Video Rental Chart : ‘Backdraft’ Burns Up ‘Lambs’

In a surprise move, “Backdraft” blew by “The Silence of the Lambs” to take over the top spot of the Billboard magazine rental chart. Based on reports from some retailers, “Lambs” figured to lounge in the No. 1 position for at least a few more weeks. But “Backdraft,” the action drama about Chicago firefighters, is doing red-hot business in many markets. Some attribute the surge to the appeal of co-star Robert De Niro, who’s all the rage now due to his performance in “Cape Fear.” Speaking of De Niro, his newest home-video entry, “Guilty by Suspicion,” jumped from No. 31 to No. 15. Next week, he may have two in the Top 10. “Mortal Thoughts,” which did good but not bang-up box office business ($18 million), is the surprise rental hit of the fall, inching up a notch to No. 5.

* The staggeringly expensive “Hudson Hawk,” starring Bruce Willis, got the worst reviews of any major movie last summer, even topping the nasty notices that doused “Bonfire of the Vanities”--another Willis epic--last Christmas. Will renters flock to “Hawk,” a box-office turkey? Probably not. But it did enter the chart at No. 16.

Ranking Weeks Ranking 2 Weeks Top Rentals Last Week Ago 1. “Backdraft” (MCA/Universal) 2 4 2. “The Silence of the Lambs” (Orion) 1 1 3. “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” (Warner) 3 2 4. “What About Bob?” (Touchstone) 4 8 5. “Mortal Thoughts” (Columbia Tri-Star) 6 12 * “Hudson Hawk” (Columbia Tri-Star) ... ...

On Rental Top Rentals Chart 1. “Backdraft” (MCA/Universal) 4 2. “The Silence of the Lambs” (Orion) 5 3. “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” (Warner) 5 4. “What About Bob?” (Touchstone) 4 5. “Mortal Thoughts” (Columbia Tri-Star) 4 * “Hudson Hawk” (Columbia Tri-Star) 1