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Buy the popcorn, sit back and enjoy the Yari Film Group's lyrical mystery, The Illusionist. This well-crafted story, presented in mesmerizing pictures and elevated by Edward Norton's mastermind act, is the best picture in eight months of middling movies. Philip GlassJessica BielRufus SewellPaul Giamatti

Invincible led the roster on summer's penultimate weekend, which was typically mundane as a whole yet five percent above the same frame a year ago. Summer 2006's tally stands at $3.6 billion, seven percent ahead of last year. Mark Wahlberg

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Burbank, California—Whatever was charming about the popular children's book upon which New Line Cinema's How to Eat Fried Worms is based was wriggled right out of this latest stinker from Walden Media. Twentieth Century Fox's new creative partner is also responsible for the overwrought The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the vapid Around the World in 80 Days. Tom Cruise

Don't be bamboozled by the flashy, trashy and ultimately common Idlewild, a hodgepodge combining modern vulgarity with classic jazz. Any movie that features seasoned Ben Vereen and striking Cicely Tyson and wastes them both is hopelessly unhip to its finest assets.

Apparently, the story of Vince Papale, Walt Disney Pictures' Invincible, is true and it is another uplifting sports movie with the right ingredients and attention to period detail. Heavy aluminum cans of Pepsi, hard rock, multi-colored stripe tube socks, pulled all the way up the calf—director Ericson Core nails the Seventies, down to the National Football League's Bicentennial patch. Mark Wahlberg

For the seventh consecutive weekend, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest topped the foreign box office, driven solely by holdover markets. The supernatural swashbuckler grossed $24.8 million over the weekend from 7,014 screens in 51 territories, and its overall total climbed to $521.5 million total. Soon, it will eclipse The Da Vinci Code as the No. 1 movie of 2006. Michael MannAdam Sandler

The title said it all, and the movie itself was an afterthought. Months of media and Internet coverage over the bluntly descriptive yet ridiculous name, Snakes on a Plane, turned out to be nothing but hype, and the picture remained what it always was: an average horror genre picture for August. Samuel L. JacksonHilary DuffJulianne MooreJessica Biel

Burbank, California—As the busy summer season comes to a close, a couple of movies missed my notice. The awful Step Up is a huge step down, which probably won't hurt its box office tally. For a genre that peaked decades ago with Fred Astaire's delightful dance pictures, it is hard to imagine a lower status. Channing TatumHeath LedgerDustin HoffmanMeryl Streep

Buoyed by a record debut in Spain, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest remained the international leader for the sixth weekend in a row. The supernatural swashbuckler amassed $43.8 million from 8,146 theaters across 45 territories, and its total soared to $463.7 million, eclipsing The Matrix Reloaded on the all time chart. M. Night Shyamalan

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby took the lead again, but Step Up stood out with an unexpectedly potent opening that transcended the solid debut of the weekend's most high profile release, World Trade Center. Channing TatumTim AllenWill Ferrell

Burbank, California—Turner Classic Movies welcomed young composers to Hollywood in style last week, hosting a one-day exposition for musicians and composers with panels and lectures on scoring movies, games and television. Hans ZimmerMel Gibson

The best movie this summer is the dry Little Miss Sunshine, a slightly smug slice of life that is the most entertaining picture playing in theaters. Granted, that's not saying much, but this little tart is as good as it gets. Greg KinnearToni ColletteSteve Carell

Oliver Stone makes the worst attack in American history seem practically humdrum in World Trade Center, his take on the darkest day—so far—in this undeclared war between radical Islam and the West. Nicolas CageMaria Bello

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest's foreign box office stormed past its domestic take, and, worldwide, the picture surpassed The Da Vinci Code as the top-grosser of the year.

Answering the need for speed and humor, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby stocked $47 million on around 5,200 screens at 3,803 venues, finishing its opening lap at No. 1. A bullish Barnyard weighed in at a distant second, while fellow openers The Descent and The Night Listener had little impact. Will FerrellRobin WilliamsMichael Mann

Burbank, California—Hollywood went Back to the Future at Mann Theatres' swanky Hollywood Boulevard theaters, where the sequels, Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III, were screened back to back for cast, crew and the most wildly enthusiastic audience this writer has seen for some time. Frank MarshallRobert ZemeckisMel Gibson

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest handily ruled the foreign box office for the fourth weekend in a row. Driven by a massive opening in Germany, the supernatural swashbuckler raked in $55.3 million over the weekend for a $301.9 million total. Michael Mann