"In only a few years, 3-D will have a third of the TV market and a sizable chunk of the box office. I have no doubt that this will be one of the 'Next Big Things'," suggests Andy Obermueller.

The editor of Game-Changing Stocks explains, "Here, I review the overall market as well as the four best stock plays in the sector. I see each of these stocks as having serious growth potential as 3-D technology takes off.

"3-D functionality is becoming increasingly available on many high-end TVs. Last year was the first year that 3-D TVs were available; manufacturers sold 3.2 million 3-D sets vs. 247 million HDTVs.

IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX) is a recent featured stock from Jim Oberweis, Jr. Here, the money manager and editor of The Oberweis Report explains why his clients own 600,000 shares.

"IMAX specializes in motion picture technologies and large-format film presentations. IMAX designs and manufactures large-format digital and film-based theater systems.

"The company sells or leases such systems to its customers, and converts two-dimensional '2D' and three-dimensional '3D' Hollywood feature films for exhibition on such systems around the world.

"Viacom (NYSE: VIA.B), the cable, movie and video game empire of longtime chairman Sumner Redstone, is a solid media stock that we think can be accumulated on dips," suggests Geoffrey Seiler.

In his always-excellent BullMarket.com, he looks to the upcoming release of Star Trek and the new Beatles-based music video game as potential catalysts for improved results. Here's his update.

"Viacom, which spun off CBS in 2007, describes itself as an entertainment content company that operates in two segments: Media Networks and Filmed Entertainment.

"There are always stocks that can buck the trend and go up when most others are going down; one such issue is Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX)," says Sean Broderick.

In Money and Markets, he explains, "Netflix has exceptional growth prospects as it ventures into streaming movies and games over the Internet.

"Netflix is doing bang-up business, and if history is any guide, should continue to do so. During the Great Depression, movies were one of the few growth industries, as a weary world turned to escapist entertainment.

"Netflix had an excellent recent quarter. Revenues jumped 19% and earnings rose 58%. EBITA, a widely used measure of a company's efficiency and profitability, hit a six-year high, and was up 18% over the year earlier.

"Companies dependent on consumer spending have been under a cloud on Wall Street," cautions Chuck Carlson, the industry's leading expert on dividend reinvestment plans.

"However, Disney (NYSE: DIS) is one of those consumer-dependent stocks where conventional wisdom may not be correct," he adds in his The DRIP Investor.

"With $4-per-gallon gasoline, one would think that the high cost of travel would take some steam out of the firm's theme park attendance. However, recent results on this front were decent, and the firm's other businesses have held up, too.

"To be sure, a prolonged recession would impact business. Still, Disney has done a nice job of positioning its theme parks as an affordable vacation for families, and that should help it continue to weather
economic weakness.

"Disney surprised Wall Street with the resiliency of its theme-park and resort business in the fiscal second quarter. Revenue for the unit jumped 11% in the quarter. Results were aided by a boost in international visitors taking advantage of the weak dollar.

Boosted by its licensing rights and marketing agreements for such characters as Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and Transformers, quantitative analyst Vahan Janjigian recommends toy maker Hasbro (NYSE: HAS).

The editor of The Forbes Growth Investor says, "Hasbro has done an outstanding job of selecting licensing opportunities," noting that licensing agreements with Lucas Licensing and Marvel Entertainment give Hasbro rights to develop toys based on Star Wars movies and Marvel comic books.

The Marvel deal, he notes, provides an excellent example. Janjigian says, "Its numerous comic book characters, some of which are more than 40 years old, offer plenty of potential for future sales, especially as more of them make it onto the big screen."

He states, "A renewed focus on core brands and licensed merchandise has led to strong results in the past year. First quarter net revenues surged 33.6% year-over-year to $625.3 million."

Spider-Man branded merchandise, he observes, which benefited from the release of the movie Spider-Man 3, was responsible for more than half of the growth in volume.

The recent opening of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, he adds, could translate into brisk toy sales in the second quarter. Indeed, he forecasts, with seven films based on Marvel properties projected to be released over the next two years, Hasbro's prospects look "extremely promising."

Further, he says, "Hasbro should also benefit from the much hyped Transformers film." In fact, he notes, licensing revenues should receive a boost from the more than 230 Transformers-related agreements entered into by third-parties expecting to capitalize on the film.

He explains, "Transformers could signal more movie opportunities for HAS owned properties, which may further boost brand awareness and toy sales. Indeed, a G.I. Joe movie is already in the works."

The advisor concludes, "And let's not forget the company's more traditional products. The company has some of the most recognized brand names in the toy industry. Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers make classic board games such as Monopoly and Scrabble."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com features the latest investment ideas and market commentary from the financial newsletter community.

Over the past 12 months, Marvel Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: MVL) has lived up to its name, with the stock climbing from $16 to above $27; the stock is now setting up for a breakout and a rally, says Leo Fasciocco -- a technical analyst who looks specifically for stocks that are breaking out from previous resistance areas.

The editor of the Ticker Tape Digest, explains, "The company's success swings on the strength and marketability of its characters. Net income is poised to rise sharply this year, which suggests accumulation of MVL in anticipation of a move higher."

Marvel publishes and licenses products based on its cartoon characters. Fasciocco notes that the firm lends its more than 5,000 characters (Daredevil, Spider-Man, X-Men) to toy development, publishing, and licensing.