The latest installment of the Tolkien series, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," retained the top spot at the North American box office this weekend, according to industry estimates Sunday.

The second part of The Hobbit film trilogy, starring Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman, earned $31.5 million on its second weekend, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Veteran Australian entertainer Rolf Harris, who will stand trial in April accused of indecently assaulting two underage girls, will face three further charges of sexual assault, Britain's public prosecutor said Monday.

"The three counts will be prosecuted in addition to the 13 alleged sexual offences with which Mr Harris was charged on 29 August 2013," said a Crown Prosecution Service spokesman.

Retired soccer star and sometime underwear model David Beckham has signed on to help promote Las Vegas Sands' properties in Singapore and the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau.

Sands says in a statement that it hopes to cash in on Beckham's popularity in the region.

Written by Anthony Sargon

Ever wonder who’d win in a fight between Rocky Balboa and Jake LaMotta? Well, with “Grudge Match” here, we could be getting an answer to that question. But does the movie do enough to stand out in what is shaping up to be an extremely crowded holiday session? Almost.

U.S. singer Mariah Carey has aroused the indignation of human rights activists after performing in front of Angola's veteran President Jose Eduardo dos Santos for a reported $1 million.

The Human Rights Foundation accused the "All I want for Christmas is you" hit singer of having been "purchased" to entertain one of Africa's wealthiest families in one of the world's poorest nations.

Tom Cruise has reached a settlement with a magazine publisher he sued for $50 million in libel damages over claims he abandoned his daughter Suri after his divorce, the star's lawyer said Friday.

Terms of the agreement remain confidential, but a statement said German publisher Bauer acknowledged that it 'never intended" to suggest the "Mission Impossible" star abandoned his daughter.

Oscars organizers shortlisted nine movies including Palestinian, Danish and Hong Kong films Friday for best foreign language prize, offering surprises and some unexpected snubs.

Films left out included Saudi Arabia's first-ever candidate and Pakistan's first entry in five decades, while an Oscar-winning Iranian director also failed to make the cut.

Nine movies including works by Palestinian, Danish and Hong Kong filmmakers have been shortlisted for best foreign language Oscar, organizers announced Friday.

But films left out included Saudi Arabia's first ever candidate and Pakistan's first entry in five decades, while an Oscar-winning Iranian director also failed to make the cut.

Woody Allen has had a long and eclectic career in Hollywood. Few directors are as reliable or consistent, and “Blue Jasmine” is another great addition to the legendary director’s repertoire. Not only does it touch on a lot of timely themes, but it boasts a riveting central performance by Cate Blanchett, one that is almost guaranteed to earn her an Academy Award.

When Jasmine’s (Cate Blanchett) marriage to wealthy businessman Hal (Alec Baldwin) ends in turmoil, the shallow housewife is forced to move in with her sister (Sally Hawkins) in her San Francisco apartment to start her life anew. It’s a lot easier said than done, though, given that Jasmine has grown accustomed to living the high-life and fraternizing with New York’s social elite. The thought of living like everyone else is a very difficult pill to swallow for Jasmine, and boy does she struggle. As the story unfolds, we learn more and more about what really happened between Jasmine and her husband, and why they ended up broke and divorced in the first place.

Harry Potter is coming to the stage.

J.K. Rowling says she is working on a play about the boy wizard's life before he attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.