2006

Rental Chart: May 7, 2006

The Family Stone – $7.7 M (Total: $7.7 M)
Last Holiday – $6.4 M (Total: $6.4 M)
Aeon Flux – $5.7 M (Total: $13.3 M)
Fun with Dick and Jane – $4.6 M (Total: $23.5 M)
Hostel – $4.5 M (Total: $16.0 M)
Tristan + Isolde – $4.5 M (Total: $9.6 M)
Match Point – $4.4 M (Total: $9.4 M)
Hoodwinked – $4.3 M (Total: $4.3 M)
Casanova – $3.9 M (Total: $8.4 M)
Shopgirl – $3.8 M (Total: $8.1 M)

The Family Stone has an imipressive debut with Last Holiday a not-so-close second.

-Wesley Lovell (May 7, 2006)

Rental Chart: May 14, 2006

Munich – $7.6 M (Total: $7.6 M)
The Family Stone – $6.7 M (Total: $14.4 M)
Last Holiday – $5.8 M (Total: $12.2 M)
Big Momma’s House 2 – $5.7 M (Total: $5.7 M)
Rumor Has It – $5.5 M (Total: $5.5 M)
The New World – $5.3 M (Total: $5.3 M)
Aeon Flux – $4.9 M (Total: $18.2 M)
Tristan + Isolde – $3.8 M (Total: $13.4 M)
Hostel – $3.8 M (Total: $19.8 M)
Match Point – $3.7 M (Total: $13.1 M)

Terrorism drama Munich makes its debut at the top of the chart, unseating last week’s number 1 The Family Stone.

-Wesley Lovell (May 14, 2006)

Rental Chart: May 21, 2006

The Ringer – $7.9 M (Total: $7.9 M)
When a Stranger Calls – $7.5 M (Total: $7.5 M)
Munich – $6.6 M (Total: $14.3 M)
The Family Stone – $5.8 M (Total: $20.2 M)
The Producers – $5.7 M (Total: $5.7 M)
Last Holiday – $4.97 M (Total: $17.2 M)
Big Momma’s House 2 – $4.92 M (Total: $10.6 M)
Rumor Has It – $4.8 M (Total: $10.3 M)
The New World – $4.3 M (Total: $9.7 M)
Fun with Dick and Jane – $3.4 M (Total: $30.5 M)

Last week’s entire top 6 drops on the chart to make way for top-ranked newcomer The Ringer , second-place finisher When a Stranger Calls and The Producers which enters in fifth. Fun with Dick and Jane makes a return to the top 10.

-Wesley Lovell (May 21, 2006)

Rental Chart: May 28, 2006

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 – $7.3 M (Total: $7.3 M)
The Ringer – $6.3 M (Total: $14.2 M)
When a Stranger Calls – $5.83 M (Total: $13.3 M)
Munich – $5.7 M (Total: $20.0 M)
The Producers – $4.9 M (Total: $10.7 M)
The Family Stone – $4.8 M (Total: $25.0 M)
Transamerica – $4.4 M (Total: $4.4 M)
Big Momma’s House 2 – $4.2 M (Total: $14.8 M)
Last Holiday – $4.17 M (Total: $21.3 M)
Rumor Has It – $4.14 M (Total: $14.5 M)

Only The Producers avoids a position fall. Cheaper by the Dozen 2 debuts in the top spot. Transamerica premieres in 7th.

-Wesley Lovell (May 28, 2006)

Rental Chart: June 4, 2006

Date Movie – $9.6 M (Total: $9.6 M)
Freedomland – $8.8 M (Total: $8.8 M)
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 – $6.3 M (Total: $13.6 M)
The Ringer – $5.4 M (Total: $19.7 M)
When a Stranger Calls – $5.0 M (Total: $18.3 M)
Munich – $4.1 M (Total: $24.1 M)
Rumor Has It – $3.9 M (Total: $18.4 M)
The Family Stone – $3.9 M (Total: $28.9 M)
Transamerica – $3.8 M (Total: $8.1 M)
Last Holiday – $3.7 M (Total: $25.1 M)

The Producers didn’t move last week but it disappeared this week falling completely out of the top 10. Date Movie debuted at number 1 followed by Freedomland.

-Wesley Lovell (June 4, 2006)

Rental Chart: June 11, 2006

Firewall – $9.99 M (Total: $9.99 M)
Underworld: Evolution – $9.47 M (Total: $9.47 M)
Glory Road – $8.47 M (Total: $8.47 M)
Date Movie – $8.34 M (Total: $17.9 M)
Freedomland – $7.62 M (Total: $16.4 M)
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 – $5.45 M (Total: $19.1 M)
Running Scared – $5.13 M (Total: $5.13 M)
The Ringer – $4.57 M (Total: $24.3 M)
When a Stranger Calls – $3.83 M (Total: $22.1 M)
Rumor Has It – $3.49 M (Total: $21.9 M)

Four newcomers sent films slipping down the charts. Firewall debuted at the top followed by Underworld: Evolution and Glory Road. Running Scared was the fourth and it premiered at 7th. Between 3rd and 7th positions, last week’s top 3 found rest while the remaining films of the top five slipped just below Running Scared leaving Rumor Has It to slide slightly to 10th.

-Wesley Lovell (June 11, 2006)

Rental Chart: June 18, 2006

The Pink Panther– $9.9 M (Total: $9.9 M)
16 Blocks– $9.5 M (Total: $9.5 M)
Firewall– $8.1 M (Total: $18.1 M)
Underworld: Evolution– $7.7 M (Total: $17.1 M)
Glory Road– $6.9 M (Total: $15.4 M)
Date Movie– $6.6 M (Total: $24.5 M)
Freedomland– $5.97 M (Total: $22.3 M)
Aquamarine– $4.9 M (Total: $4.9 M)
Running Scared– $4.5 M (Total: $9.6 M)
Cheaper by the Dozen 2– $4.4 M (Total: $23.4 M)

The Pink Panther makes a not-so-surprising debut at the top of the chart followed by 16 Blocks. Aquamarine fills the “debut this week, fall off the chart next week” slot at number 8.

