Kids films rule as Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and Shrek Forever top 2010 box office

By PAUL THOMPSON

Hit: Toy Story 3 was the most successful film of this year, earning £700million worldwide


Family films reigned at the box office in 2010 with half of the top ten grossing films aimed at young children and teens.

The animated movie Toy Story 3 was the most successful of them all earning almost £700million worldwide.

Even without a major Hollywood star appearing on screen the enduring story of Woody and Buzz Lightyear eclipsed all the other blockbuster films released in 2010.

Not even the most talked about stars, including Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise, came close to matching the pulling power to the characters created by Pixar studios.


Mad about it: Alice In Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp, came in second place


Only Leonardo DiCaprio in the thriller Inception came close to smashing the dominance of animated films in the last year managing fourth place on the top ten list of highest earning films.

Toy Story 3 took £680million at the worldwide box and was also the most successful film at UK cinemas.

Featuring the voices of Tom Hanks as cowboy Woody and Tim Allen as rocketman Buzz Lightyear, the film is now ranked as the 5th most successful of all time behind Titanic and Avatar.

Critics raved about the third in the series of Disney produced film and audiences flocked to see the conclusion of the series that first began in 1995.

Despite the huge success of Toy Story 3 Disney and animators Pixar have no plans to make a fourth in the series.

Another family film Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter was the second highest grossing film.

The 3D feature took £650million at the box office to earn the runner up place.
The penultimate Harry Potter movie was third taking £536m, according to Forbes business magazine.


Family favourite: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One came in third after taking £536m


Since its release last month Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One has been a runaway success at the box office.


Forbes predicts the release of Deathly Hallows Part Two, the final Harry Potter film released next year,the story of the boy wizard will become the most successful film franchise of all time by earning over £5bn.The thriller Inception was fourth and was the only 'adult' film to make it into the top ten grossing movies of 2010.

Another animated family feature Shrek Forever After was fifth with £475m while two other children's films Despicable Me and How to Train Your Dragon were in the top ten grossing film.

Of all the big budget films featuring special effects only Clash of Titans and Iron Man 2 made the top ten.

Fans of British star Robert Pattinson helped propel the latest Twilight film into the top ten with a box office take of £447m.


Toy Story 3 - Official Teaser Trailer



Alice in Wonderland



Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows


source: dailymail

'Extremely happy' Reese Witherspoon announces her engagement to Hollywood agent Jim Toth

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

'Extremely happy': Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth, pictured here earlier this month, have announced they are engaged


Reese Witherspoon and Hollywood agent Jim Toth are engaged after almost a year of dating, her spokesperson confirmed today.

The couple quietly began their romance in January shortly after her split from Jake Gyllenhaal and went public with the relationship in March.

'They are extremely happy,' a representative for the Oscar-winner told America's Us Weekly.

It follows a string of celebrity engagements over the holiday season, with Natalie Portman, LeAnn Rimes, Lily Allen, Hugh Hefner, Shania Twain and Ginnifer Goodwin all announcing plans to wed.

Reese, 34, has two children - Ava, 10, and 6-year-old Deacon - with her ex husband Ryan Phillippe. The pair split in 2008 after seven years of marriage.
Sources tell the publication that Toth has 'bonded' with the actress's children.


Part of the family: Toth has 'bonded' with Reese's son Deacon and daughter Ava, according to sources


He has been a fixture in their lives for many months and often joins in on family outings, including their regular Sunday church visits.

Toth, 39, is an agent with the renowned Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and was named as one of the new heads of the company's motion picture talent department in September.

Whispers of an impending engagement began circulating earlier this month after he was spotted making the rounds at several high-profile jewellers in Los Angeles, including Harry Winston.


Ex factor: Reese with her former boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal and her ex husband Ryan Phillippe


Reese joked about the rumours during her recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.
'My mom always texts me, like, "Are you getting married?"' she said. 'I'm like, "Mom, come on! You would know if I was getting married."'

Reese is currently starring in How Do You Know, a romantic comedy with Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, and Jack Nicholson.



Water for Elephants Official Trailer with Reese Witherspoon



Witherspoon and Rudd Honored to Work With Jack



source: dailymail

Hatta girl! Pregnant Penelope Cruz looks stylish in trilby as she fits in some last-minute Christmas clothes shopping

By JODY THOMPSON

Hat's the way to do it: Penelope Cruz leaves the Ed Hardy boutique on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood earlier this week


She's just a few weeks away from giving birth - but despite sporting a huge bump, Penelope Cruz still managed to look incredibly stylish as she shopped for clothes in Los Angeles yesterday.

Cutting a dash in a jaunty trilby, cream-coloured coat and black trousers, 36-year-old Penelope was given a VIP shopping experience at the Ed Hardy boutique on Melrose Avenue.

The store was closed for two hours to allow the star to make her purchases in peace - and perhaps staff wanted to give the blooming star extra room to manoeuvre.

The Hollywood beauty is almost eight months pregnant with her and 41-year-old husband Javier Bardem's first child.

But Penelope hasn't exactly put her feet up since becoming an expectant mother.

As recently as last month, the star was in London filming scenes for her new starring role in the next Pirates Of The Caribbean movie.


Blooming lovely: The eight-months-pregnant mother-to-be was given two hours of private shopping at the boutique


Despite her big bump, producers on the film carried on shooting close-ups of the Spanish beauty - but enlisted her sister Monica as a body double.

According to reports, whilst Penelope will be in all of the close-up shots, Monica will star in the long-distance scenes.


Yummy mum-to-be: The star is due to give birth in the New Year


On Stranger Tides sees the return of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and introduces fans to Penelope as swashbuckling Angelica.

It was during filming of the first scenes of the movie that Penelope married fellow Spaniard Javier at a low-key ceremony in the Caribbean in July.


Ahoy there: Penelope as Angelica with Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and Ian McShane as Blackbeard in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides


The pair started dating in 2007 after starring together in the Woody Allen movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona - and now they're looking forward to their next starring role as parents.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides meanwhile opens in cinemas in May.


Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strange Tides Trailer


source: dailymail