National Video Rentals : Room at Top for ‘White Female’

“Single White Female,” which grossed more than $46 million, figured to be a video hit--but not this big this fast. Surprisingly, the sexy thriller, featuring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh as roommates, premiered at the top of the rental chart. Initially, it’s doing better than some blockbuster hits that grossed several times more in theaters and seemed like sure-fire rental smashes. Some retailers report this thriller is one of their biggest hits in the last six months. One theory is that the seductive theatrical ad campaign from late last summer stuck in the minds of fans, who didn’t see the movie in theaters but were eagerly awaiting the home video release. Fans must be in a thriller mood right now. “Raising Cain,” starring John Lithgow, is an instant hit too, rocketing to No. 3 in just two weeks. It wasn’t a big theatrical hit--$20.5 million--and many critics trashed it, so its success is also a surprise.

* Striking a victory for derivative, kid-oriented action movies, “3 Ninjas” was the second fastest-rising rental after “Single White Female,” shooting up to No. 12 from No. 32.

National Video Rentals

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1.”Single WhiteFemale” 1 2.”Housesitter” 3 7 3.”RaisingCain” 9 2 4.”Boomerang” 1 6 5.”Patriot Games” 4 11 6.”Honey, I Blew Up the Kid” 5 5 7.”A Stranger Among Us” 10 3 8.”Lethal Weapon 3” 2 10 9.”Diggstown” 16 2 10.”Universal Soldier” 7 9 * “3 Ninjas” 32 2

SOURCE: Billboard Publications Inc.