Video Rental Chart : ‘Wolves’ Keeps a Lock on No. 1

It doesn’t look like any movie is going to cut in on “Dances With Wolves,” the Billboard magazine rental chart leader by a wide margin--at least until late October, when “The Godfather Part III” makes its chart debut. “The Hard Way,” the action comedy starring Michael J. Fox and James Woods, moved up two notches to No. 6, but doesn’t appear to have enough appeal to seriously challenge “Wolves.” Renters seem to like Sylvester Stallone as a comic actor. His “Oscar,” which grossed a tidy $22 million in theaters, is No. 9 after two weeks on the rental chart. “Perfect Weapon” did OK box-office business--$12 million--for a movie without a big star. Starring newcomer Jeff Speakman, who’s being hyped as the next Steven Seagal, it’s doing respectably in the rental market too--entering the chart at No. 20.

* This sequel to Disney’s animated hit, “The Rescuers,” has the courageous mice rescuing a boy and and eagle in Australia. “The Rescuers Down Under,” which earned a decent $27 million in theaters, debuted at No. 12 on the rental chart. But, priced at $24.99, it’s really geared to buyers--Christmas shoppers in particular.

Ranking Weeks Ranking 2 Weeks On Rental Top Rentals Last Week Ago Chart 1. “Dances With Wolves” (Orion) 1 2 5 2. “Home Alone” (FoxVideo) 2 1 5 3. “Awakenings” (RCA/Columbia) 3 3 8 4. “New Jack City” (Warner) 5 5 8 5. “Sleeping With the Enemy” (FoxVideo) 4 4 9 * “The Rescuers Down Under” (Disney) .. ... 1