RENTAL ROUNDUP 1998-01-12

'Jerry Maguire' Finds the Money

ough-priced titles, "Jerry Maguire" and "Liar Liar," topped a list of 1997's best-renting movies compiled for the Video Software Dealers Association here by its VidTrac service.

All the other titles on the Top 10 list had been released initially to the rental market. In order these movies were: "First Wives Club," "Ransom," "Phenomenon," "Scream," "Michael," "The Long Kiss Goodnight," "Sleepers" and "The Ghost and the Darkness."

The VSDA also identified the top-renting titles in 10 genres. The top movie in the action genre was "Ransom"; in drama, "Phenomenon"; in children's, "Space Jam"; in comedy, "Jerry Maguire"; in documentary, "When We Were Kings"; in family, "Jingle All the Way"; in horror, "The Relic"; in musical, "Evita"; in suspense, "Scream"; and in science fiction, "Star Trek: Generations." All three of the special-edition "Star Wars" re-releases made the Top 5 of the science-fiction genre.

Buena Vista Opens PPV Window Wider

BURBANK, Calif. -- The average pay-per-view window for 1998 titles announced so far by Buena Vista Home Entertainment here is 60 days, up from 50 days in 1997, the company said.

"We have heard retailers' concerns and we are now laying out an aggressive agenda for extending PPV windows to help them protect their profit potential," said Mitch Koch, general manager for North America. Examples of the longer windows are 55 days on "G.I. Jane" and "Mimic"; 60 days on "She's So Lovely," "A Thousand Acres" and "Shall We Dance"; and 100 days on "Love Serenade," "Squeeze," "Royal Deceit" and "Night and the Moment."

Buena Vista also has increased its media spending for 1998 in television, radio and print to support its rental titles. "We are confident that our larger media spend will drive in-store traffic and increase consumer satisfaction," said Koch.

'The Full Monty' Unveiling March 10

BEVERLY HILLS -- "The Full Monty," which was a surprise theatrical hit generating more than $100 million at the box office, will be released by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment here March 10. The critically acclaimed comedy will prebook Feb. 20 and will be supported by a national radio advertising campaign.

Top 10 Supermarket Video Rental Titles

Title (Weeks Out) Studio Retail Last Week

1Con Air (2) Buena Vista $107.11 1

2Men In Black (4) Columbia $23.95 2

3My Best Friend's Wedding (1) Columbia $22.95 New

4The Lost World (7) Universal $22.98 5

5George of the Jungle (3) Buena Vista $22.99 3

6Face/Off (6) Paramount $105.52 4

7Speed 2: Cruise Control (3) Fox $107.12 6

8Liar Liar (13) Universal $22.98 8

9Austin Powers (10) New Line $103.91 *

10Batman & Robin (9) Warner$22.98 9

The chart at right, tailored for the supermarket video market, is based on information taken from more than 1,000 supermarket rental locations serviced by Ingram Entertainment, La Vergne, Tenn.