Video Rental Charts : ‘Enemy’ Not Sleeping

Fans were so crazy about Julia Roberts after “Pretty Woman” that they flocked to see her “Sleeping With the Enemy” (box-office gross: $100 million) even though most critics thoroughly trashed the thriller. Since movies that rake in that kind of money always do well in home video, this one is ticketed for the top. It entered the Billboard magazine rental chart at No. 5 and may move “Misery” out of the No. 1 spot next week. Defying the unwritten rule that movie hunks can’t effectively play serious roles, Mel Gibson starred in “Hamlet,” getting generally good notices. The movie, which pulled in $20 million at the box office, is doing OK on home video, leaping from No. 38 to No. 18 in its second chart week. The Jean-Claude Van Damme epic “Lionheart” debuted at No. 17.

* “The Russia House,” the spy drama starring Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer, disappointed at the box office, but its considerable star power has made it a hot home-video title. After entering the chart last week at No. 11, it jumped to No. 6 and will likely go higher.

Ranking Weeks Ranking 2 Weeks On Rental Top Rentals Last Week Ago Chart 1. “Misery” (Nelson) 1 7 3 2. “GoodFellas” (Warner) 2 1 7 3. “Edward Scissorhands” (FoxVideo) 3 3 5 4. “Kindergarten Cop” (MCA/Universal) 4 2 8 5. “Sleeping With the Enemy” (FoxVideo) ... ... 1 *”The Russia House” (MGM/UA) 11 -- 2