-Wesley Lovell (June 18, 2006)

Rental Chart: June 25, 2006

Syriana – $10.2 M (Total: $10.2 M)
The Hills Have Eyes – $9.4 M (Total: $9.4 M)
The Pink Panther – $8.6 M (Total: $18.5 M)
16 Blocks – $8.2 M (Total: $17.7 M)
Eight Below – $8.1 M (Total: $8.1 M)
Firewall – $7.0 M (Total: $25.1 M)
Underworld: Evolution – $6.7 M (Total: $23.8 M)
Glory Road – $6.0 M (Total: $21.4 M)
Date Movie – $4.8 M (Total: $29.3 M)
Freedomland – $4.7 M (Total: $27.0 M)

Surprisingly, Syrian starring Oscar winner George Clooney tops the list. The more likely winner, horror remake The Hills Have Eyes has to live with being second while the rest of the chart pretty much just shifts down.

-Wesley Lovell (June 25, 2006)

Rental Chart: July 2, 2006

Failure to Launch – $11.6 M (Total: $11.6 M)
Syriana – $8.9 M (Total: $19.1 M)
The Hills Have Eyes – $8.1 M (Total: $17.5 M)
Eight Below – $7.4 M (Total: $15.5 M)
Ultraviolet – $7.2 M (Total: $7.18 M)
16 Blocks – $7.1 M (Total: $24.8 M)
The Pink Panther – $6.9 M (Total: $25.4 M)
Annapolis – $6.2 M (Total: $6.23 M)
Firewall – $6.0 M (Total: $31.1 M)
Madea’s Family Reunion – $5.9 M (Total: $5.9 M)

In an unusual movie for a rental, in its second week on the chart, Eight Below moves back up one spot to number 4. Meanwhile, the rest of the chart sees typical drops with the debut of Failure to Launch at number 1 followed by a surprisingly low debut for the film likely to come in second on the sales chart next week Ultraviolet. Annapolis bombed in the theaters and appears to be bombing here in the rentals chart as well.

-Wesley Lovell (July 2, 2006)

Rental Chart: July 7, 2006

Failure to Launch – $9.3 M (Total: $21.0 M)
The Matador – $7.3 M (Total: $7.3 M)
Syriana – $7.1 M (Total: $26.2 M)
The Hills Have Eyes – $6.9 M (Total: $24.4 M)
Eight Below – $6.4 M (Total: $21.8 M)
Ultraviolet – $6.3 M (Total: $13.4 M)
16 Blocks – $5.6 M (Total: $30.4 M)
The Pink Panther – $5.5 M (Total: $30.9 M)
Annapolis – $5.4 M (Total: $11.6 M)
Madea’s Family Reunion – $5.2 M (Total: $11.1 M)

Following last week’s unusual move, we have this week’s unexpected lack of change. Firewall falls out of the chart, everything above shifts down one except Failure to Launch which becomes the first film since Fun with Dick and Jane in April to stick a second week at the top. The unexpected move comes as the box office failure The Matador makes a weak debut on the chart.

-Wesley Lovell (July 7, 2006)

Rental Chart: July 14, 2006

Failure to Launch – $7.5 M (Total: $28.5 M)
The Matador – $6.2 M (Total: $13.6 M)
Basic Instinct 2 – $5.8 M (Total: $5.8 M)
Syriana – $5.7 M (Total: $31.9 M)
The Hills Have Eyes – $5.5 M (Total: $29.8 M)
Ultraviolet – $5.4 M (Total: $18.8 M)
Eight Below – $5.1 M (Total: $26.9 M)
Annapolis – $4.7 M (Total: $16.3 M)
16 Blocks – $4.5 M (Total: $34.9 M)
The Pink Panther – $4.4 M (Total: $35.4 M)

In another apparent lack of shake-up, the Top 10 remains virtually unchanged with only newcomer Basic Instinct 2coming out of the gate. However, in its third place finish, it left Failure to Launch atop the chart for a third week. This marks the first time since Die Another Day in June of 2003 that a film has stayed perched atop the chart that long. Next week, we’ll see the debut of the film She’s the Man. It could easily top the charts after three weeks of unimpressive debuts. If not, it could be four weeks at the top for Failure which would definitely fall the following week opposite The Benchwarmers and Final Destination 3. If it can hold on a fourth week, it will be the first film since Spider-Man in November 2002 to do so.

-Wesley Lovell (July 14, 2006)

Rental Chart: July 21, 2006

She’s the Man – $6.9 M (Total: $6.9 M)
Failure to Launch – $5.7 M (Total: $34.2 M)
Syriana – $4.6 M (Total: $36.4 M)
The Matador – $4.5 M (Total: $18.0 M)
The Hills Have Eyes – $4.4 M (Total: $34.3 M)
ATL – $4.4 M (Total: $4.4 M)
Basic Instinct 2 – $4.14 M (Total: $9.9 M)
Eight Below – $4.11 M (Total: $31.0 M)
Ultraviolet – $4.1 M (Total: $22.9 M)
16 Blocks – $3.8 M (Total: $38.7 M)

Failure to Launch proved no match to She’s the Man which debuted atop the rentals chart this week. Basic Instinct 2 plummeted to 7th from its 3rd-place debut and Syriana becomes the only film to rise from its previous week’s ranking. The only other debut is rollerskating drama ATL which premiers at 6. Next week, we’ll see The Benchwarmers debut at the top of the heap.

-Wesley Lovell (July 21, 2006)

Rental Chart: July 30, 2006

The Benchwarmers – $11.8 M (Total: $11.8 M)
Final Destination 3 – $9.2 M (Total: $9.2 M)
She’s the Man – $6.0 M (Total: $12.9 M)
Failure to Launch – $4.6 M (Total: $38.8 M)
ATL – $3.8 M (Total: $8.21 M)
Syriana – $3.5 M (Total: $39.9 M)
The Matador – $3.4 M (Total: $21.4 M)
The Hills Have Eyes – $3.4 M (Total: $37.6 M)
Eight Below – $3.11 M (Total: $34.1 M)
Basic Instinct 2 – $3.07 M (Total: $13.0 M)

As expected, The Benchwarmers and Final Destination 3 took the top two spots on the chart. ATL maintains strong placement on the list, as does Syriana which has been in the top 10 now for 6 weeks now (as has The Hills Have Eyes.

