The prospect of a few dozen sequels, prequels, remakes and assorted other reworkings of familiar tales might sound tiresome until you look over the guest list studios have lined up.

The Facebook tale "The Social Network" won top honors Sunday at the Golden Globes with four prizes, including best drama and director, solidifying its prospects as an Academy Awards favorite.

The British monarchy tale "The King's Speech" led Golden Globe contenders Tuesday with seven nominations, including best drama and acting honors for Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush.

The latest chapter in "The Chronicles of Narnia" saga has sailed to the top of the weekend box office, though the franchise sank to a weak debut compared to the first two movies.

It's going to be series business this holiday season at the movies. One of Hollywood's biggest franchises is nearing an end. Others are returning after long absences. Still more Yuletide releases are taking baby steps toward becoming their own brand of sequels.

The rapper, who plays a football player with cancer in the upcoming film "Things Fall Apart," dropped from 214 pounds to 160 in nine weeks after liquid dieting and running on a treadmill three hours a day.

In a novel trial scheduled to start Tuesday in U.S. District Court, prosecutors allege a Hollywood couple pocketed $14 million over a four-year period after bribing Thai officials to run a Bangkok film festival and land lucrative contracts.

Despite the recession, blockbuster franchise flicks have rung up killer box-office returns. Studios hope that continues this year with such familiar names as "Harry Potter," "Hannah Montana," and "Star Trek."

No name on the marquee was more pleasing to theater owners in 2008 than Will Smith, according to a survey of movie exhibitors. Smith, star of "Hancock" and "Seven Pounds," was voted the star who generated the most box office revenue for theaters in...

The top 10 films of 2008, according to AP Movie Writers David Germain and Christy Lemire.

While "The Dark Knight" also should score well in technical categories, its Oscar prospects are slim for other key awards, among them an acting honor for Christian Bale, reprising his "Batman Begins" lead role with an exceptional delivery as the comic-book superhero.

The classic superhero is polished, brave and morally righteous. Strong and unerring, he is perfection personified - a superhuman ideal. Not this summer.

Thanks to the long lead time for big-screen productions, the 2008 film schedule will unspool largely uninterrupted despite the writers strike. With a solid range of prospects, the 2008 lineup offers plenty of intriguing questions.

The critically acclaimed Western ''3:10 to Yuma'' outgunned the fright fest ''Halloween'' to become the weekend's top box office draw.

Hollywood may not have a Harry Potter, Spider-Man, Shrek or Capt. Jack Sparrow on its upcoming lineup. Yet the fall and holiday schedule does offer filmgoers a chance to catch up with some familiar characters, stories and movie-making teams.