National Video Rentals : ‘Boomerang’ Still a Booming No. 1

The rise of “Boomerang,” the romantic comedy starring Eddie Murphy, was no one-week fluke. It’s still outdistancing the competition, although in some regions it’s getting a strong challenge from another romantic comedy, “Housesitter,” starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. “Housesitter,” which seemed like a sure No. 1 rental when it came out last month, has been boxed out by the blockbuster movies. But with “Lethal Weapon 3” (No. 2) and “Patriot Games” (No. 4) finally starting to slip, “Housesitter” is making a move (up a notch to No. 3) and may soon be sitting on top of the chart. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (No. 8) continues to do surprisingly good business, mostly among teen-age renters. Newcomer “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,” based on the TV series, moved up three notches to No. 18, but some retailers say it’s already peaked.

* This thriller/love story featuring Melanie Griffith as a tough New York cop got some bad reviews and wasn’t a box-office blockbuster ($12.1-million gross). Still, it premiered at No. 14 and could be a Top 10 rental. The reason, according to some retailers, is that Griffith has a strong female following in the rental market.

National Video Rentals

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1.”Boomerang” 1 4 2.”Lethal Weapon 3” 2 8 3.”Housesitter” 4 5 4.”Patriot Games” 3 9 5.”Honey, I Blew Up the Kid” 7 3 6.”Sister Act” 5 11 7.”Universal Soldier” 8 7 8.”Buffy the Vampire Slayer” 6 4 9.”Basic Instinct” 10 14 10.”Prelude to a Kiss” 12 5 * “A Stranger Among Us” ... 1

Source: Billboard Publications Inc.