-Wesley Lovell (July 30, 2006)

Rental Chart: August 6, 2006

V for Vendetta – $9.43 M (Total: $9.43 M)
The Benchwarmers – $9.22 M (Total: $21.0 M)
Final Destination 3 – $7.96 M (Total: $17.1 M)
The Shaggy Dog – $7.71 M (Total: $7.71 M)
She’s the Man – $4.89 M (Total: $17.8 M)
Failure to Launch – $3.66 M (Total: $42.5 M)
ATL – $3.12 M (Total: $11.3 M)
The Matador – $2.71 M (Total: $24.1 M)
Syriana – $2.65 M (Total: $42.5 M)
The Hills Have Eyes – $2.57 M (Total: $40.2 M)

-Wesley Lovell (August 6, 2006)

Rental Chart: August 13, 2006

Inside Man – $9.89 M (Total: $9.89 M)
V for Vendetta – $7.79 M (Total: $17.2 M)
The Benchwarmers – $7.54 M (Total: $28.5 M)
Final Destination 3 – $6.50 M (Total: $23.6 M)
The Shaggy Dog – $5.92 M (Total: $13.6 M)
Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector – $4.38 M (Total: $4.38 M)
Bring It On: All or Nothing – $3.76 M (Total: $3.76 M)
She’s the Man – $3.70 M (Total: $21.4 M)
Failure to Launch – $2.83 M (Total: $45.3 M)
ATL – $2.36 M (Total: $13.7 M)

Syriana‘s amazing 2-month run in the Top 10 has ended as it falls out leaving Failure to Launch, at 7 weeks, the longest lasting film on rental shelves. Inside Man knocked V off its perch to top the rental chart this week while two other features, the film sequel Bring It On: All Or Nothing and the Blue Collar comedy Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector both debuted unimpressively.

-Wesley Lovell (August 13, 2006)

Rental Chart: August 20, 2006

Inside Man – $8.61 M (Total: $18.5 M)
RV – $8.42 M (Total: $8.42 M)
Scary Movie 4 – $8.05 M (Total: $8.05 M)
V for Vendetta – $6.37 M (Total: $23.6 M)
The Benchwarmers – $6.01 M (Total: $34.5 M)
Final Destination 3 – $5.19 M (Total: $28.8 M)
The Shaggy Dog – $5.09 M (Total: $18.7 M)
Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector – $3.81 M (Total: $8.19 M)
Bring It On: All or Nothing – $3.27 M (Total: $7.03 M)
She’s the Man – $3.03 M (Total: $24.5 M)

Everything slides down the chart two positions this week (except #1 movie Inside Man which holds the top spot for a second week) to make way for new releases RV and Scary Movie 4. Failure to Launch drops from the chart after 7 weeks in the top 10.

-Wesley Lovell (August 20, 2006)

Rental Chart: August 27, 2006

Poseidon – $8.38 M (Total: $8.38 M)
Inside Man – $7.40 M (Total: $25.9 M)
Silent Hill – $7.26 M (Total: $7.26 M)
RV – $6.96 M (Total: $15.40 M)
Scary Movie 4 – $6.65 M (Total: $14.70 M)
Just My Luck – $5.88 M (Total: $5.88 M)
V for Vendetta – $4.92 M (Total: $28.5 M)
The Benchwarmers – $4.55 M (Total: $39.1 M)
Final Destination 3 – $3.93 M (Total: $32.7 M)
The Shaggy Dog – $3.46 M (Total: $22.2 M)

Poseidon makes a decent debutthough not a strong one. $8.38 M is less than what now-ranked second Inside Man took in in its SECOND week on the chart and is the lowest debut since Cheaper by the Dozen 2 in May.Silent Hill proves horror is losing its steam. A dud at the box office, this video-game-based horror thriller has also made a weak splash on the rentals chart.

-Wesley Lovell (August 27, 2006)

Rental Chart: September 3, 2006

The Sentinel – $8.28 M (Total: $8.28 M)
Take the Lead – $7.85 M (Total: $7.85 M)
Poseidon – $6.69 M (Total: $15.1 M)
Friends with Money – $6.54 M (Total: $6.54 M)
RV – $5.68 M (Total: $21.1 M)
Inside Man – $5.59 M (Total: $31.5 M)
Akeelah and the Bee – $5.46 M (Total: $5.46 M)
Scary Movie 4 – $5.43 M (Total: $20.1 M)
Silent Hill – $5.38 M (Total: $12.6 M)
Just My Luck – $4.86 M (Total: $10.7 M)

Just when you thought the rental chart couldn’t get lower, it does with The Sentinel taking in less than Poseidon did in its weak debut last week. Take the Lead comes in second while box office sleeper Akeelah and the Bee fails to crack the top five ending up at number 7 while the box office weakling Friends With Money manages a fourth place finish. Silent Hill suprises on the Sales chart despite poor performance on the Rental list.

-Wesley Lovell (September 3, 2006)

Rental Chart: September 10, 2006

United 93 – $8.27 M (Total: $8.27 M)
The Sentinel – $7.21 M (Total: $15.5 M)
Take the Lead – $6.49 M (Total: $14.3 M)
Poseidon – $5.47 M (Total: $20.5 M)
Friends with Money – $5.25 M (Total: $11.8 M)
RV – $4.54 M (Total: $25.6 M)
Akeelah and the Bee – $4.51 M (Total: $9.97 M)
Inside Man – $4.48 M (Total: $36.0 M)
Silent Hill – $4.40 M (Total: $17.0 M)
Scary Movie 4 – $4.34 M (Total: $24.5 M)

United 93 debuts at the top of the rental chart. It was the only new entry of the week. All other films in the top 10, except Akeelah and the Bee and Silent Hill toppled down the chart slowly. Meanwhile, United‘s debut marks the third straight decline in returns. It made slightly less money than last week’s weakling debut of The Sentinel. Fast and the Furious sequel Tokyo Drift should lift prospects with its debut next week. As should Keira Knightley starrer Pride and Prejudice. If the rental returns continue to slump, a long, dreadful winter could be in store.

