Entertainment Today: Showbiz News

'BRUCE ALMIGHTY' IS ALL-POWERFUL AT BOX OFFICE

"Bruce Almighty" grossed an estimated $86.4 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend.

Going into the weekend, analysts were forecasting a neck-and-neck race for No. 1 between "Bruce Almighty" and "The Matrix Reloaded." The way it turned out, "Reloaded" took in a little more than half the total of "Bruce" -- $45.6 million -- to go over $209 million mark in its 12th day in release.

The success of "Bruce" renewed faith in Jim Carrey's star appeal, since his last movie, "The Majestic," was a box-office disappointment. With "Bruce," the comic actor put up his best opening ever, surpassing the numbers for "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" ($55 million, 2000). "Bruce" is now the second-biggest Memorial Day opener ever, next to "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" ($90.1 million, 1997).

Eddie Murphy's "Daddy Day Care" was No. 3 with $18 million in its third weekend. "X2: X-Men United" was No. 4 with $13.1 million, and a four-week total of $192 million.

The new Michael Douglas-Albert Brooks comedy "The In-Laws" fell short of expectations, grossing $9.1 million and finishing at No. 5 in its opening weekend.

Movie ticket sales are expected to stay strong this weekend when the new Disney-Pixar animated feature "Finding Nemo" arrives in theaters, along with the Mark Wahlberg-Edward Norton caper "The Italian Job" and a new slasher movie, "Wrong Turn."

(Thanks to UPI's Pat Nason in Los Angeles.)

DOUGLAS: FAMILY COMES BEFORE CAREER NOW

Michael Douglas says that after decades in show business, he now puts his family before career.

"For the first time in my life, my career is secondary," the 59-year-old "In-Laws" star recently told reporters in New York. "I mean, with this marriage and having kids now at my age, my first priority is my family. And I certainly couldn't have said that 24 years ago when Cameron, my first boy, was born. It was much more about career for me then."

Douglas is now married to 34-year-old Catherine Zeta-Jones, by whom he has two young children: a 2-year-old son and newborn daughter. The actor married the "Chicago" star shortly after breaking up with his wife of 23 years.

Asked if he's been pulling diaper duty lately, the "Wall Street" actor, admitted: "Oh, I did that a long time ago! A long, long time ago," adding that having a little girl in the house is a new and exciting experience.

"It's very different," he said. "But we've been blessed. She's doing very well."

WEDDING BELLS FOR BRANAGH

Actor Kenneth Branagh reportedly has wed his art director girlfriend Lindsay Brunnock.

Word from the British Web site Ananova.com is that Branagh's publicist is confirming the couple married during a "small, private" ceremony over the weekend.

The 42-year-old Brit, who recently co-starred in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and directed the hit Broadway comedy "The Play What I Wrote," has not released any further details about the wedding. He and his new bride are now enjoying their honeymoon at an undisclosed location.

Branagh and Brunnock met on the set of the television movie, "Shackleton." Famously reluctant to discuss his private life, Branagh has never spoken about the relationship.

This is Branagh's second marriage. His first, to actress Emma Thompson, ended in 1996. He then had a long romance with his "Frankenstein" co-star Helena Bonham Carter, but they split in 1999.

BROADWAY BABIES TO BARE ALL FOR CHARITY

Dozens of Broadway players are set to perform next month in a one-night only burlesque show for charity.

Two performances of "Broadway Bares 13: Burlesque is Back" are scheduled for Sunday, June 15, at Manhattan's Roseland Ballroom. Hosted by "Hairspray" stars Harvey Fierstein Marissa Jaret Winouker, the event will raise money for Broadway Care/Equity Fights AIDS.

More than 200 dancers from shows like "Aida," "Cabaret," "Chicago," "Gypsy," "Hairspray," The Lion King," "Mama Mia," "Moving Out" and "The Producers" will perform in what the show's producers describe as a "striptease extravaganza." Special guests include the legendary Eartha Kitt, "Cabaret" actress Deborah Gibson and dazzling "Nine" star Jane Krakowski.