National Video Rentals : ‘Boomerang’ Still a Booming No. 1

The rise of “Boomerang,� the romantic comedy starring Eddie Murphy, was no one-week fluke. It’s still outdistancing the competition, although in some regions it’s getting a strong challenge from another romantic comedy, “Housesitter,� starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. “Housesitter,� which seemed like a sure No. 1 rental when it came out last month, has been boxed out by the blockbuster movies. But with “Lethal Weapon 3� (No. 2) and “Patriot Games� (No. 4) finally starting to slip, “Housesitter� is making a move (up a notch to No. 3) and may soon be sitting on top of the chart. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer� (No. 8) continues to do surprisingly good business, mostly among teen-age renters. Newcomer “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,� based on the TV series, moved up three notches to No. 18, but some retailers say it’s already peaked.

* This thriller/love story featuring Melanie Griffith as a tough New York cop got some bad reviews and wasn’t a box-office blockbuster ($12.1-million gross). Still, it premiered at No. 14 and could be a Top 10 rental. The reason, according to some retailers, is that Griffith has a strong female following in the rental market.

National Video Rentals

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1.�Boomerang� 1 4 2.�Lethal Weapon 3� 2 8 3.�Housesitter� 4 5 4.�Patriot Games� 3 9 5.�Honey, I Blew Up the Kid� 7 3 6.�Sister Act� 5 11 7.�Universal Soldier� 8 7 8.�Buffy the Vampire Slayer� 6 4 9.�Basic Instinct� 10 14 10.�Prelude to a Kiss� 12 5 * “A Stranger Among Us� ... 1

Source: Billboard Publications Inc.