-Wesley Lovell (September 10, 2006)

Rental Chart: September 17, 2006

Lucky Number Slevin – $8.18 M (Total: $8.18 M)
United 93 – $6.81 M (Total: $15.1 M)
The Sentinel – $6.20 M (Total: $21.7 M)
Take the Lead – $5.30 M (Total: $19.6 M)
Friends with Money – $4.29 M (Total: $16.1 M)
Poseidon – $4.13 M (Total: $24.7 M)
RV – $3.96 M (Total: $29.6 M)
Inside Man – $3.75 M (Total: $39.7 M)
Akeelah and the Bee – $3.68 M (Total: $13.7 M)
The Wild – $3.33 M (Total: $3.33 M)

The Wild is surprisingly a dud while Lucky Number Slevin is a surprise hit. Meanwhile, Inside Man is poised to tie Syriana‘s recent 2-month run next week if it remains in the Top 10.

-Wesley Lovell (September 17, 2006)

Rental Chart: September 24, 2006

Lucky Number Slevin – $6.76 M (Total: $14.9 M)
United 93 – $4.77 M (Total: $19.9 M)
The Sentinel – $4.69 M (Total: $26.4 M)
Take the Lead – $4.01 M (Total: $23.6 M)
The Proposition – $3.68 M (Total: $3.68 M)
Stick It – $3.28 M (Total: $3.28 M)
Friends with Money – $3.24 M (Total: $19.3 M)
Poseidon – $3.13 M (Total: $27.8 M)
RV – $2.99 M (Total: $32.5 M)
The Wild – $2.89 M (Total: $6.22 M)

Lucky Number Slevin holds the top spot of this week’s rental chart presiding over the worst performance on this chart since I’ve been following it. The top 4 remain unchanged, as does the 10th position. New debuts The Proposition and Stick It proved to be non starters debuting fifth and sixth respectively. The rest of the chart shifted down one position. In upcoming weeks with releases like X-Men 3, the rental chart should see some new life and it won’t come too soon.

-Wesley Lovell (September 24, 2006)

Rental Chart: October 1, 2006

The Lake House – $7.36 M (Total: $7.36 M)
Lucky Number Slevin – $5.52 M (Total: $20.5 M)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift – $3.89 M (Total: $3.89 M)
The Sentinel – $3.70 M (Total: $30.1 M)
United 93 – $3.57 M (Total: $23.4 M)
Take the Lead – $3.03 M (Total: $26.7 M)
Stick It – $2.86 M (Total: $6.14 M)
The Proposition – $2.51 M (Total: $6.19 M)
The Wild – $2.49 M (Total: $8.71 M)
Friends with Money – $2.45 M (Total: $21.8 M)

Significantly better than last week’s tepid rental report, The Lake House topped the chart over testosterone pic Fast and the Furious 3. However, it’s lowly $7.36 M opening is still less than Slevin made two weeks ago. However, next week’s release of the X-Men sequel will no doubt push the rental chart in a more positive direction. It might possibly yield a 10-week high.

-Wesley Lovell (October 1, 2006)

Rental Chart: October 8, 2006

X-Men: The Last Stand – $10.5 M (Total: $10.5 M)
The Lake House – $6.27 M (Total: $13.6 M)
Thank You For Smoking – $6.24 M (Total: $6.24 M)
Lucky Number Slevin – $3.92 M (Total: $24.4 M)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift – $3.50 M (Total: $7.39 M)
United 93 – $2.86 M (Total: $26.3 M)
The Sentinel – $2.80 M (Total: $32.9 M)
Stick It – $2.46 M (Total: $8.60 M)
Take the Lead – $2.29 M (Total: $29.00 M)
The Wild – $2.09 M (Total: $10.80 M)

X-Men: The Last Stand breaks the cycle of poor debuts by making the third highest gross since I started tracking earlier this year. It also marks the first time since July that a film made more than $10 M. The rest of the top ten, including new release Thank You for Smoking, remained on par with previous weeks.

-Wesley Lovell (October 8, 2006)

Rental Chart: October 15, 2006

Click – $9.82 M (Total: $9.82 M)
X-Men: The Last Stand – $8.66 M (Total: $19.1 M)
The Lake House – $5.14 M (Total: $18.8 M)
Thank You For Smoking – $4.99 M (Total: $11.2 M)
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties – $4.91 M (Total: $4.91 M)
A Prairie Home Companion – $4.16 M (Total: $4.16 M)
Waist Deep – $3.89 M (Total: $3.89 M)
Lucky Number Slevin – $2.91 M (Total: $27.3 M)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift – $2.62 M (Total: $10.0 M)
The Sentinel – $2.14 M (Total: $35.0 M)

Click knocks X-Men 3 off the top of the charts with a smaller debut than last week’s top film. X-Men drops minimally in its second week and is showing signs of becoming a rental chart beheamoth. Garfield 2, A Prairie Home Companion and Waist Deep debut in positions 5, 6 and 7 respectively.

-Wesley Lovell (October 15, 2006)

Rental Chart: October 22, 2006

The Break-Up – $10.2 M (Total: $10.2 M)
Click – $8.37 M (Total: $18.2 M)
The Omen – $7.38 M (Total: $7.38 M)
Over the Hedge – $6.87 M (Total: $6.87 M)
X-Men: The Last Stand – $6.87 M (Total: $26.0 M)
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties – $4.28 M (Total: $9.19 M)
Thank You For Smoking – $4.16 M (Total: $15.4 M)
The Lake House – $4.09 M (Total: $22.9 M)
A Prairie Home Companion – $3.44 M (Total: $7.59 M)
Waist Deep – $3.36 M (Total: $7.25 M)

The Break-Up topped this week’s rental chart without surprise. What is surprising was that it not only topped Adam Sandler’s debut from last week but it surpassed said film’s total taking in just over $10 million, coming within inches of the top spot debut two weeks ago of X-Men: The Last Stand. That film falls to number four tying with Over the Hedge, new to this week’s chart. The Omen comes in at position 3 while the rest of last week’s top 6 slide down the chart.

