The Lyons Den

Starring E! movie dude Ben Lyons

On Set With Fired Up's Cheer-Camp Hotties

Haven't you heard? Cheerleading's huge. With the success of Bring it On and High School Musical, the sport has come back around in Hollywood, and it's hot. So we hit the set of cheer-camp comedy Fired Up to see why.

Molly Sims and a cast of very peppy cheerleader types give us the lowdown, offer some tips and, uh, put me in a tiger suit and make me dance. Seriously. Hit the clip to check it out.

Beat Ben @ the Box Office: Can Speed Racer Go?

Speed Racer Warner Brothers

Speed Racer hits theaters this weekend, and despite some of the most amazing visual effects in the history of the movies, it'll be tough for the latest TV show-turned-movie to find a huge audience.

One problem: The younger kids that the film's geared toward aren't too familiar the stars (Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman) or the '60s anime series. Beyond that, Racer has to deal with Iron Man's second weekend. Even if Robert Downey Jr.'s red-hot hero flick falls off 50 percent (which would be huge), it'd still make $50 million.

So look for Speed to clock in at No. 2 this weekend with $41 million.

Think I'm wrong? Want to race me for the right answer? Drop a comment below, and I'll see you Monday at the finish line.

Beat Ben @ the Box Office: Iron-Clad Moneymaker!

Iron Man Paramount Pictures

UPDATE: Have to take a victory lap on Iron Man's $100 million opening. I called it, too, on the nose. I've been covering this movie for more than two years, my entire time at E!, and I'm happy to see it do another $6.5 million Monday, the third-highest Monday following opening weekend ever.

Good sign for the industry, right? Event movies work. They are the lifeblood of the business. When done right, as with this one, they can be the pinnacle of moviemaking.

Keep reading to see how I called it on Friday...

Keep Reading

Secrets of Iron Man! (Spilled by Downey 'n' Paltrow)

And now, the thrilling conclusion of what's been, seriously, a yearlong series of interviews with Robert Downey Jr. about the big movie of the moment, Iron Man. Hit play to see what gear he wanted to snatch from the set and how costar/love interest Gwyneth Paltrow boned up on her Tony Stark lore.

Gwyneth Talks Hip-Hop, Madonna and Mario

I just caught up with the Iron Man star Gwyneth Paltrow at the Tribeca Film Festival, and she let it all out.

Hit the clip to see what she's got to say about: postpartum depression, her cooking tour with Mario Batali, how Madonna stole her trainer and which big-time rapper her kids call "Uncle J."

Beat Ben @ the Box Office: High Times for Kumar?

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Warner Brothers Pictures

In their latest adventure, Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, everybody's favorite pot-smoking buddies not named Cheech and Chong are on the loose after being falsely accused of terrorism on a flight to Amsterdam.

Sounds ridiculous, right? What's even more absurd—and kind of awesome—is how well the first movie has done on DVD. After earning only $19 million or so at the box office, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle has become a cult classic, racking up big bucks in the home-video market. Expect this sequel to do the same.

On opening weekend, though, look for Kal Penn, John Cho and Neil Patrick Harris to do around $12.6 million. Pretty good for a cult-flick-in-the-making (and for New Line, which needs all the help it can get these days). Also, divide $12.6 by 3 and what do you get? (Hint: 4.20!)

What do you think? Am I smoking something, or holding the knowledge stash? Sound off in the comments.

Crazy British Guy from Sarah Marshall Tells All!

Anyone who saw this week's No. 2 movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall came away asking: Who is that that funny dude with the accent playing Kristen Bell's a-hole boyfriend?

Easy. He's Russell Brand, he's a stand-up comic from the U.K., and he's gonna be big. The newly hot Brand spills all in our interview, about everything from lactation to Snoop Dogg to his long history of "drug addiction and vague criminality." Dig it.

How Speed Freak Ricci Plays the Paparazzi

Christina Ricci totally has a way with the press. The Speed Racer star—she's Emile Hirsch's girlfriend Trixie in the Wachowski brothers flick—explains to me how she plays it so cool all the time. Also check the clip for her dish on Britney, Real Housewives and why she hasn't always been so friendly with the paparazzi.

Can Sarah Marshall Bag Some Funny Money?

Mila Kunis, Jason Segel in Forgetting Sarah Marshall Glen Wilson/Universal Pictures

Yes, yes. You've all heard it by now. Superproducer Judd Apatow is the current king of comedy. Last year he had big hits with Knocked Up and Superbad, and he has a long list of films on the horizon, as writer or producer (You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Pineapple Express, Step Brothers—and that's just this summer).

Don't let the funny face fool you. Judd needs a hit. His last two projects, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and Drillbit Taylor, were flops. (I do love that Dewey Cox, though. Give it a try on DVD).

Luckily, he has Forgetting Sarah Marshall opening this weekend. Written by its star and longtime Apatow regular Jason Segel, it's a heartfelt romantic comedy that will appeal to both male and female audiences.

Look for Sarah Marshall to open at $26.7 million. That's great for a film featuring a bunch of actors best known for their TV work.

What do you think? Is Judd back on top? Sound off in the comments.

Beat Ben @ the Box Office: Surf Gangs vs. Slashers vs. Smart People

Bra Boys Berkela Films

Usually in Beat Ben, the game that's driving the Internet nuts, we break down the biggest movie of the weekend, which is more often than not, not the best movie. Well this week, I want to switch it up.

Bra Boys is the biggest non-IMAX documentary in the history of Australia. Produced by Daily 10's own Sal Masekela and his partner in Berkela Films, Jason Bergh, it's the story of a surfing gang from Down Under. It's incredibly powerful and extremely well done. It opens here in the states this weekend and is narrated by Oscar winner Russell Crowe.

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Kristen Bell: Hula Girl

Went to Hawaii to hang out with the very hilarious cast of the new Judd Apatow-branded comedy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Talked with SNL's Bill Hader, funniest dude ever. Hula danced with Kristen Bell. Got some major Hollywood secrets out of star Jason Segel. (Wanna star in a movie? Write it yourself.) Oh, and look: Me in a helicopter!

Hit the clip to see how it all went down, and for more, check out fellow E! columnist Kristin Dos Santos' report from the same trip.

Brittany Snow: How to Survive Prom Night

I sat down with the cast of horror flick Prom night, and Brittany Snow dished on her own big night. Check out the clip.

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