Katy Perry Was Concerned About Upsetting Religious Parents

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Katy Perry WANTED Russell Brand to file the court papers in their divorce ... because she didn't want to upset her religious parents.

Katy and Russell knew the relationship was on the rocks a couple of months ago -- but didn't want to give up on the marriage without making a concerted effort to work things out.

But the effort fell flat ... with both sides feeling "it just wasn't there."

Sources add Katy and Russell were on board with the divorce a few weeks ago -- but they didn't want to be in town when the papers were filed ... so he went back to England and she booked it to Hawaii.

Since Katy's parents are evangelical Christians, we're told she didn't want to be the one to "officially" end the marriage by filing the docs.... since she was raised to believe divorce is wrong.

After he filed the docs, Russell released a statement Friday insisting the two will "remain friends."

Brock Lesnar Beaten Into RETIREMENT

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Brock Lesnar knows when to hang it up. He announced he was quitting the whole MMA thing after suffering a lightning fast loss to Alistair Overeem last night at UFC 141.

Lesnar was floored by a brutal kick to the stomach and the fight was stopped at the 2:26 mark of round one. He said after the fight, "I've had a really difficult couple of years with my disease, and I'm going to officially say tonight is the last time."

The former pro wrestling star fought only three times in the last 2.5 years while battling a lower-intestinal disease that nearly killed him.

Overeem, meanwhile, will next fight UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos for a shot at the title.

Robert Pattinson in 'Bel Ami' -- Trailer FIRST LOOK

A chronicle of a young man's rise to power in Paris via his manipulation of the city's most influential and wealthy women.

The film stars Robert Pattinson, Christina Ricci and Uma Thurman.

Bel Ami is set to hit theaters on March 2, 2012.

Watch the trailer below....

'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' To Lead Final Weekend of 2011

Audiences looking to catch up on the crush of holiday movies have another chance over New Year's weekend, which officially qualifies as the final weekend of 2011. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol has easily held the top spot for the past eight days, and should manage to maintain a lead over Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and claim first place for the second-straight weekend. Through the end of the four-day holiday frame (Friday-Monday), Ghost Protocol will likely have passed Mission: Impossible III's $134 million total.

Once again, Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks should round out the Top Three on the box office chart. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows passed the $100 million mark on Wednesday, becoming the first December 2011 release to reach this plateau. Despite ongoing solid grosses, though, neither Sherlock nor Alvin have any chance of reaching their predecessors' totals ($209 million and $219.6 million, respectively).

Box Office Shocker: Movie Attendance Falls To Lowest Level in 16 Years

As Hollywood heads into the final weekend of the year, there's no chance left of closing the yearly gap in domestic box office revenues, while attendance has tumbled to a troubling 16-year low.

According to projections, domestic box office revenues for Jan. 1-Dec. 31 will reach roughly $10.2 billion, down 3.6 percent from the $10.58 billion collected in 2010. That means an estimated 1.28 billion people went to the movies in 2011 — the lowest turnout since 1995, when 1.211 billion people showed up at their local theaters.

Paramount Pictures Wins 'No Country' Trial Over Payout To Tommy Lee Jones

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Paramount has tentatively prevailed in a legal dispute with a Morgan Stanley-backed film finance entity that claims it was cheated out of profts from No Country for Old Men due to a hefty payment to actor Tommy Lee Jones.

Paramount, which distributed the 2007 best picture Oscar winner via its Paramount Vantage label, was forced to pay Jones a $17.5 million box office bonus when an arbitrator found the studio's lawyers had made an error in drafting Jones' deal to star in the movie (the lawyers ultimately paid a $2.6 million settlement to the studio for the error).

Morgan Stanley's Marathon Funding, which had a multi-picture financing deal with Paramount that included No Country, later cried foul, claiming its arrangement with the now-shuttered Paramount Vantage entitled it to 25 percent of "net distribution revenue" from the movie. Marathon in April 2010 filed a breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit claiming the studio shouldn't be able to deduct a $2.45 million charge from the pool of money it must pay to Marathon for backing the movie.

The case went to trial in front of L.A. Superior Court Judge Mark Mooney, who on Dec. 22 issued a tentative ruling siding with the studio. Mooney has found that because Paramount's relationship with Marathon was not a joint venture, the studio did not owe Marathon a fiduciary duty and thus the charge was not inappropriate.

Marathon "has not met its burden of establishing by a preponderance of evidence that Paramount owed a fiduciary duty to Marathon," the tentative ruling states. The ruling must still be confirmed, but judges rarely alter their tentative decisions significantly.