-Wesley Lovell (October 22, 2006)

Rental Chart: October 29, 2006

The Break-Up – $8.28 M (Total: $18.5 M)
Nacho Libre – $7.13 M (Total: $7.13 M)
Click – $6.93 M (Total: $25.1 M)
Monster House – $6.59 M (Total: $6.59 M)
The Omen – $6.15 M (Total: $13.5 M)
Over the Hedge – $5.97 M (Total: $12.8 M)
An American Haunting – $5.70 M (Total: $5.70 M)
X-Men: The Last Stand – $5.20 M (Total: $31.2 M)
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties – $3.31 M (Total: $12.5 M)
The Lake House – $3.28 M (Total: $26.1 M)

The Break-Up holds the top spot for the second straight week while Nacho Libre makes a surprisingly weak debut coming in a distance second. Monster House also did poorly finishing 4th and box office dud An American Haunting made a more appropriate premiere at number 7.

-Wesley Lovell (October 29, 2006)

Rental Chart: November 5, 2006

Mission: Impossible III – $11.3 M (Total: $11.3 M)
The Break-Up – $6.76 M (Total: $25.2 M)
Nacho Libre – $6.15 M (Total: $13.3 M)
Monster House – $5.56 M (Total: $12.2 M)
Click – $5.53 M (Total: $30.6 M)
Over the Hedge – $5.03 M (Total: $17.9 M)
An American Haunting – $4.98 M (Total: $10.7 M)
The Omen – $4.93 M (Total: $18.5 M)
X-Men: The Last Stand – $4.16 M (Total: $35.4 M)
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties – $2.64 M (Total: $15.1 M)

Mission: Impossible III opens big at the top of the rental chart, becoming the year’s (since I’ve been following) biggest debut. The rest of the chart remains virtually unchanged slipping one spot each except one notable exception. The Omen drops three spots leaving the films it passed, including the lackluster An American Haunting sitting still.

-Wesley Lovell (November 5, 2006)

Rental Chart: November 12, 2006

Mission: Impossible III – $9.31 M (Total: $20.6 M)
Cars – $9.24 M (Total: $9.24 M)
Little Man – $8.87 M (Total: $8.87 M)
The Break-Up – $5.72 M (Total: $30.9 M)
Nacho Libre – $5.11 M (Total: $18.4 M)
Click – $4.61 M (Total: $35.3 M)
Monster House – $4.55 M (Total: $16.7 M)
Over the Hedge – $4.26 M (Total: $22.1 M)
Shadowboxer – $4.13 M (Total: $4.13 M)
An American Haunting – $4.07 M (Total: $14.8 M)

MI: III maintains the top spot for a second week with an impressive total that barely tops the debut of Disney’s Cars. Little Man comes in third.

-Wesley Lovell (November 12, 2006)

Rental Chart: November 19, 2006

The Da Vinci Code – $11.10 M (Total: $11.1 M)
Mission: Impossible III – $7.91 M (Total: $28.5 M)
Cars – $7.58 M (Total: $16.8 M)
Little Man – $6.30 M (Total: $15.2 M)
The Break-Up – $5.09 M (Total: $36.0 M)
John Tucker Must Die – $4.90 M (Total: $4.90 M)
Click – $4.11 M (Total: $39.4 M)
Nacho Libre – $3.86 M (Total: $22.2 M)
Accepted – $3.76 M (Total: $3.76 M)
Monster House – $3.44 M (Total: $20.1 M)

Making the year’s second largest debut, The Da Vinci Code staved off poor box office response to become a huge success on DVD. Debuting weakly at position six is teen revenge pic John Tucker Must Die. But even less impressive is the ninth-spot debut of college comedy Accepted.

-Wesley Lovell (November 19, 2006)

Rental Chart: November 26, 2006

Ice Age: The Meltdown – $10.3 M (Total: $39.4 M)
The Da Vinci Code – $9.35 M (Total: $11.1 M)
Cars – $6.19 M (Total: $16.8 M)
Mission: Impossible III – $5.98 M (Total: $28.5 M)
Little Man – $5.15 M (Total: $20.3 M)
You, Me and Dupree – $4.98 M (Total: $4.98 M)
John Tucker Must Die – $4.14 M (Total: $4.90 M)
The Break-Up – $3.93 M (Total: $36.0 M)
Accepted – $3.35 M (Total: $3.76 M)
Nacho Libre – $3.16 M (Total: $22.2 M)

The holiday season is replete with new films all vying to earn your holiday bucks. The rental chart reflects the desire of many to watch mvoies on DVD, not necessarily to purchase them. However, the top spot on the rental chart will subsequently also go to the same film as the top sales offering. This week’s high-profile premiere is Ice Age: The Meltdown. This frozen sequel was a hit on the big screen and proves to be one on the rental chart. The film easily tops the weak debut of Pixar’s Cars.

-Wesley Lovell (November 26, 2006)

Rental Chart: December 3, 2006

Superman Returns – $12.9 M (Total: $12.9 M)
Ice Age: The Meltdown – $8.02 M (Total: $18.3 M)
The Da Vinci Code – $7.9 M (Total: $28.3 M)
Clerks II – $5.93 M (Total: $5.93 M)
Cars – $4.94 M (Total: $27.9 M)
Mission: Impossible III – $4.9 M (Total: $39.4 M)
The Ant Bully – $4.66 M (Total: $4.66 M)
You, Me and Dupree – $4.05 M (Total: $9.03 M)
See No Evil – $3.79 M (Total: $3.79 M)
Little Man – $3.73 M (Total: $24.1 M)

Destroying the Mission: Impossible III year’s best record of $11.3 M, Superman Returns blows it away by $1.6 M and becomes the year’s top debut. Next week’s chart will reflect Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest trouncing Superman to become the year’s top debut but it’s interesting enough to watch MI3 go down. No other major surprises this week except to see Little Man plummet five places to number 10 amid relatively weak competition.

