‘Rain Man’ Comes on Strong

“Beaches,” the tear-jerker box-office hit starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, roared up the Billboard magazine rental chart to No. 4 in just two weeks. It has an outside chance of making No. 1 next week. A rise to No. 2 is more likely. “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” was a box-office surprise, raking in more than $39 million. The critics thought this comic fantasy, starring unknowns Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves as teen-agers cavorting with heroes in past centuries, was stupid, but it certainly turns on teen-age fans. It debuted at No. 17 and should make the Top 10--possibly the Top Five. “Tap,” starring Gregory Hines, climbed nine notches to No. 22. “Disorganized Crime,” the caper comedy featuring Lou Diamond Phillips, is up to No. 25.

*”Rain Man,” which was last year’s box-office champ ($170 million) and best-picture Oscar winner, looms as the fall’s biggest rental hit. Starring Dustin Hoffman (best actor Oscar) and Tom Cruise, it debuted at No. 6 but could be No. 1 next week. Though MGM/UA shipped a record 602,000 copies to retailers, it’s such a hot rental title that it’s hard to find in many video stores.

VIDEO CHARTS

Rental Rental Weeks Top Ranking Ranking 2 On Rental Rentals Last Week Weeks Ago Chart 1.”Tequila Sunrise” 1 2 5 (Warner) 2.”Mississippi Burning” 2 1 6 (Orion) 3.”The Naked Gun” 4 11 3 (Paramount) 4.”Beaches” 16 ... 2 (Touchstone) 5.”Dangerous Liaisons” 6 4 8 (Warner) *”Rain Man” ... ... 1 (MGM/UA)