National Video Rentals : ‘Basic Instinct’ Keeps Lock on 1st

“Basic Instinct” continues to lead the rental parade with “Batman Returns” in the second spot. Remember, though, that “Batman Returns” is selling in the $15 to $25 range, making it an attractive sales item, which cuts down on its rentals. If it weren’t geared to the sales market, it would probably be the No. 1 rental. The No. 1 status of “Basic Instinct” reflects the strong business it did over Halloween weekend. “Beauty and the Beast” is still doing excellent rental business (No. 4), even though its primary strength is in the sales market, where it leads the competition by a country mile. “Thunderheart” is doing much better than expected as a rental, rising to No. 5. “The Cutting Edge,” which climbed seven notches to No. 6, is also exceeding expectations. Though it features no major stars, the story has lots of appeal to young romantic-movies fans.

* This fright film, which did big Halloween business, climbed three notches to No. 13. It could crack the Top 10.

National Video Rentals

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1.”Basic Instinct” 1 3 2.”Batman Returns” 4 2 3.”My Cousin Vinny” 2 5 4.”Beauty and the Beast” 25 2 5.”Thunderheart” 8 3 6.”The Cutting Edge” 13 2 7.”Beethoven” 3 6 8.”The Babe” 14 2 9.”Fried Green Tomatoes” 5 11 10.”Final Analysis” 6 10 * “Stephen King’s Sleepwalkers” 16 2

Source: Billboard Publications Inc.