-Wesley Lovell (December 3, 2006)

Rental Chart: December 10, 2006

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $12.9 M (Total: $12.9 M)
Superman Returns – $10.7 M (Total: $23.7 M)
Miami Vice – $7.91 M (Total: $7.91 M)
Ice Age: The Meltdown – $6.55 M (Total: $24.8 M)
The Da Vinci Code – $6.31 M (Total: $34.6 M)
Beerfest – $6.13 M (Total: $6.13 M)
Pulse – $5.63 M (Total: $5.63 M)
Clerks II – $4.64 M (Total: $10.6 M)
Cars – $4.37 M (Total: $32.3 M)
Mission: Impossible III – $3.92 M (Total: $43.3 M)

Pirates of the Caribbean topped the rental chart but didn’t pull the outstanding numbers that were expected. It merely tied the $12.9 M opening of Superman Returns. Miami Vice debuted weakly in third, marking for a rather unimpressive week with rentals.

-Wesley Lovell (December 10, 2006)

Rental Chart: December 17, 2006

The Devil Wears Prada – $10.7 M (Total: $19.6 M)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $10.7 M (Total: $32.3 M)
Talladega Nights – $10.4 M (Total: $19.0 M)
Superman Returns – $7.9 M (Total: $37.5 M)
Miami Vice – $6.73 M (Total: $ M)
World Trade Center – $5.76 M (Total: $ M)
Beerfest – $5.07 M (Total: $ M)
Ice Age: The Meltdown – $5.0 M (Total: $ M)
The Da Vinci Code – $4.87 M (Total: $ M)
Pulse – $4.65 M (Total: $ M)

The Devil Wears Prada made an impressive debut knocking Pirates of the Caribbean 2 from the top spot in a photo finish. Debuting just slightly behind these two films was Talladega Nights which would have been my pick to knock Pirates from the top.

-Wesley Lovell (December 17, 2006)

Rental Chart: December 24, 2006

The Devil Wears Prada – $8.88 M (Total: $19.6 M)
Little Miss Sunshine – $8.8 M (Total: $8.8 M)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $8.71 M (Total: $32.3 M)
Talladega Nights – $8.59 M (Total: $19.0 M)
My Super Ex-Girlfriend – $6.91 M (Total: $6.91 M)
Invincible – $6.51 M (Total: $6.51 M)
Superman Returns – $5.97 M (Total: $37.5 M)
Miami Vice – $5.5 M (Total: $20.1 M)
Step Up – $5.24 M (Total: $5.24 M)
All the King’s Men – $5.06 M (Total: $5.06 M)

With a surprise top-spot debut lask week, it’s even more surprising that The Devil Wears Prada tops the list for the second week in a row. Little Miss Sunshine comes in a close second in its first week. Meanwhile, other new debuts include box office dud My Super Ex-Girlfriend, hit Invincible, dance drama Step Up and political remake All the King’s Men.

-Wesley Lovell (December 24, 2006)

Rental Chart: December 31, 2006

The Devil Wears Prada – $6.87 M (Total: $26.5 M)
Talladega Nights – $6.83 M (Total: $25.8 M)
Little Miss Sunshine – $6.69 M (Total: $15.5 M)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $6.6 M (Total: $38.9 M)
Jackass Number Two – $6.33 M (Total: $6.33 M)
My Super Ex-Girlfriend – $5.71 M (Total: $12.6 M)
Invincible – $5.38 M (Total: $11.9 M)
The Descent – $5.09 M (Total: $5.09 M)
The Black Dahlia – $4.43 M (Total: $4.43 M)
Miami Vice – $4.41 M (Total: $24.6 M)

Three weeks at number one on the rental chart mark a very interesting period for Devil Wears Prada. It’s the cinderella story of the rental chart toping Talldega Nights and Pirates for the last three weeks. Jackass Number Two doesn’t appear to have legs with an exceptionally weak fifth place debut. This is also the weakest number one finish since late September with only $6.87 M as the rental take for the top spot finisher.

-Wesley Lovell (December 31, 2006)

2007

DVD Rental Chart: January 7, 2007

Little Miss Sunshine – $5.46 M (Total: $20.9 M)
The Devil Wears Prada – $5.28 M (Total: $31.8 M)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $5.19 M (Total: $44.1 M)
Talladega Nights – $5.16 M (Total: $31.0 M)
Snakes on a Plane – $4.91 M (Total: $4.91 M)
The Covenant – $4.86 M (Total: $4.86 M)
My Super Ex-Girlfriend – $4.67 M (Total: $17.3 M)
Jackass Number Two – $4.45 M (Total: $10.8 M)
Invincible – $4.4 M (Total: $16.3 M)
The Descent – $4.2 M (Total: $9.29 M)

No commentary due to power outage at time of release.

-Wesley Lovell (January 7, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: January 14, 2007

Crank – $6.09 M (Total: $6.09 M)
The Illusionist – $5.59 M (Total: $5.59 M)
Little Miss Sunshine – $5.46 M (Total: $20.9 M)
The Devil Wears Prada – $5.28 M (Total: $31.8 M)
Snakes on a Plane – $4.91 M (Total: $4.91 M)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $5.19 M (Total: $44.1 M)
Talladega Nights – $5.16 M (Total: $31.0 M)
The Covenant – $4.86 M (Total: $4.86 M)
My Super Ex-Girlfriend – $4.67 M (Total: $17.3 M)
Invincible – $4.4 M (Total: $16.3 M)

No commentary due to power outage at time of release.

-Wesley Lovell (January 14, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: January 21, 2007

Employee of the Month – $5.31 M (Total: $5.31 M)
Gridiron Gang – $5.17 M (Total: $5.17 M)
Crank – $5.06 M (Total: $11.2 M)
The Illusionist – $4.86 M (Total: $10.4 M)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning – $4.37 M (Total: $4.37 M)
Little Miss Sunshine – $3.32 M (Total: $28.4 M)
The Devil Wears Prada – $3.24 M (Total: $39.0 M)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $3.17 M (Total: $51.2 M)
Talladega Nights – $3.15 M (Total: $38.0 M)
The Covenant – $3.1 M (Total: $11.8 M)

In a surprise failure, Gridiron Gang doesn’t register with audiences placing second to Employee of the Month which finished with significantly less money over the week than I’ve seen since I’ve been tracking these charts.