Paramount is repped by Richard Kendall. Marathon is repped by Hillel Chodos.

Miley Cyrus Hanging Out in Hawaii

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Miley Cyrus was seen hanging out it in Hawaii.... in a teeny, tiny red bikini.

Being cold in December is not for the rich and famous.

Russell Brand Files For DIVORCE From Katy Perry

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Russell Brand has filed for divorce from Katy Perry.

In the documents, filed in L.A., Brand cites "irreconcilable differences." The two were married Oct. 23, 2010 in India. They have no kids.

The divorce docs say there are "community property assets" -- it's a sign there might not be a prenup, or if there is one it doesn't cover all of the earnings and other assets they accumulated.

Russell has released a statement, claiming, "Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I'll always adore her and I know we'll remain friends."

Russell proposed to Katy in India on New Year's Eve 2009 -- nearly two years ago ... to the day.

It was obvious the couple was having problems, evidenced by the fact that they spent Christmas apart and neither was wearing a wedding ring.

Although it's not 100%, based on what we now know it appears Brand may have blindsided Perry by filing the divorce petition.

Rihanna Hangs Out in Barbados

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Now that Rihanna has wrapped her Loud Tour in London, the sexy singer is ready to let her hair down while vacationing in her native Barbados.

The 23-year-old songstress Tweeted the above bikini photo while soaking in the Caribbean sun.

Lady Gaga Steps Out With New BOYFRIEND Taylor Kinney

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In one of the first pics of the couple in public, Lady Gaga strolled with her new "Vampire Diaries" boyfriend Taylor Kinney in California recently.

The couple met on the set of Gaga's video for "You and I," where Kinney played her love interest.

Watch the music video below....

Ex-Kardashian Nanny Shopping Tell-All Book -- Trashes the Kids

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Pam Behan was a former nanny, personal assistant and cook for Bruce and Kris Jenner for years ... and spent all sorts of time with the Kardashian girls AND the Jenner boys, Brody and Brandon.

Sources say in the book, Pam makes it clear -- she couldn't stand Bruce's sons.... calling the two kids, "extremely spoiled and disrespectful."
In the book, Pam also claims she almost lost her job after slapping Brandon one day.

As for the Kardashians -- Pam describes her relationship with Kris as a "love/hate" thing ... but she seems fond of Bruce, claiming he helped her avoid prosecution when she was busted for DUI a while back.

Pam also promises to reveal some "intimate details" about Kourtney and Kim --  surprising, because we're told the girls were very fond of her.

Sources add the book has been pitched to several major literary agents -- but it's unclear if a deal has been struck.

Russell Brand Takes The Streets WITHOUT HIS WEDDING RING!

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Rumors that Katy Perry and Russell Brand are calling off their marriage have just been fueled by explosive new photos ... of Russell in London ... NOT wearing his wedding ring.

The "Get Him to the Greek" star was in the West End earlier today, half a world away from his wife, who has been vacationing in Hawaii.... wearing nothing but bikinis.

The couple spent XMAS 7,000 AAdvantage miles apart. They tied the knot just over a year ago last October.

Michael Jordan Gets ENGAGED To Model Girlfriend Yvette Prieto

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Michael Jordan is officially off the market, again!

The NBA legend is reportedly engaged to longtime girlfriend and Cuban-born model Yvette Prieto. The couple has been dating for more than three years.

A Jordan spokeswoman first confirmed the news to WCNC in Charlotte, NC, that he popped the question on Christmas. Prieto is 32 years old, while Jordan is 48.

This would be Jordan's second marriage.

He was married for 17 years to Juanita Jordan, but the couple divorced in 2006, and settled for a reported amount of $168 million. They have two sons, Jeffrey Michael and Marcus James, and a daughter, Jasmine.

Seann William Scott in 'Goon' -- Trailer FIRST LOOK

Labelled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of under performing misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way.

The film stars Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel and Alison Pill.

Goon is set to hit selected theaters on March 30, 2012.

Watch the trailer below....

Kendra Wilkinson, Holly Madison Slam Hugh Hefner's "MEAN" Ex-Fiancee Crystal Harris Over Dog

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Crystal Harris didn't just break Hugh Hefner's heart when she broke off their engagement days before their June wedding. Now she wants his dog, too!

"I told Crystal she could keep the engagement ring and Bentley (a wedding gift) if I could have our puppy [Charlie]," Hefner, 85, tweeted Tuesday. "But now she wants all three."

