AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 11:39 a.m. EST

Epic tales and star power: How Tollywood is reshaping Indian cinema

HYDERABAD, India (AP) — Tollywood, the Telugu-language film industry, is rapidly gaining global attention, challenging Bollywood's dominance. Based in the Indian city of Hyderabad, Tollywood is known for its high-energy storytelling, epic visuals and star-driven spectacles. It produces around 300 films annually, featuring a mix of action, mythology and family dramas. Many films are dubbed or remade in other languages, expanding their reach. Tollywood stars enjoy immense fan followings, often celebrated with grand events. The industry's recent success is largely attributed to filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli, whose films like "RRR" and "Baahubali" have achieved international acclaim, boosting Tollywood's global presence.

The best new holiday music releases for 2025

NEW YORK (AP) — ’Tis the season to put on some holiday music. The best way to get festive is to sing along to Christmas classics new and old. But don’t know what to press play on? We’ve got you covered. In honor of the most wonderful time of the year, The Associated Press has selected some of the best new holiday releases for the 2025 season. So, grab a loved one, a cup of eggnog and get to listening. The list includes new releases from Brad Paisley, Trisha Yearwood, Pentatonix, LeAnn Rimes and Mickey Guyton.

Movie Review: 'Zootopia 2' is a cuddlier, tamer sequel

The original “Zootopia” was a minor miracle. Here was a Disney animated film that took themes of race and prejudice and managed to make a sensitive-to-all-sides tale, anthropomorphize it and, as a bonus, sneak in a Department of Motor Vehicles sloth gag that the DMV is still wincing from. A sequel coming almost a decade later, “Zootopia 2” isn’t as good. It’s a more timid and tame movie that leans largely on the still winning duo of Judy Hopps and the small-time hustler fox Nick Wilde, writes AP Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review. Both are now out-to-prove-themselves rookies on the police force in this fun but watered down sequel.

K-pop stars announce flurry of donations to support victims of Hong Kong tower fire

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — K-pop bands including aespa have announced donations to support victims of a deadly apartment fire in Hong Kong. The blaze killed at least 128 people. Aespa pledged $64,000 to the Hong Kong Red Cross. Stray Kids committed $129,000 through World Vision Hong Kong for temporary housing and other support. SM and JYP Entertainment donated a combined $385,000 for emergency relief. Other K-pop groups, like Riize and EXO-CBX, also contributed. Organizers of the MAMA AWARDS faced criticism for not canceling the event in light of the tragedy.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brings Pac-Man and Labubu to Manhattan

NEW YORK (AP) — The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has brought balloons depicting Buzz Lightyear and Pac-Man to the New York City skies and floats featuring Labubu and Lego to the streets. Thursday's parade started on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and closed at the iconic Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street. It included dozens of balloons, floats, clown groups and marching bands. A star-studded lineup of performances were also sprinkled throughout the show, along with a slew of cheerleaders and dancers, including a large onion carriage featuring eight characters from the world of “Shrek.”

Paris' Louvre museum to increase ticket price for visitors from outside the EU

PARIS (AP) — The Louvre museum has approved a ticket price increase for non-EU visitors, raising it from 22 to 32 euros starting in January. This move aims to help finance a major overhaul of the building. The need for renovation became urgent after the recent crown jewels heist exposed security weaknesses. The Louvre's governing board approved the measure on Thursday. In 2024, the museum welcomed 8.7 million visitors, with 77% being foreigners. The renovation plan, called “Louvre New Renaissance,” is estimated to cost up to 800 million euros. Other major cultural sites across the country, including the Palace of Versailles, are considering similar moves to bring extra money needed for costly maintenance and renovation.

A foot-tall elephant? 'Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age' on Apple TV reveals surprising creatures

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple TV has launched “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age,” a five-part series that brings the Pleistocene era to life with stunning visuals. The series, narrated by Tom Hiddleston, combines cinematic storytelling with cutting-edge visual effects. Mike Gunton, co-executive producer, says it offers a unique look at ice age creatures. The series explores the diverse and dramatic changes of the ice age, showcasing creatures like 14-foot-tall bears and dwarf elephants. Jon Favreau, also a co-executive producer, highlights the use of traditional techniques over AI to create an emotional connection. The series aims to engage viewers with the complexity of animal relationships.

Clair Obscur leads the AP's list of 2025's top video games

In a year in which technology news was dominated by artificial intelligence, the outstanding video games were still being designed by human beings. Top of the list is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which Associated Press writer Lou Kesten calls “a landmark achievement" with profound storytelling, stunning graphics and music and impeccable voice acting. The rest of 2025's top 10 includes The Outer Worlds 2, Silent Hill f, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Donkey Kong Bananza, The Séance of Blake Manor, Avowed, Ghost of Yōtei, South of Midnight and The Alters.

How Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal found the emotional power of 'Hamnet'

TORONTO (AP) — Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet,” starring Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley as his wife, Agnes, is expected to be one of the top Oscar contenders of the year. That goes especially for the performances of its two young stars. In an interview, Buckley and Mescal discuss making one of the year’s most emotionally powerful films. If “Hamnet” has moved audiences, it has shaken its stars. Focus Features releases “Hamnet” in theaters Wednesday. The film based on Maggie O'Farrell's prizewinning novel imagines the possible connection between the death of the Shakespeares' son, Hamnet, and the birth of the playwright's greatest tragedy.