. [More]

Hollywood box office boasts first-ever $4-billion summer *
Bad weather? Hot movies? Free air-conditioning? Whatever the reason for this summer's success, Hollywood distribution moguls are no longer wringing their hands over box office receipts. [More]

Hollywood box office enjoys summer rebound *
After a dismal box-office year and gloomy prophecies about its future, the movie business has rebounded with a solid -- though far from spectacular -- summer 2006 season. [More]

Hollywood can't beat horror *
Lionsgate's Hostel bumped off the previous weekend's No. 1 film, Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which came in second with $15.4-million to lift its domestic total to $247.6-million, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

Hollywood ends 2007 with hot box office amid writers' strike *
Strong holiday box office performance gave Hollywood a year-end gift -- despite the ongoing writers' strike -- with ticket sales up nearly 18 per cent in the last weekend of 2007 over a year earlier. [More]

Hollywood gets help from the S.W.A.T. team *
Calling in the S.W.A.T. team proved good business for Hollywood. [More]

Hollywood had a happy holiday with Christmas weekend revenues up 8 per cent over 2007 *
Marley & Me was based on John Grogan's best-seller about a couple going through the ups and downs of marriage with their mischievous dog in tow. The holiday timing was ideal for a story about an adorable pup, said 20th Century Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston. [More]

Hollywood reeling as 2003 box office sales slump *
This year's movie superheroes are getting licked by last year's. [More]

Hollywood reels in a record summer haul, 2008 edition *
Times may be tough in the real world. Not so in Hollywood. . . [More]

Hollywood studios to sell movies on-line *
The films can't be burned onto a disc for viewing on a DVD player. Still, the move is seen as a step toward full digital distribution of movies over the Internet. [More]

Hollywoodland Confidential *
Critics loved Ben Affleck in Hollywoodland, but -- even so -- audiences did not flock to see the film. [More]

Holy box office, Batman! *
Director Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, broke box office records on its opening weekend with $155.34 million, beating Spider-Man 3 by $4 million. [More]

Homer’s odyssey leads to box office gold *
The Simpsons Movie, an animated feature based on the TV mainstays from Springfield, smashed industry expectations to earn an estimated $29.1 million on its first day of release on Friday in the U.S. and Canada. [More]

Hoodwinked, Glory Road tops at box office *
Results this week are delayed until today, to allow box offices to account for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend crowds. [More]

Hopkins presents new film at Venice *
Anthony Hopkins' new film The Human Stain tells the tale of a brilliant man brought down by political correctness, a modern trend that the esteemed actor describes as "a cancer." [More]

Horrific reviews can't stop Amityville *
The Amityville Horror returned from the dead with a vengeance, with the gory update of the 1970s fright flick taking in $23.3-million (U.S.) to top the weekend box office. [More]

Horror movie makes some noise at the box office *
TriStar Pictures' Silent Hill topped the North American box office over the weekend, raking in an estimate of 20.2 million dollars for the horror thriller about a mother searching for her daughter in a deserted, haunted town. [More]

Horror retains its grip on a weak box office *
A weak batch of new movies made easy prey for Freddy vs. Jason, which took in $13.5-million to remain the No. 1 weekend flick, according to studio estimates yesterday. [More]

Horror sequel The Grudge 2 opened to a $9.6 million Friday. . . *
. . .and tops weekend box office. Verdict: Grudge 2 thrills box office, Williams doesn't. [More]

Hostel tops box office *
The weekend box office was sheer torture as the bloody Hostel, a tale of buddies who stumble into a den of violent depravity, debuted at No. 1 with $20.1-million (U.S.). [More]

Hot Ice Age breaks $100 million box-office *
The 20th Century Fox family tale Ice Age: The Meltdown took in $34.5-million (U.S.) to remain the No. 1 movie for a second straight weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

Hot Opening Weekend for 'Burn After Reading' *
A brilliant cast sparkles in this wonderfully dark and cynical film. A big box office win for the elusive Coen brothers. [More]

House Bunny beaten by Ben's boys at Box Office *
The action comedy Tropic Thunder weathered a rush of new movies to remain No. 1 for a second-straight weekend with $16.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

How do we define what a movie is? *
There were eight commercials before the feature, Bruce Almighty, on Monday. Before the previews, even. There was a grainy minidocumentary about Gatorade; a white-on-white L'Oréal pitch featuring pouty models with sticky hair enacting the seven deadly sins; a half-live, half-animated ad for the Toyota Matrix; a redhead with a put-on-sounding British accent touting Acuvue colour contact lenses; an Axe deodorant spot where gorgeous girls forgive all manner of male transgressions; plus ads for The Toronto Star, Labatt Blue and the DVD for Die Another Day. [More]

HSM3 bests Porno to stay atop box office *
Disney's clean-cut High School Musical 3: Senior Year kept would-be porn stars Zack and Miri at bay to keep its top slot on the North American box office earnings list, industry figures showed Sunday. [More]

Hulking box office for Big Green Guy *
The Incredible Hulk, the action movie about a man whose temper transforms him into a green beast, was the top film at U.S. and Canadian theatres this weekend with sales of $54.5 million. [More]

I think it has a double life, Toronto *
Gay marriage, legal pot, strip clubs -- we've finally got Hollywood's attention [More]

I, Robot bumps Spider-Man 2 from top spot *
Will Smith has the summer crowd well programmed... [More]

Ice Age continues box-office warming trend with $34.5 million *
Score one for the prehistoric animals: The 20th Century Fox family tale Ice Age: The Meltdown took in $34.5 million to remain the No. 1 movie for a second straight weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. [More]

Ice Age sequel heats up box office *
The animated sequel Ice Age: The Meltdown registered the biggest opening of the year at the North American box office, selling an estimated $70.5 million worth of tickets during its first three days, distributor 20th Century Fox said on Sunday. [More]

Imax box office Giant among Big Screens *
With box office receipts declining at North American theatres, Hollywood films adapted to the oversized Imax format are drawing record crowds, a trend analysts say represents a shift in the habits of moviegoers. [More]

Imitation of life *
There's a slew of juicy biographies coming soon to a theatre near you. GAYLE MacDONALD talks to fans and critics of the enduring genre, in which fact meets fiction. [More]

In America: An escape to America *
'Some people use the phrase "magic realism" to describe the film,' Irish director Jim Sheridan tells LIAM LACEY, 'but I always associate that with mushrooms' [More]

In praise of bolder directors *
Actresses Nicole Kidman, Sarah Polley and Meg Ryan tell JOHANNA SCHNELLER how the right person behind the camera can make all the difference. [More]

Indiana Jones digs up $126M in box office gold *
Addendum: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull chased down $311.1 million from moviegoers around the world, as nostalgic fans brought along their children to watch Harrison Ford's latest escapades as the action-hero-style archeologist. . . this time in the '50s. [More]

Inside Man looking up *
Denzel Washington's reunion with Spike Lee put them on the inside track at the box office. [More]

Invincible manages Box Office win *
Football season started early as Mark Wahlberg's Invincible, a Walt Disney tale about a real-life walk-on who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970s, debuted as the top weekend movie with US$17-million. [More]

Invincible stays true to its name for another week *
Dreadful Cage remake of Wicker Man opens poorly, despite "hold-back" of press screenings and squelched word-of-mouth. [More]

Invincible was just that at Box Office *
Mark Wahlberg's Invincible underdog tale grabs box office crown with $17 million. [More]

Iron beats Speed at Box Office *
That big, iron pedal-to-the-metal pulls ahead in Box Office race. [More]