National Video Rentals : People Want to Watch ‘Sliver’

The best advertisement for the home-video release of “Made in America,” starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson, was their heavily publicized--and criticized--blackface skit at a Friars Club roast. Their romance is over but many fans now are curious about the movie they were making when they first got involved. Though it grossed nearly $42 million, the comedy was considered somewhat of a box-office disappointment because a much higher total was expected. But it’s off to a fast start on video, entering the chart at No. 5. “Sliver,” Sharon Stone’s latest sexy movie, is the hottest rental, steaming to the top of the chart. It’s in bigger demand than the Sylvester Stallone action thriller “Cliffhanger,” which grossed more than twice as much money. At just about any other time, third-ranked “Cliffhanger” would be No. 1--and it still may be--but so far the competition has been too tough. In the family-film rental market, “Free Willy” (No. 4) is soaring high above the challengers.

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1.”Sliver” 2 3 2.”Indecent Proposal” 1 7 3. “Cliffhanger” 8 2 4. “Free Willy” 6 3 5. “Made in America” ... 1 6. “Dennis the Menace” 3 5 7. “Groundhog Day” 9 15 8. “Point of No Return” 10 14 9. “Posse” 4 5 10. “The Sandlot” 7 6 * “Life With Mikey” ... 1

* Cutesy, feel-good “Life With Mikey,” starring Michael J. Fox, was hardly a box-office blockbuster ($11.9-million gross). But it debuted on the rental chart at a respectable No. 18 and has a good shot at making the Top 10. Perfect for those family gatherings, it should get a lot of rental action in the next few weeks.

Source: Billboard Publications Inc.