1. Tulpan: Remarkable romantic comedy set among a nomadic tribe in Kazakhstan.
2. An Education: Nick Hornby's sensitive adaptation of journlaist Lynn Barber's excellent memoir of her first boyfriend.
3. The White Ribbon: Michael Hameke's Palme d'Or winner at Cannes is set in a German village just before the start of the First World War.
4. 2012: Roland Emmerich's thrilling apocalypse movie with John Cusack as the hero.
5. Fantastic Mr Fox: Wes Anderson’s take on Roald Dahl is full of quirky magic — with a sly George Clooney voicing Mr Fox.

Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quote An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance quote

2012 Theatre

Fiona Mountford

quote The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C quote

Blood Brothers Music

John Aizlewood

quote The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed quote

Muse

Reader reviews

Theatre

Rachel Dalziel

quote I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play quote

Gilbert Is Dead Restaurants

Raja, London

quote I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food quote

Babbo Music

Katy, London

quote Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW! quote

Muse

Depp pirate sequel sails to top of UK movie chart

By Tom Teodorczuk, Evening Standard 21.12.06

Add your view

Pirates of the Caribbean 2: the film received mixed reviews but audiences loved it

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and the Da Vinci Code are among the most successful films of the year - despite receiving lukewarm receptions from critics.

The second instalment of the swashbuckling adventure starring Johnny Depp was top, making almost £52million in the UK. This was £7 million more than Casino Royale in which Daniel Craig made his Bond debut.

The Da Vinci Code, Ron Howard's adaptation of Dan Brown's best-seller, was third with earnings of more than £30million. As well as Pirates, three other sequels - Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, X-Men: The Last Stand and Mission Impossible III - all made the top 10.

UK cinema audiences were slightly up on last year. Ralph Ludemann of the Hollywood Reporter said: "This proves there is an upward curve in the business and it bodes well for 2007."

Next year's big movies include the third Pirates film, The Simpsons Movie and Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix.

Box office take

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest £51,998,590
Casino Royale £44,612,070
The Da Vinci Code £30,424,412
Ice Age 2 £29,450,361
Borat £23,689,819
X-Men: The Last Stand £19,130,679
Cars £16,263,535
Superman Returns £16,124,112
Mission: Impossible III £15,450,527
The Devil Wears Prada £13,873,254