‘The Accused’: How to Make a Hit Video

In future years, “The Accused” will be used as an example of how a major Oscar win coupled with a strategic release date--shortly after the Oscar ceremonies--can boost a movie’s appeal to renters. Jodie Foster’s best-actress award has turned “The Accused” (No. 3 on the Billboard chart) into a must-see for renters. Without the Oscar, the movie probably wouldn’t be a Top 3 rental, though, since it earned $30 million at the box office, it was destined to at least crack the Top 10. That big Tom Tussle for rental supremacy--Cruise’s “Cocktail” vs. Hanks’ “Big”--finally tilted in “Cocktail’s” favor. The Cruise vehicle finally zipped past “Big” into first place. “Halloween 4”--a favorite among fright-film fans--debuted at No. 24. On the sales chart, Michael Jackson now has the top two--”Moonwalker” and “The Legend Continues”--remarkable considering these are long-form music videos rather than movies or exercise tapes.

* In “Coming to America,” Eddie Murphy is chasing a girl instead of crooks. Audiences liked him in his first romantic comedy, which grossed more than $127 million--second at the box office last year to “Roger Rabbit.” The Murphy movie debuted at a lofty No. 8 on the rental chart and could take over No. 1 in the next few weeks.

VIDEO CHARTS

Rental Rental Weeks Top Ranking Ranking 2 On Rental Rentals Weeks Ago Chart Chart 1.”Cocktail” 2 2 6 (Touchstone) 2.”Big” 1 1 9 (CBS-Fox) 3.”The Accused” 7 32 3 (Paramount) 4.”Gorillas in the Mist” 3 3 6 (MCA) 5.”Tucker” 4 5 6 (Paramount) *”Coming to America” ... ... 1 (Paramount)