Hollywood Stock Exchange (chosen as a Forbes favorite)
(www.hsx.com)
For movie freaks. Will Gwyneth Paltrow's latest flick be a bomb or boffo? This virtual stock exchange, complete with ticker, trades securities based on the buzz behind movies, actors, directors, and musical acts. Without risking a dime, you can short stocks, buy options and index funds. Choose from 1,800 "stocks" based on nearly every movie and star imaginable, even stocks for movies that haven't been-and hopefully won't be-made, like Star Trek 10 or the Monica Lewinsky Story. Lots of entertainment news to help you research trades, and you can cash in your "winnings" for discounts on merchandise.
BEST: Video clips of the Oscar contenders.
WORST: Takes a while to get the hang of it.