National Video Rentals : ‘Fugitive’ Just Keeps on Running

One of these weeks, “The Fugitive” will finally run out of gas. But its top-of-the-chart status continues, even though some retailers are reporting rentals are down somewhat from the huge early numbers. “Cool Runnings,” No. 5 after two weeks, seems to have cornered the comedy market. Featuring the late John Candy, the Disneyesque spin on the story of Jamaica’s Olympic bobsled team is one of only two comedies in the Top 15. The other, “The Beverly Hillbillies,” isn’t tickling that many funny bones. It hasn’t made much progress in three weeks, holding at No. 13. Debuts: “Another Stakeout,” with Richard Dreyfuss, at No. 17, and “Mr. Jones,” starring Richard Gere, No. 20.

* Don’t let the low (No. 38) rental-chart debut fool you. “Mrs. Doubtfire” really is a big video hit. One reason for the low opening is that it’s also on the sales market, discounted to $14-$15 in many outlets. So the hard-core fans are buying it rather than renting. It should move into the Top 5 next week.

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1.”The Fugitive” 1 7 2.”Carlito’s Way” 3 3 3.”What’s Love Got to Do With It” 2 5 4.”The Joy Luck Club” 5 4 5.”Cool Runnings” 10 2 6.”In the Line of Fire” 4 11 7.”The Good Son” 6 7 8.”Malice” 12 2 9.”Demolition Man” 7 8 10.”The Age of Innocence” 8 3 *”Mrs. Doubtfire” ... 1

Source: Billboard Publications Inc.