"Zero Dark Thirty," Kathryn Bigelow's controversial movie about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, stormed to the top spot at the North American weekend box office, figures showed Monday.

The Oscar-tipped film took in $24.4 million in its first weekend on national release, and as its star Jessica Chastain won the best actress award at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

Stand-out styling, performance and luxury were on display Monday as global automakers sought to stake out ground in the high-profit premium car sector at the Detroit auto show.

From an ultrafast Bentley cabriolet to a completely redesigned Corvette, to a clutch of new BMWs and Audis, car makers were confident that lower-volume, higher-margin cars would find buyers in the coming year despite the slow global economy and the recession in Europe.

The former Kate Middleton is due to give birth to her first baby in July, and her health is improving after a bout of severe morning sickness, palace officials said Monday.

The child of Kate and Prince William will be third in line to the British throne.

Hollywood stars walked the red carpet into the 70th annual Golden Globe awards Sunday in a glittering array of gowns, daring to bare their shoulders despite the chilly temperatures in Los Angeles.

Red was the color of choice for some, including "Silver Linings Playbook" best actress winner Jennifer Lawrence in a strapless gown with a fitted bodice from designer Raf Simons' debut Christian Dior haute couture collection.

Jodie Foster teased the Golden Globes on Sunday by hailing her female ex-partner as "one of the deepest loves of my life" -- but then denying she was giving a coming-out speech.

Foster, long rumored to be lesbian, surprised the audience by announcing she had a confession to make, saying she had "a sudden urge to say something that I've never really been able to air in public."

Ben Affleck's Iran hostage drama "Argo" and musical "Les Miserables" were the big winners Sunday at the Golden Globes, while Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" went home with a disappointing sole award.

Affleck won both best dramatic film and director for his movie about a CIA mission to rescue diplomats in Tehran in 1979, while "Les Miserables" won best film, actor and supporting actress in the musical/comedy category.

Written by Anthony Sargon

The word masterpiece gets thrown around too often nowadays. If someone is really enamored with, let's say, "The Hunger Games", he or she may consider it a "masterpiece", which we define as a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. "Amour", however, is a true masterpiece. It's excruciatingly painful to watch, but it's a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

A 23-year-old contestant from Brooklyn, New York, won the title of Miss America in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Mallory Hagan won the beauty pageant after tap dancing to James Brown's "Get Up Off of That Thing" and answering a question about whether armed guards belong in grade schools by saying we should not fight violence with violence.

U.S. pop veteran Britney Spears has called off her engagement to talent agent Jason Trawick after a one-year committed relationship, Hollywood media reported Saturday.

"Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement," Spears said in a statement published by today.com. "I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends."

Hollywood hits the red carpet Sunday for the Golden Globes, Tinseltown's biggest pre-Oscars awards show, with Steven Spielberg, Ben Affleck and Quentin Tarantino among those eyeing major prizes.

Days after topping nominations for the Academy Awards, Spielberg's political drama "Lincoln" is the frontrunner for Globes glory, with seven nods, ahead of Affleck's Iran drama "Argo" and Tarantino's "Django Unchained," both with five nominations.