Hefner's former girlfriend, Holly Madison, was outraged. She tweeted to Harris, "Why did you voluntarily give the dog to Hef (who loves him too) after you left, only to ask for him back a few months later?"

Kendra Wilkinson tweeted to the Playboy mogul she was "sorry" he had to "go through this."

"That dog loves you so much," Wilkinson, 26, wrote about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. "[Crystal] abandoned him and now she wants him back. She's mean, mean, mean."

"Dogs shouldn't be yanked from happy homes on a whim," Madison, 32, added. "She needs to quit attention-seeking!"

Academy Awards 'Celebrate the Movies' With New Oscar Poster

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the poster for the 84th Annual Academy Awards on Wednesday morning. And it promises the 84th annual Oscars will celebrate -- as one might expect -- movies.

Under the banner "Life. Camera. Action," the poster features eight Oscar-winning films from eight decades of the show. Gone with the Wind (1939), Casablanca (1943), Giant (1956), The Sound of Music (1965), The Godfather (1972), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Forrest Gump (1994) and Gladiator (2000) make up the films highlighted.

The 84th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on February 26, 2012.

Lady Gaga Will Drop The Ball in Times Square For New Year's Eve

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Lady Gaga will be busy this New Year's Eve.... dropping the Waterford Crystal ball in New York's Times Square.

The "Born The Way" singer has been selected by Mayor Bloomberg to head the efforts. Seems as though everyone loves Gaga!

Gaga will also be performing on ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2012.
Previous celebrities who have been selected to drop the ball have included Muhammad Ali, Colin Powell and Bill and Hillary Clinton. Looks like Gaga is in good company.

Ashton Kutcher Gets Cozy With New Gal Pal Lorene Scafaria, "Held Hands" in Italy

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Ashton Kutcher spent his Christmas holiday with screenwriter Lorene Scafaria whom he had hooked up with before splitting with Demi Moore, according to Us Weekly.

A witness tells the magazine that Ashton and Lorene were cruising around the city in a Porsche and even "held hands" during their spaghetti dinner. They also were seen snapping photos together at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Kutcher, 33, Tweeted this photo with pal Matthew Mazzant and Scafaria ... whom at one time was linked to The OC actor Adam Brody.

A source close to Scafaria adds, "Ashton started seeing her while each was in a relationship."

Reps for both deny these claims and tell Us, "They're just friends."

Producer Randy Barbato SELLING His Hollywood Home

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SELLER: Randy Barbato
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
PRICE: $1,649,000
SIZE: 2,512 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms (plus guest house)

Randy Barbato is an Emmy-nominated producer who is responsible for shows such as Million Dollar Listing, Becoming Chaz (and Being Chaz), RuPaul's Drag Race, and silver screen things like Party Monster, and the ever-popular, unexpectedly touching and simply lashtacular The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

Current listing information indicates the two-story main house, perched privately well above the tail end of a sleepy cul-de-sac (with easy freeway access), encompasses a relatively modest 2,512 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.

Source: realestalker.blogspot.com

Katy Perry And Russell Brand Spend The Holidays APART, Relationship On The Rocks

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Looks like Russell Brand and Katy Perry aren't roasting chestnuts together on an open fire this holiday season. The two spent Christmas apart after a "massive fight", according to Us Weekly.

Perry, 27, was originally going to fly her family to London to be with Russell's family, however she reportedly changed her plans.... and decided to spend her vacation in Hawaii.

A source close to the couple tells the magazine:

"They had a massive fight. She was like, 'F**k you. I'm going to do my own thing.' Russell replied, 'Fine, f**k you too.'"

Yikes! Divorce rumors have been swirling since November, however the two superstars have denied they're having problems. The source adds:

"They haven't split up just yet, but things are not good. The fighting is getting worse."

The twosome tied the knot in October 2010. Could they be heading for a split in 2012? Looks like the ball may drop anytime.

Rachel Uchitel Proudly Shows Off Her Baby Bump

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Rachel Uchitel, who rose to fame after revealing she had multiple affairs with Tiger Woods, is showing the world her baby bump!

The nightclub manager, seen with her hubby Matt Hahn, Tweeted the above photo and the following:

"Expecting big things for 2012. Five down, four months to go."

This is the first child for Uchitel, 36, who tied the knot with Hahn in October. She was previously engaged to James Andrew O'Grady, an investment banker killed during the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.

Uchitel was also married to Wall Street trader Steven Ehrenkranz in 2004, but the two split after only four months.

