AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 11:54 p.m. EST

'Zootopia 2' reclaims No. 1 spot at box office, grosses $1B worldwide

NEW YORK (AP) — “Zootopia 2” has regained the No. 1 spot at the box office with $26.3 million in its third weekend of release. According to studio estimates Sunday, The Walt Disney Co. animated sequel became the year’s second film to gross $1 billion worldwide. With “Avatar: Fire and Ash” arriving Friday, it was a relatively quiet weekend in theaters. There were no major new releases, leaving holdovers “Zootopia 2” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” to duke it out for the top spot. The edge went to “Zootopia 2,” which has quickly amassed $1.14 billion in ticket sales thanks to its enormous success in China. “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” collected $15.4 million, a drop of 70% from its above-expectations debut.

Haruki Murakami honored with awards and a jazzy tribute in New York

NEW YORK (AP) — Haruki Murakami recently received two honors in New York for his contributions to literature and cultural exchange. On Tuesday, the Center for Fiction awarded him its Lifetime of Excellence in Fiction Award. Two days later, the Japan Society celebrated him with a jazzy tribute called “Murakami Mixtape” and gave him its annual prize for fostering U.S.-Japan relations. Murakami is known for novels like “Kafka on the Shore” and “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.” His interests in music and culture were highlighted during the events. Murakami reflected on his experiences in New York and the evolving global presence of Japanese culture.

Hallmark holiday movie fans are flocking to Connecticut's quaint filming locations

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut is working to become a destination for holiday movie fans, promoting its charming towns featured in films by Hallmark and Lifetime. The state has launched the nation's first Christmas Movie Trail, a self-guided tour of locations where 22 films were made. It has sparked online buzz and boosted business for some attractions. Fans are visiting places like Wethersfield, where parts of "Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane" were shot. The holiday movie industry is booming, with 100 new films released annually. Connecticut's marketing officer says the trail is also part of a rebranding effort to promote the state as a great place to live and work.

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Arden Cho seizes her golden moment after Hollywood heartbreak

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Three years ago, Arden Cho was ready to walk away from acting. She’d landed her first lead role in the Netflix series “Partner Track” only to see it canceled after one season. Now, Cho is one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2025 after voicing the lead character Rumi in Netflix’s animated summertime hit “KPop Demon Hunters.” It's become the most-streamed movie on the platform and spawned inescapable earworms “Golden” and “Soda Pop” as its soundtrack dominated pop charts. Cho calls it her “golden moment.” She has multiple film projects lined up for next year.

Here are 10 TV shows from 2025 to catch up on before it's 2026

If you're staying in this holiday season, it's a great time to catch up on some of 2025's standout TV shows. “Dept. Q” features Matthew Goode as a detective solving cold cases. “Paradise” stars Sterling K. Brown in a sci-fi drama on Hulu. “Love Island USA” continues to entertain with its seventh season on Peacock. “The Pitt” brings Noah Wyle back to TV as a doctor. Seth Rogen's “The Studio” offers a comedic take on Hollywood. Netflix's “Adolescence” and “The Beast in Me” deliver gripping drama. “St. Denis Medical” and “The Paper” provide laughs, while “Forever” explores young love.

Affable comedy acting legend Dick Van Dyke turns 100 years old

Comedy icon Dick Van Dyke is celebrating his 100th birthday. Van Dyke hit the century mark on Saturday, some six decades after he sang and danced with Julie Andrews in “Mary Poppins” and starred in his self-titled sitcom. Van Dyke won a Tony Award for “Bye Bye Birdie” to go with a Grammy and four Primetime Emmys. Just last year, he became the oldest winner of a Daytime Emmy, for a guest role on the soap “Days of Our Lives.” He also recently released a book about how to live to 100 years old. He told ABC News that 100 years is not enough and he plans to live more.

The best movies of 2025, ranked by AP film writers

The bean counters might say otherwise, but 2025 was a good year for movies. That's the conclusion of The Associated Press' film writers, Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle, who have ranked their top films of the year. Both place Paul Thomas Anderson's “One Battle After Another” at the top of their lists. And both also include “Marty Supreme,” “It Was Just an Accident” and “Sinners.” Bahr's includes “If I Had Legs I'd Kick You,” “Sentimental Value” and “The Naked Gun.” Coyle's list includes “No Other Choice,” the third “Knives Out” movie, “Blue Moon” and the documentary “Afternoons of Solitude.”

Egypt reveals restored colossal statues of pharaoh in Luxor

LUXOR, Egypt (AP) — Egypt has unveiled two colossal statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in Luxor. The alabaster statues, known as the Colossi of Memnon, were reassembled after a two-decade renovation project. Amenhotep III ruled ancient Egypt about 3,400 years ago. The statues, which were toppled by an earthquake in 1200 BC, have been restored to revive the appearance of his funerary temple. The unveiling comes six weeks after the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, part of efforts to boost tourism. Egypt hopes to attract 18 million tourists this year, with a goal of 30 million annually by 2032.

Why a misunderstood wolf from a French supermarket ad is moving viewers worldwide

PARIS (AP) — A French supermarket's Christmas advert has captured hearts worldwide without using generative AI. The two-and-a-half-minute film, "Unloved," created for Intermarché, tells the story of a lonely wolf who chooses to change. Instead of hunting, he learns to cook and brings a homemade dish to a Christmas feast, earning friendship and acceptance. The ad's hand-crafted animation and emotional narrative have resonated with millions since its December debut. Creative director Julien Bon says the story speaks to everyone, highlighting a yearning for empathy in an age of digital divides.