National Video Rentals : ‘Bodyguard’ Finally Hits Top Spot

“The Bodyguard” finally takes its rightful place at the top of the rental chart. Some stores have been reporting that the romantic thriller has consistently been their top rental--thanks to those fanatical Kevin Costner fans who’d watch him in anything . Even negative reviews didn’t keep his loyal followers away. It’s hard for second-ranked “Unforgiven,” a Western appealing mostly to males who’d probably rent it once, to compete with “The Bodyguard,” which some of Costner’s female fans might rent several times. Despite its three-hours-plus length, “Malcolm X” continues to do strong business (No. 8). Clearly the most popular new action movie is “Nowhere to Run,” starring Jean-Claude Van Damme--up four places to No. 10. Among the new movies, “Sniper,” the adventure starring Tom Berenger, opened at No. 15, and “Untamed Heart,” the romantic tale featuring Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei, entered at No. 18. Both have a shot at the Top 10.

This Richard Gere-Jodie Foster romance, bolstered by the mystery surrounding the Gere character’s identity, should be a hot rental through early fall. A solid box-office attraction, it sold $46.4 million worth of tickets. It premiered at No. 11 on the rental chart, should easily make the Top 10 and could even reach No. 1.

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1.”The Bodyguard” 2 5 2.”Unforgiven” 1 5 3.”A FewGood Men” 3 6 4.”Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” 6 2 5.”Scent of a Woman” 7 2 6.”The Crying Game” 4 5 7.”Bram Stoker’s Dracula” 5 7 8.”Malcolm X” 9 3 9.”Forever Young” 8 9 10.”Nowhere to Run” 14 2 *”Sommersby” -- 1

Source: Billboard Publications Inc.