Comedy Proves Tempting to Renters

Comedy really is king in the summer rental market. Of the top six titles on the Billboard rental chart, five are comedies. The only drama is “The Accused,” which boasts Jodie Foster’s Oscar-winning performance. The newest addition to the Top Five, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (No. 3), may just be the next No. 1 rental. “Twins,” a perennial also-ran to “Coming to America,” may soon run out of gas. “The Accidental Tourist” jumped from No. 10 to No. 6. Rental chart debuts: “Cocoon: the Return” (No. 13) and “Torch Song Trilogy” (No. 24). On the sales chart, the new No. 1 video is “Pink Floyd: Delicate Sound of Thunder.”

*Director Martin Scorsese’s controversial “The Last Temptation of Christ” is proving to be quite a temptation for renters. In its second chart week, it jumped from No. 34 to No. 11. Since none of the anticipated protests against video stores have materialized, those who were scared away from theaters last year by all the protests are flocking to rent it.

VIDEO CHARTS

Rental Rental Weeks Top Ranking Ranking 2 On Rental Rentals Last Week Weeks Ago Chart 1.”Coming to America” 1 1 8 (Paramount) 2.”Twins” 2 3 4 (MCA) 3.”Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” 5 8 3 (Orion) 4.”The Accused” 3 2 10 (Paramount) 5.”My Stepmother Is an Alien” 4 5 5 (RCA/Columbia) *”The Last Temptation of Christ” 34 ... 2 (MCA)