VIDEO RENTALS : A New High for ‘Pacific Heights’

“Pacific Heights,” the thriller starring Michael Keaton and Melanie Griffith, rose to new heights--from No. 4 to No. 2 on the Billboard magazine chart. It would clearly be the top rental if “Ghost,” which will reign for at least the next few weeks, wasn’t spooking away all competition. But “Pacific Heights” will be battling newcomer “Presumed Innocent”--up three notches to No. 3--for the runner-up spot. “White Palace,” with Susan Sarandon and James Spader playing a older woman and younger man involved in a romance, is one of the hottest new rentals on the chart, jumping from No. 17 to No. 8. Other debuts: David Lynch’s seamy drama “Wild at Heart” (No. 18) and the period gangster movie “Miller’s Crossing” (No. 21). That NC-17 rating has probably boosted interest in “Henry & June,” which is up eight notches to No. 15.

Ranking Weeks Ranking 2 Weeks On Rental Top Rentals Last Week Ago Chart 1. “Ghost” (Paramount) 1 3 3 2. “Pacific Heights” (Fox Video) 4 10 3 3. “Presumed Innocent” (Warner) 6 ... 2 4. “Flatliners” (RCA/Columbia) 2 2 8 5. “Arachnophobia” (Hollywood) 3 1 6 * “Memphis Belle” (Warner Bros.) ... ... 1

* This World War II action/drama about B-17 pilots, co-starring Matthew Modine and Eric Stoltz, did fairly well at the box office, grossing more than $26.3 million. The key to the success of “Memphis Belle” in the rental market is fans’ feelings about war after the cease-fire in the Persian Gulf. If they’re not fed up with watching war action, “Memphis Belle” might do very well. It debuted at No. 12.