Next time your teenagers have a craving for the ultra-spicy Buldak ramen or the fierce-looking Labubu toy, don’t scratch your head and question their taste. Rather, consider yourself lucky, because they are helping you spot the next billion-dollar brand before it gets on global investors’ radar.

With birth rates falling around the world, ...Read more

'HONEY DON'T!'

Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity, some strong violence, and language.

What it’s about: A Bakersfield, California, private investigator looking into the suspicious death of a potential client turns up church corruption and police malfeasance during her investigation.

The kid attractor factor: Not much — this...Read more

Family guide to new movie releases — "Highest 2 Lowest" and "Nobody 2."

'HIGHEST 2 LOWEST'

Rated R for language throughout and brief drug use.

What it’s about: A wealthy music mogul is faced with a dilemma when his son's best friend is kidnapped and he has to pay the ransom or save his own company with the money instead.

The kid ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The scene at the dais in Riverside's City Council chambers looked a bit different on a recent Monday morning: Instead of men and women in business attire, children wearing navy blue T-shirts emblazoned with vibrant orange and yellow butterfly wings occupied the swivel chairs.

The children were participating in a mock council ...Read more

'FREAKIER FRIDAY'

Rated PG for thematic elements, rude humor, language and some suggestive references.

What it’s about: This sequel to the 2003 body swap comedy sees Anna (Lindsay Lohan) all grown up and contending with a teenager of her own while she gets ready to marry the handsome Eric (Manny Jacinto), while managing his daughter, and her...Read more

BALTIMORE — It’s been two years since recreational cannabis became legal in Maryland. While revenue has increased and arrests for cannabis possession have decreased, health experts and school officials say there’s an often-overlooked impact — many kids don’t see the drug as risky.

Marijuana legalization has normalized adult use and ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — An Apple Valley, California, mother just went 4 for 4 on her kids all being born on the date 7/7.

Just before Nauzhae Drake, now 26, delivered her firstborn, she called her mother while driving to school. She told her that she saw a license plate that ended in four sevens — her lucky number. Drake's mom took it as a sign.

"...Read more

'THE NAKED GUN'

Rated PG-13 for crude/sexual material, violence/bloody images and brief partial nudity.

What it’s about: A reboot of the 1980s "Police Squad!" comedies about a hapless detective who stumbles into solving crimes.

The kid attractor factor: Teens might be drawn to the broad humor.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Billionaires are ...Read more