Cheetah the 'Tarzan' Chimp Dead at 80

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Cheetah the chimpanzee -- who reportedly played Johnny Weissmuller's sidekick in the 1930s "Tarzan" films -- passed away last week after suffering kidney failure.... this according to the primate sanctuary that he called home.

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida -- where Cheetah had been living since the 1960s -- made the announcement, saying, "It is with great sadness that the community has lost a dear friend and family member."

Cheetah was believed to be 80 years old.

Lady Gaga's Ex-Assistant SUES For $380,000 in Unpaid Overtime

A former personal assistant to Lady Gaga claims the singer has lived up to her album title of Fame Monster.

Jennifer O'Neill has filed a lawsuit seeking nearly $380,000 from Gaga's touring company for 7,168 hours of unpaid overtime racked up while being at the entertainer's beck-and-call in late 2009 and most of 2010.

Jennifer describes Gaga as a nightmare boss, O'Neill claims her duties required everything from acting as a "personal alarm clock" to "ensuring the promptness of a towel following a shower."

The lawsuit was filed Dec. 14 in Manhattan federal court. Reps for Gaga say the action is "completely without merit," CNN reports.

Bill Maher's Tim Tebow Tweet Sparks Calls For HBO Boycott

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Bill Maher has run afoul of religious conservatives yet again, after a Christmas Eve tweet the comedian sent about overtly religious Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. Following a 40-14 Broncos' loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Maher tweeted, "Wow, Jesus just... #TimTebow  bad! And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere in hell Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler 'Hey, Buffalo's killing them'. (Adult language has been removed from the Tweet.)

Predictably, the dig from the atheist comedian didn't go over well with Christians. Fox Business' "Follow the Money" host Eric Bolling got things rolling with his Twitter response: "Bill Maher is disgusting vile trash. I can't even repeat what he just tweeted about Tebow..on Christmas Eve. #straighttohellBill."

Others have called for a boycott of HBO, which is the home of Maher's show, "Real Time." This wouldn't be the first time Maher's words have raised the ire of those on the opposite end of the political spectrum. There are regular calls for Maher's ouster from HBO. It happened in July, following a frank discussion of "hate sex" with Republican presidential candidates Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum. And in 2008, following comments about Pope Benedict XVI.

Victoria Silvstedt Shows Off Her Sexy Bikini Body in Miami

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She may be 37 years old, but Swedish hottie Victoria Silvstedt still has it!

The model posted these sexy photos on Twitter yesterday from her Miami hotel balcony and wrote, "Loving the view...what an amazing day...happy holidays evrybody."

Victoria then changed into a black bikini and headed down to the beach with her pricey Hermes Birkin bag, and she shamelessly posed for photographers camped out on the sand.

Hugh Hefner and Crystal Harris Still Fighting For Ownership of Puppy

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Hugh Hefner and his ex-fiancée Crystal Harris are in the midst of a custody battle over their seriously cute pup.

The former couple, who split just days before their nuptials in June, is at odds over who should get to keep their Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Charlie, according to People.

And the Playboy mogul thinks it's only fair he gets the pooch.

Although Harris previously claimed Hefner let her keep the dog following their split, Hefner said they're still working out where the dog will stay permanently.

"We both love the puppy," Hefner told People. "I told her if she wants to keep the ring and the Bentley, then maybe I can keep the puppy. I [hope] we will work it out."

"The puppy's valuable, but not $100,000 worth," Hefner went on....

Lesson learned: Next time, get a pup prenup.

Ashton Kutcher is "Keeping Warm" Without Demi This Holiday Season

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Newly separated Ashton Kutcher doesn't have Demi Moore to keep him warm this winter!

The Two and a Half Men star shared a lonely Twitpic of himself with an outdoor X-mas tree late Monday evening, where he's enjoying a Roman Holiday with a few friends.

The actor Tweeted the caption, "Keeping warm this holiday season, hope everyone is having a good one."

Meanwhile it seems soon-to-be ex-wife Demi, who still goes by @mrskutcher on Twitter, continues to foot the bill for Kutcher’s tanning expenses!

Apparently Ashton frequents Le Beach Club Tanning Resorts in LA, where Demi has an account, and he still pops in to tan on his ex's dime. “Ashton came in to tan and used Demi’s account,” a source told Star. “He just assumed his tan could still be charged to Demi. He didn’t offer to pay or anything. He didn’t say his name or anything either; he just walked in and assumed everything would go as usual.”

Sinead O'Connor SPLITS From Husband After Eighteen Days Of Marriage

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Sinead O'Connor tied the knot only eighteen days ago to Barry Herridge, and already, the "Nothing Compares 2 U" singer has called it quits.
 
