Entertainment

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” led the North American box office for a second straight weekend with an estimated $64 million, as the James Cameron sequel reached about $217.7 million domestically and $542.7 million overseas, according to Comscore and studio estimates. “Zootopia 2” placed second with $20 million, while “Marty Supreme” debuted wide in third with $17.5 million. The weekend’s total domestic box office hit roughly $177.2 million, pushing year-to-date ticket sales to about $8.763 billion, slightly ahead of last year but still below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Cup of Joe emerged as the top Philippine pop act of 2025, according to music charts, live event organizers and industry observers who cited the band’s strong streaming performance, sold-out concerts, extensive media exposure and multiple award citations across the country. This fact-based report details how chart rankings, touring data, audience turnout, radio rotation and digital platform metrics established Cup of Joe’s status as the leading pop group in the Philippines during 2025.

Filipino actress Angelica Panganiban credits her husband Gregg Homan for encouraging her return to movies after a three-year break focused on motherhood. In this straight news report, Panganiban details how Homan’s support led her to accept a lead role in “The Soulmate Project,” how they arranged childcare and schedules, and how she prepared for what she considered a major comeback film. She also explains why she wrote a Best Actress speech in advance to thank her family and production team.

Actor Rey “PJ” Abellana said he did not receive an invitation to his daughter Carla Abellana’s weekend wedding in the Philippines and stayed home during the ceremony, learning details only from media and social media posts. He confirmed that other family members appeared to attend the event and that he answered questions from reporters later about his absence and his lack of direct communication with his daughter regarding the wedding arrangements.

“Call Me Mother,” starring Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre and Lucas Andalio, led the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) box office on opening day with an estimated P49 million, according to producers and MMDA-linked sources. The Jun Robles Lana-directed film widened its lead on the second day with about P29 million more, as “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” and “UnMarry” followed in second and third place. All eight MMFF entries reportedly earned a combined P98 million on opening day, with proceeds benefiting key Philippine film industry institutions.

Filipino actress Solenn Heussaff returns to the big screen after years away from film work, taking on a new project that focuses on a realistic portrayal of marriage. She discusses her initial nervousness on set, her preparation for the role and her collaboration with the director, co-actors and production team. The film emphasizes everyday challenges between spouses, including communication, conflict and reconciliation, using dialogue-driven scenes and domestic settings.

“The Voice” winner Sofronio Vasquez started recording his debut EP in August 2024 in Los Angeles with guidance from coach Michael Bublé and support from music legends David Foster and Paul Anka. A “Beyond The Voice” episode shows Vasquez tracking a new version of “My Grown-Up Christmas List,” working on a mix of Christmas songs, show favorites, and an original Bublé composition. The feature also highlights Bublé’s request for Tagalog lyrics in a duet to reflect Vasquez’s Filipino roots and documents his return to “The Voice” stage on December 16 to perform “Superman.”

Taylor Swift details why she avoided dating athletes and how she began her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in episode four of her Disney+ docuseries “The Eras Tour: The End of an Era.” In a conversation with her mother, Andrea, Swift explains her past reluctance to date in the sports world, her emotional state after two breakups during the Eras Tour, and how Kelce’s friendship bracelet gesture and strong character references led her to give the relationship a chance. She also describes how falling for Kelce sparked an unexpected obsession with learning football.