-Wesley Lovell (January 21, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: January 28, 2007

Saw III – $7.62 M (Total: $7.62 M)
The Guardian – $4.81 M (Total: $4.81 M)
Employee of the Month – $4.62 M (Total: $9.93 M)
Gridiron Gang – $4.5 M (Total: $9.67 M)
Crank – $4.27 M (Total: $15.4 M)
The Illusionist – $4.1 M (Total: $14.6 M)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning – $3.81 M (Total: $8.18 M)
Little Miss Sunshine – $2.69 M (Total: $31.1 M)
The Covenant – $2.47 M (Total: $14.2 M)
The Devil Wears Prada – $2.47 M (Total: $41.5 M)

Not unsurprisingly, Saw III debuted at the top of the rental chart with the highest total since December. Though the $7.62 M is well below most debuts of late 2006, it is a solid finish for a dismal January. Everything else on the chart slips two spots to make way for The Guardian with the exception of The Covenant which managed to rise one position to 9 forcing Pirates of the Caribbean 2 slip off the chart.

-Wesley Lovell (January 28, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: February 4, 2007

The Marine – $6.32 M (Total: $6.32 M)
Open Season – $6.00 M (Total: $6.00 M)
Flyboys – $5.74 M (Total: $5.74 M)
Saw III – $5.61 M (Total: $13.2 M)
The Guardian – $4.47 M (Total: $9.28 M)
Employee of the Month – $3.78 M (Total: $13.7 M)
Crank – $3.40 M (Total: $18.8 M)
Gridiron Gang – $3.27 M (Total: $12.9 M)
The Illusionist – $3.27 M (Total: $17.8 M)
One Night with the King – $2.8 M (Total: $2.8 M)

The tepid rental charts continue with The Marine‘s debut at number one with only $6.32 M. Little else is impressive in this week’s chart with such poor numbers.

-Wesley Lovell (February 4, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: February 11, 2007

Flags of Our Fathers – $7.66 M (Total: $7.66 M)
The Marine – $5.22 M (Total: $11.5 M)
Open Season – $4.96 M (Total: $11.0 M)
Flyboys – $4.74 M (Total: $10.5 M)
Flicka – $4.11 M (Total: $4.11 M)
The Grudge 2 – $4.08 M (Total: $4.08 M)
The Guardian – $3.84 M (Total: $13.1 M)
Hollywoodland – $3.78 M (Total: $3.78 M)
Running with Scissors – $3.48 M (Total: $3.48 M)
Saw III – $3.37 M (Total: $16.6 M)

While not a sensation at the box office, Flags of Our Fathers managed a top spot debut this week with a slightly higher opening than Saw III‘s earlier entry for the year’s top opening to date. Four other films help mark the largest shake up in the top 10 in several months.

-Wesley Lovell (February 11, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: February 18, 2007

The Departed – $9.86 M (Total: $9.86 M)
Flags of Our Fathers – $6.33 M (Total: $14.0 M)
The Marine – $4.27 M (Total: $15.8 M)
Open Season – $3.8 M (Total: $14.8 M)
Flicka – $3.58 M (Total: $7.69 M)
The Guardian – $3.49 M (Total: $16.6 M)
Marie Antoinette – $3.33 M (Total: $3.33 M)
Flyboys – $3.3 M (Total: $13.8 M)
The Grudge 2 – $3.04 M (Total: $7.11 M)
Hollywoodland – $2.95 M (Total: $6.73 M)

Making its debut at the top of the rentals chart, The Departed is an unsurprising victor. Likely to retain its position next week after its Oscar victories, the film marks Martin Scorsese’s most commercial success. The numbers aren’t high, but next week they will be. The problem is, the rest of the top 10 are significantly weak.

-Wesley Lovell (February 18, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: February 25, 2007

Babel – $8.73 M (Total: $8.73 M)
The Departed – $8.58 M (Total: $18.4 M)
The Prestige – $7.96 M (Total: $7.96 M)
Man of the Year – $6.87 M (Total: $6.87 M)
Flags of Our Fathers – $5.44 M (Total: $19.4 M)
The Marine – $3.58 M (Total: $19.4 M)
Flushed Away – $3.27 M (Total: $3.27 M)
The Guardian – $3.21 M (Total: $19.8 M)
Open Season – $3.03 M (Total: $17.8 M)
Marie Antoinette – $2.9 M (Total: $6.24 M)

The film it beat at the Oscars defeats it on this week’s rental chart. I’m talking about The Departed falling to a slight second place finish behind the debut of Babel. Though it did top its rival, Babel took in about $1 M less in this week’s chart, which is significant but proves Babel had some popularity. The Prestige opened in third followed by Man of the Year at fourth.

-Wesley Lovell (February 25, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: March 4, 2007

Stranger Than Fiction – $6.77 M (Total: $6.77 M)
The Departed – $6.57 M (Total: $25.0 M)
Babel – $6.38 M (Total: $15.1 M)
The Prestige – $6.23 M (Total: $14.2 M)
Man of the Year – $5.38 M (Total: $12.2 M)
Flags of Our Fathers – $4.12 M (Total: $23.6 M)
The Guardian – $2.86 M (Total: $22.7 M)
Flushed Away – $2.85 M (Total: $6.12 M)
A Good Year – $2.85 M (Total: $2.85 M)
Tenacious D in ‘The Pick of Destiny’ – $2.66 M (Total: $2.66 M)

As quickly as it came, it departed. Babel fell below its Best Picture rival The Departed this week while newly-debuting Stranger Than Fiction pulled the same trick as Babel did last week. It topped the box office only slightly ahead of 2007 Best Picture winner The Departed.

