National Video Rentals : ‘Proposal’: Love Conquers All

“Indecent Proposal” finally took its expected spot at the top of the rental chart, moving up five places and brushing aside “Point of No Return.” Some retailers speculate that “Proposal’s” race to the top was slowed by Halloween, when renters were in a horror mode. But now they can’t seem to get enough of this love-conquers-all tale, which is whipping the competition by huge margins in some stores. “Dennis the Menace,” which is more similar to the blockbuster “Home Alone” movies than the old TV series, entered at No. 9 and should crack the Top 5 next week. It did well at the box office, grossing more than $50 million. The remake of “Born Yesterday,” featuring Melanie Griffith and John Goodman, opened at No. 18. This comedy, which earned $17.8 million, has a good shot at the Top 10 on sheer star power (Don Johnson co-stars). “Cop and a Half,” which has been doing relatively mild business so far, moved up four notches to No. 14.

* This Western about black cowboys didn’t do very well in theaters--$16.4-million gross--but it could lasso a prime slot in the Top 10. Director-star Mario Van Peebles’ movie is almost there now, charging onto the chart at No. 13.

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1.”Indecent Proposal” 5 3 2.”Point of No Return” 1 9 3.”Falling Down” 4 12 4.”Groundhog Day” 2 9 5.”Aladdin” 3 5 6.”National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1” 7 7 7.”Alive” 6 9 8.”Scent of a Woman” 8 14 9.”Dennis the Menace” ... 1 10.”Fire in the Sky” 9 7 *”Posse” ... 1

Source: Billboard Publications Inc.