Hottest Hollywood Star: Toys

(NEWSER) - The Transformers juggernaut rolls on. The Revenge of the Fallen sequel is about to become the biggest grossing film of 2009 worldwide, reports Variety. After only 2 weeks, it's grossed $448 million around the globe, just shy of the $469 million haul by Angels & Demons, which opened in May. It's on track to take over the No. 1 spot by Friday. The film also should pass Up as the No. 1 domestic earner (currently $255 million) around the same time. More»

Despite leak warnings, CIA, Pentagon and White House rolled out the red carpet

(NEWSER) - The White House, CIA, and Pentagon all gave special access to Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow to help with her movie about Osama bin Laden's death, according to documents obtained by the conservative Judicial Watch . In one interview , Undersecretary of Defense Mike Vickers tells Bigelow that top admirals can't talk because it would set "a bad example if it gets out," but that she could interview a SEAL Team 6 operator, who would "give you everything you … would get from Adm Olson or Adm McRaven." More»

Tonight's Obama fundraiser to bring in a record-breaking $15M

(NEWSER) - George Clooney's $40,000-a-plate dinner for President Obama tonight is expected to scoop up an eye-popping $15 million. The Hollywood fete, to be held at Clooney's Los Angeles digs, will feature celebs like Barbra Streisand, Robert Downey Jr., and Tobey Maquire among the 150 guests, and is co-hosted by Dreamworks chief Jeffrey Katzenberg. But two-thirds of the money raised will be from "just folks"—tens of thousands of Americans who forked over an average of $23 each for a chance to win dinner tickets. "The number of people who wanted to go to Clooney's house was through the roof," a source tells the Wall Street Journal . The pool has already been winnowed down to 50. Background checks are being carried out on the hopefuls, and two winners (who can bring guests) will be announced today. More»

6 highest-grossing films all have it

(NEWSER) - One key to The Avengers' record success this weekend: its PG-13 rating. The top six highest-grossing movies ever made are all rated PG-13; the rating points to a film that's titillating enough for teens but isn't likely to offend adults, the Los Angeles Times notes. The rating has become a Holy Grail for movie execs, particularly lately. Last year, R-rated movies accounted for 21% of US box office takings—the lowest figure in decades. More»

Hollywood star admits to history of 'sexual favors': lawsuit

(NEWSER) - John Travolta is one randy (and rather rude) massage client, according to a new Hollywood lawsuit. A masseur hired by Travolta claims the movie star took him to a Beverly Hills Hotel bungalow, stripped to nothing, appeared semi-erect, and touched the masseur's scrotum and penis during the massage, TMZ reports. When the masseur declined to fool around, Travolta cried, "Come on dude, I'll jerk you off!" Travolta then completed that very deed, but on himself. More»