Actor John Travolta is shown in a scene from the Sony Pictures film "The Taking of Pelham 123" in this undated publicity photo released to Reuters April 28, 2009. Times are tough and getting tougher, and as the summer movie season's first half launches on Friday, Hollywood is banking on escapist fare and fantasy flicks to cheer recession-weary audiences. Reuters Pictures 7 months ago

Actor John Travolta is shown in a scene from the Sony Pictures film "The Taking of Pelham 123" in this undated publicity photo released to Reuters April 28, 2009. Times are tough and getting tougher, and as the summer movie season's first half launches on Friday, Hollywood is banking on escapist fare and fantasy flicks to cheer recession-weary audiences.

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  1. U.S. attorney Michael McDermott, lawyer of US actor John Travolta, arrives to the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Travolta testified Wednesday that Bahamas paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who is now on trial for extortion, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son, demanding $25 million.
  2. U.S. actor John Travolta, right, and his wife Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Travolta testified Wednesday that Bahamas paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who is now on trial for extortion, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son, demanding $25 million.
  3. U.S. actor John Travolta, right, and his wife Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Travolta testified Wednesday that Bahamas paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who is now on trial for extortion, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son, demanding $25 million.
  4. U.S. actor John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Travolta described the moments before his son's death in the Bahamas as he testified Wednesday against two people accused of trying to blackmail him with private information about the rescue effort.
  5. U.S. actor John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Travolta described the moments before his son's death in the Bahamas as he testified Wednesday against two people accused of trying to blackmail him with private information about the rescue effort.
  6. U.S. actor John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston, obscured, arrive to the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Travolta described the moments before his son's death in the Bahamas as he testified Wednesday against two people accused of trying to blackmail him with private information about the rescue effort.
  7. Members of the girl band KSM arrive as guests for the premiere of the new film "Old Dogs" starring John Travolta and Robin Williams in Hollywood, California November 9, 2009.
  8. Actor John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston walk across Hollywood Boulevard with daughter Ella Bleu Travolta after greeting fans at the premiere of their new film "Old Dogs" in Hollywood, California, November 9, 2009. All three star in the film with Robin Williams.
  9. In a handout photo provided by Sony Pictures, actress Emma Stone, right, and a few fans dressed as zombies attend an advanced screening of the film 'Zombieland' at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. The movie stars Stone, along with Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Amber Heard and Abigail Breslin.
  10. In a handout photo provided by Sony Pictures, actors Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, right to left, attend an advanced screening of the film 'Zombieland' at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.
  11. In a handout photo provided by Sony Pictures, actors Woody Harrelson attends an advanced screening of the film 'Zombieland' at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.
  12. LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Actor Mr. T and president of production at Sony Pictures Animation Hannah Minghella arrive to the premiere of Sony's 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs' at the Mann Village Theater on September 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
  13. LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Actor Mr. T and president of production at Sony Pictures Animation Hannah Minghella arrive to the premiere of Sony's 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs' at the Mann Village Theater on September 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
  14. LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Actor Mr. T and president of production at Sony Pictures Animation Hannah Minghella arrive to the premiere of Sony's 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs' at the Mann Village Theater on September 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
  15. LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: President of production Hannah Minghella of Sony Pictures Animation, director/writer Phil Lord, actress Anna Faris, director/writer Chris Miller and actor Bill Hader arrive to the premiere of Sony's 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs' at the Mann Village Theater on September 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
  16. LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Actor Mr. T and president of production at Sony Pictures Animation Hannah Minghella arrive to the premiere of Sony's 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs' at the Mann Village Theater on September 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

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  2. An anti-government protester, with a picture on former president Ali Salem al-Baydh of South Yemen on his head, shouts slogans as he waves a flag of former South Yemen during a rally in al-Malah December 7, 2009. The rally was organized by the Southern Movement, a group calling for the south of Yemen to secede from the north. RETUERS/Stringer.
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  5. A grieving relative of a victim of a nightclub fire, mourns at a cemetery in Perm, about 700 miles (1,200 kilometers) east of Moscow, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. Authorities said more than 100 people died and over a hundred were injured. The fire tore through the popular Lame Horse nightclub in Perm late Friday, after fireworks set a suspended plastic ceiling ablaze, filling the crowded club with thick black smoke.
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  7. TOKYO - DECEMBER 07: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama attends the officials of Japan-Korea Cooperation Committees at Hatoyama's official residence on December 7, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Hatoyama's support rate has been declining to below 60 percent, for the first time since he was appointed as Japanese Prime Minister.
  8. TOKYO - DECEMBER 07: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama attends the officials of Japan-Korea Cooperation Committees at Hatoyama's official residence on December 7, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Hatoyama's support rate has been declining to below 60 percent, for the first time since he was appointed as Japanese Prime Minister.
  9. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - DECEMBER 07: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper attends a joint press conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak at the presidential house on December 7, 2009 in Seoul, South Korea. Canada and South Korea met to discuss economic exchanges and to strengthen bilateral relationships in trade, culture and diplomacy.
  10. TOKYO - DECEMBER 07: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama enters his official residence to meet officials of Japan-Korea Cooperation Committees on December 7, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Hatoyama's support rate has been declining to below 60 percent, for the first time since he was appointed as Japanese Prime Minister.
  11. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - DECEMBER 07: (L to R) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak attend a joint press conference at the presidential house on December 7, 2009 in Seoul, South Korea. Canada and South Korea met to discuss economic exchanges and to strengthen bilateral relationships in trade, culture and diplomacy.
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  13. Relatives and friends of Lilia Kalashnikova, a victim of a nightclub fire, mourn at a cemetery in Perm, about 700 miles (1,200 kilometers) east of Moscow, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. Authorities said more than 100 people died and over a hundred injured. The fire tore through the popular Lame Horse nightclub in Perm late Friday, after fireworks set a suspended plastic ceiling ablaze, filling the crowded club with thick black smoke.
  14. Grieving relatives of a victim of a nightclub fire, seen at a cemetery in Perm, about 700 miles (1,200 kilometers) east of Moscow, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. Authorities said more than 100 people died and over a hundred injured. The fire tore through the popular Lame Horse nightclub in Perm late Friday, after fireworks set a suspended plastic ceiling ablaze, filling the crowded club with thick black smoke.
  15. Mother of Liliya Kalashnikova, a victim of the night club fire, center, no name given, cries at her daughter's funeral at a cemetery in the Ural Mountains city of Perm, about 1,200 km (700 miles) east of Moscow, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. Authorities said more than 100 people died and over a hundred injured. The fire tore through the popular Lame Horse nightclub in Perm late Friday, after fireworks set a suspended plastic ceiling ablaze, filling the crowded club with thick black smoke.
  16. Relatives and friends of Liliya Kalashnikova, a victim of the night club fire, pray at her funeral at a cemetery in the Ural Mountains city of Perm, about 1,200 km (700 miles) east of Moscow, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. Authorities said more than 100 people died and over a hundred injured. The fire tore through the popular Lame Horse nightclub in Perm late Friday, after fireworks set a suspended plastic ceiling ablaze, filling the crowded club with thick black smoke.