Hollywood starts 2026 with 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' No. 1, as James Cameron's sci-fi epic crosses $1B

NEW YORK (AP) — Hollywood kicked off 2026 with “Avatar: Fire and Ash” atop the box office for the third straight week and with hopes for a blockbuster-filled year after a disappointing 2025. In three weeks of release, “Fire and Ash” has cleared $1 billion worldwide. The third chapter in James Cameron’s Pandora epic collected $40 million over its third weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. But over the holiday week, it wasn’t just about the weekend ticket sales. The whole week was a lucrative one for Hollywood, with most schools still out. What drove ticket sales, beyond “Avatar”? Sydney Sweeney, Timothée Chalamet and “Zootopia 2.”

Leonardo DiCaprio on the importance of creating cinema over content at Palm Springs Film Festival

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Leonardo DiCaprio emphasizes the importance of creating cinema over content at the Palm Springs Film Festival’s 37th annual International Film Awards. The intimate A-list award show on Saturday night kicks off Hollywood’s whirlwind award season, honoring some of the film industry’s most anticipated award contenders. Notable peers at the event in Palm Springs, California, included Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Kate Hudson and Michael B. Jordan. Recipients and presenters made long, heartfelt speeches at the non-televised event. Many of the stars will travel to Los Angeles for the Critic's Choice Awards on Sunday.

South Korean movie star Ahn Sung-ki, dubbed 'The Nation's Actor,' dies at 74

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean film star Ahn Sung-ki, whose prolific career earned him the nickname “The Nation's Actor,” has died. He was 74 and had had blood cancer for years. His agency and a Seoul hospital announced his death Monday. Ahn debuted in “The Twilight Train” in 1957 and appeared in about 70 movies as a child actor. He left the film industry to live an ordinary life but returned when he couldn't find work with his university degree. The lead role in the coming-of-age tale “Good, Windy Days” was followed by a series of highly successful and critically acclaimed movies and he became arguably the country’s most popular actor in much of the 1980-90s.

What to Stream: Kid Laroi, 'The Pitt' and 'Tron: Ares'

Returns to “The Pitt,” the Grid and music of Kid Laroi are some of the new television, films and music headed to a device near you. Kid Laroi's sophomore album, “Before I Forget,” drops Friday, offering listeners breakup reflections and lovelorn lyrics. On the TV front, “The Pitt” returns for its second season Thursday on HBO Max. The Emmy-winning drama follows a day in a Pittsburgh ER. After nearly a decade, “The Night Manager” also returns Sunday on Prime Video with a new story. For movie fans, “Tron: Ares” hits Disney+ on Wednesday. The third film in the franchise stars Jared Leto and features a Nine Inch Nails soundtrack.

BTS announces March comeback date, putting an end to a nearly four-year hiatus

NEW YORK (AP) — They’re going to light up 2026 like dynamite. K-pop group BTS’ comeback has an official date. According to a note shared to social media by the entertainment company Big Hit Music, the mega popular group will return March 20. That's after a nearly four-year hiatus as the seven members had to fulfill South Korea's mandatory military service. They staggered their enlistments, finishing last summer. The 2026 album will mark their first since 2022’s anthology, “Proof,” their 2021 Japanese compilation album “BTS, the Best,” and their last studio album, “Be,” released in 2020.

Country singer Zach Bryan has married Samantha Leonard

NEW YORK (AP) — Here’s to a lifetime of pink skies. The irreverent country singer Zach Bryan is married. Bryan confirms the news in an Instagram post shared Thursday. Beneath a photo of him holding his bride, Samantha Leonard, he wrote the caption, “tougher than the rest.” It is a reference to the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name. It is unclear when the couple started dating or got engaged. Rumors of their relationship hit social media in August, when Leonard posted a picture of the pair embracing on a boat on her official Instagram account. Bryan is scheduled to release a new album, “With Heaven On Top,” next Friday.

Broadway director Alex Timbers achieves a rare feat with 4 shows running simultaneously

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Timbers has achieved a remarkable feat with four shows running simultaneously on Broadway. His latest, “All Out: Comedy About Ambition,” joins hits like “Beetlejuice,” “Just in Time” and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” Timbers describes his work as joy-forward experiences that break the fourth wall, engaging audiences directly. Known for blending highbrow and lowbrow elements, his shows often mix sincerity with subversion. Timbers believes future Broadway audiences seek out-of-the-box, emotionally engaging performances. He draws inspiration from historical productions like the “Ziegfeld Follies” and “Hellzapoppin,” aiming to capture their populist yet sophisticated appeal.

Bad Bunny's 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' could make Grammy history

NEW YORK (AP) — The Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has redefined what it means to be a global giant. And he may once again make history at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is up for six awards. He is also the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated for album, song and record of the year simultaneously. Win or lose, experts say Bad Bunny’s Grammy nominations mark a symbolic moment for Latinos. That is because his critically acclaimed 2025 album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” took local, traditional Puerto Rican sounds and made them global smash hits. It's also because his success arrives in a particularly tense political moment.

Betty Boop and 'Blondie' enter the public domain in 2026, accompanied by a trio of detectives

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Betty Boop and “Blondie” are among the highlights of titles entering the public domain with the arrival of 2026. The first cartoons that feature Boop and the first “Blondie” comic strips debuted in 1930, and with the passage of 95 years, their U.S. copyrights expired as of Thursday. The first novels featuring teen detective Nancy Drew and the first book featuring Agatha Christie's investigator Miss Marple also become public domain as do William Faulkner's novel “As I Lay Dying” and Dashiell Hammett's “The Maltese Falcon.” Films becoming public property include the Marx Brothers' “Animal Crackers” and early best picture winner “Cimarron.”

Chevy Chase is under the spotlight in a new documentary, warts and all — and he's OK with it

NEW YORK (AP) — Chevy Chase's new documentary, “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not,” explores his complex personality and career. Directed by Marina Zenovich, it airs on CNN on New Year’s Day. The film covers Chase's journey from his troubled childhood to his time on “Saturday Night Live” and Hollywood success, ending with his stint on “Community.” Zenovich includes insights from Dan Aykroyd, Beverly D’Angelo and others. Chase's humor is seen as a coping mechanism for past trauma. Despite his reputation for being difficult, Chase approves of the film, calling it both painful and lovely, like a massage.