After several weeks of lackluster showings, theaters were busy last weekend. Sony's Hotel Transylvania rang up $43 million in ticket sales, making it the largest September opening -- ever. The industry hopes to keep it going this weekend, relying on familiar franchises.
There's never a dull moment on Wall Street -- but if you're ever going to find one that's close, it'll be during a week like this one. Let's go over some of the items that will help shape the Independence Day-shortened trading week ahead.
Summer may be when studios put out their biggest movies, but after a horrendous 2011 at the box office, Hollywood is going all out starting in the spring: This rapid-fire slate of potential blockbusters should turn heads this season.
Here are some of the items that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street: Consumer electronics retailer Conn's reports; Titanic returns in 3-D; motorsports promoter International Speedway will see profits stall, and used-car seller CarMax checks under the hood.
This week, holiday shoppers have turned into post-holiday exchangers. And while Main Street shops for sweaters in the right size, Wall Street has a few items to cross off of its "to do" list before New Year's Eve, too.