National Video Rentals : ‘Death’ Off to Lively Start

Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn playing surly middle-aged women battling over a nerd (Bruce Willis) attracted a sizable audience to “Death Become Her” in theaters (gross: nearly $59 million). It’s off to a bang-up start on home video, landing in fifth place in its first week. “Death” has a chance to unseat “Single White Female” for the top spot, but the competition from strong contenders such as second-ranked “Unlawful Entry” may be too tough. “Patriot Games,” which came out around Thanksgiving, is still hanging in the Top 10. Some retailers report that it’s among the Top 5 rentals after all this time. The black action-comedy “Mo’ Money” moved from No. 11 to No. 7 and may crack the Top 5, but doesn’t appear to be a serious challenger for No. 1. “The Waterdance,” starring Wesley Snipes in a drama about paraplegics, entered at No. 22, but is a long shot to make the Top 10.

* “A League of Their Own,” about a women’s baseball league in the early ‘40s, is a favorite to soon be in a league of its own. It premiered at No. 26 on the rental chart but should zoom to the top of the chart. One of last year’s blockbusters, it featured Geena Davis and Tom Hanks and grossed more than $105 million in theaters.

National Video Rentals

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1.”Single White Female” 1 3 2.”Unlawful Entry” 4 2 3.”Raising Cain” 2 4 4.”Boomerang” 3 8 5.”Death Becomes Her” 1 6.”Housesitter” 5 9 7.”Mo’ Money” 11 2 8.”Patriot Games” 6 13 9.”Honey, I Blew Up the Kid” 7 7 10.”Diggstown” 8 4 * “A League of Their Own” 1

Source: Billboard Publications Inc.