On her official website, O'Connor, 45, wrote:

"[There was] a wild ride I took us on looking for a bit of a smoke of weed for my wedding night as I don't drink. My husband was enormously wounded and very badly affected by that experience and also by the attitude of those close to him toward our marriage. It became apparent to me that if he were to stay with me he would be losing too much to bear."

She went on to say that "within three hours the ceremony being over the marriage was kyboshed by the behavior of certain people in my husband's life."

O'Connor and Herridge, 38, tied the knot at Las Vegas' Little White Wedding Chapel. Sinead adds, "A woman wants to be a joy to her husband. So you love someone? Set them free."

Before marrying Herridge, the singer was married to journalist Nicholas Sommerlad, musician Steve Cooney and music producer John Reynolds.

Charlize Theron in 'Prometheus' -- Trailer FIRST LOOK

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

The film stars Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron and Patrick Wilson.

Prometheus is set to hit theaters on June 8, 2012.

Watch the trailer below....

Pierce Brosnan SOLD His Malibu Beach House For $2.79 Million

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Pierce Brosnan is no longer the owner of this gorgeous Mediterranean estate in Malibu!

The former 007 actor has sold the 3,800 square-foot property for $2.79 million -- considerably less than his original asking price of $3.9 million. Brosnan first listed the property in June 2010.

The home, which sits on Malibu's Broad Beach, boasts three bedrooms, high ceilings with wood beams, custom fireplace, walls of glass and ocean views.

Matthew McConaughey And Longtime Girlfriend Camila Alves ENGAGED!

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Matthew McConaughey and his girlfriend of five years, Camila Alves, have taken the next step in their relationship. The twosome are engaged!

The Lincoln Lawyer actor posted the above photo and the following:

"Just asked Camila to marry me, #MerryChristmas."

McConaughey, 42, and Alves, 29, are the parents to 3-year-old son Levi and 23-month-old daughter Vida.

The couple first met at a Los Angeles bar back in 2006.

Katherine Jackson Poses With Michael Look-A-Like At Vegas Tribute Show

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Katherine Jackson headed to Las Vegas for the holidays to catch a performance of "Legends in Concert" at Harrah's Las Vegas.

After watching the Vegas concert, Katherine posed alongside the show's Michael Jackson tribute artist, William Hall.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo FLOPS At The Box Office

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo had a budget close to $90 million, however the highly-anticipated flick only brought in $13 million during opening weekend.

When asked if that makes Dragon Tattoo a flop, one movie analyst tells E!:

"A debut of $13 million over the holiday season is equivalent to a lump of coal, especially for a film that brings along this much fanfare. With a budget approaching $90 million, plus purchasing the rights to the Millennium franchise, plus big-time marketing, this will go down as a dud."

Ouch! In positive box office news, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol raked in $26.5 million, followed by Sherlock Holmes with $17.8 million. Rounding out the top three.... the newest Chipmunks flick.

We'll see if Dragon Tattoo picks up steam at the box office as the new year approaches.

Maria Shriver is Having SECOND THOUGHTS About Divorcing Arnold

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Maria Shriver is telling friends she's now unsure if she wants to divorce Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Sources say Maria is torn, partly because of her strong religious beliefs that do not include divorce. 

Making matters even more complicated -- Arnold still desperately wants Maria back, and has been "extremely sweet" to her and has made numerous gestures -- which include presents -- to win Maria back.

Maria filed for divorce on July 1, though she moved out months earlier.  She's already bought a mansion in Brentwood, CA, which she's in the process of renovating.

Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol is Box Office Gold!

Paramount’s Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol towered above a slew of imposing openers and strong holdovers as it grossed an estimated $25.8 million over the Friday-to-Sunday holiday period and $39.5 million between Friday and Monday. The film, which opened last weekend primarily in a limited number of IMAX theaters, expanded on Wednesday, and will have earned around $71.9 million domestically as of Monday.

Two holdover films finished in second and third place, with Warner Bros.’ Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and Fox’s Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked grossing $17.8 million and $13.3 million respectively for the three-day weekend. Three new films followed with relatively soft numbers. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which some pundits had expected would give Ghost Protocol a run for the money, proved to be somewhat of a disappointment as it collected $13 million over the three days to place fourth.

Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin proved to be an even greater disappointment. Although it opened strongly overseas, where it has collected $230 million to date, its opening in North America brought in only $8.8 million for the three days. Another Spielberg film, War Horse, is being launched today (Sunday). And Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo appeared mighty toothless as it debuted with just $7.8 million.