-Wesley Lovell (March 4, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: March 11, 2007

Borat – $9.18 M (Total: $9.18 M)
Stranger Than Fiction – $5.89 M (Total: $12.7 M)
The Departed – $5.36 M (Total: $30.4 M)
Babel – $5.1 M (Total: $20.2 M)
The Prestige – $5.09 M (Total: $19.3 M)
Man of the Year – $4.53 M (Total: $16.8 M)
Flags of Our Fathers – $2.96 M (Total: $26.5 M)
Let’s Go to Prison – $2.84 M (Total: $2.84 M)
A Good Year – $2.6 M (Total: $5.44 M)
The Guardian – $2.45 M (Total: $25.1 M)

Borat tops this week’s rental chart with numbers only slightly less strong than The Departed earlire this year. However, the continuing weakening of the rental chart pressed on with the lower films all bringing in even less than last week.

-Wesley Lovell (March 11, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: March 18, 2007

Casino Royale – $9.2 M (Total: $9.2 M)
Borat – $7.99 M (Total: $17.2 M)
The Holiday – $7.95 M (Total: $7.95 M)
Stranger Than Fiction – $4.81 M (Total: $17.5 M)
The Departed – $4.3 M (Total: $34.7 M)
Babel – $4.07 M (Total: $24.3 M)
The Prestige – $4.06 M (Total: $23.3 M)
Man of the Year – $3.61 M (Total: $20.4 M)
Let’s Go to Prison – $2.47 M (Total: $5.31 M)
Flags of Our Fathers – $2.24 M (Total: $28.7 M)

Barely beating out Borat‘s debut last week, the latest bond entry Casino Royale came in number one with $9.2 M in rentals. The rest of the top ten looks virtually the same with The Holiday debuting at third and everything else slipping slowly down the chart.

-Wesley Lovell (March 18, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: March 25, 2007

Blood Diamond – $9.0 M (Total: $9.0 M)
Casino Royale – $8.01 M (Total: $17.2 M)
Eragon – $7.79 M (Total: $7.79 M)
Rocky Balboa – $7.68 M (Total: $7.68 M)
The Holiday – $6.57 M (Total: $14.5 M)
Borat – $6.53 M (Total: $23.7 M)
Stranger Than Fiction – $3.84 M (Total: $21.3 M)
Babel – $3.26 M (Total: $27.5 M)
The Departed – $3.25 M (Total: $37.9 M)
The Prestige – $3.25 M (Total: $26.6 M)

Casino Royale drops one spot this week to new top-man Blood Diamond which premiered with just slightly less than Royale. Borat drops hard and fast to 6 while new release Eragon beat Rocky Balboa out for the third position.

-Wesley Lovell (March 25, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: April 1, 2007

The Pursuit of Happyness – $9.95 M (Total: $9.95 M)
Happy Feet – $8.26 M (Total: $8.26 M)
Blood Diamond – $7.6 M (Total: $16.6 M)
Eragon – $6.77 M (Total: $14.6 M)
Casino Royale – $6.54 M (Total: $23.8 M)
Rocky Balboa – $6.48 M (Total: $14.2 M)
The Holiday – $5.37 M (Total: $19.9 M)
Children of Men – $5.27 M (Total: $5.27 M)
Borat – $4.91 M (Total: $28.6 M)
Stranger Than Fiction – $3.08 M (Total: $24.4 M)

In a surprise that no one would have expected, The Pursuit of Happyness, the Will Smith starrer, managed to topple the Academy Award winning penguins of Happy Feet on the rental chart. Now, we know the Antarctic animated comedy will top the sales chart, but its weak debut here proves that even audiences may be getting tired of it all. Happyness does one other thing. It sets the top debut of the rental chart this year passing The Departed by nearly $100 K.

-Wesley Lovell (April 1, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: April 8, 2007

The Good Shepherd – $8.66 M (Total: $8.66 M)
The Pursuit of Happyness – $8.48 M (Total: $18.4 M)
Happy Feet – $6.83 M (Total: $15.1 M)
Blood Diamond – $6.21 M (Total: $22.8 M)
Charlotte’s Web – $5.68 M (Total: $5.68 M)
Children of Men – $4.58 M (Total: $9.85 M)
The Holiday – $4.5 M (Total: $24.4 M)
Casino Royale – $4.46 M (Total: $28.2 M)
Eragon – $4.43 M (Total: $19.0 M)
Rocky Balboa – $4.39 M (Total: $18.6 M)

Charlotte’s Web finishes a dismal fifth, but could do well on the sales chart. Meanwhile, The Good Shepherd did what it couldn’t do at the box office: reign supreme. Although its total is well below recent debuts (lowest since early March when Stranger Than Fiction opened), it’s still a decent total and surprising for a film that wasn’t very big while in the theaters.

-Wesley Lovell (April 8, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: April 15, 2007

The Good Shepherd – $7.15 M (Total: $15.8 M)
The Pursuit of Happyness – $6.52 M (Total: $24.9 M)
Happy Feet – $5.3 M (Total: $20.4 M)
Blood Diamond – $4.96 M (Total: $27.8 M)
Charlotte’s Web – $4.69 M (Total: $10.4 M)
Children of Men – $4.01 M (Total: $13.9 M)
The Holiday – $3.94 M (Total: $28.3 M)
Bobby – $3.68 M (Total: $3.68 M)
Casino Royale – $3.57 M (Total: $31.8 M)
Eragon – $3.54 M (Total: $22.5 M)

The weakening of the rental chart continues as the entire top 7 remained the exact same as last week and the only new entry was the incredibly abysmal performance of Bobby.

-Wesley Lovell (April 15, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: April 22, 2007

Smokin’ Aces – $6.68 M (Total: $6.68 M)
The Last King of Scotland – $6.4 M (Total: $6.4 M)
Freedom Writers – $6.11 M (Total: $6.11 M)
The Good Shepherd – $5.79 M (Total: $21.6 M)
The Pursuit of Happyness – $5.61 M (Total: $30.6 M)
Notes on a Scandal – $4.73 M (Total: $4.73 M)
Blood Diamond – $3.75 M (Total: $31.5 M)
Happy Feet – $3.65 M (Total: $24.1 M)
Children of Men – $3.11 M (Total: $17.0 M)
The Holiday – $2.98 M (Total: $31.3 M)

After a rather static couple of weeks, things get shuffled with four new films pushing the family films off the chart. The money wasn’t spectacular, but it was good to see some variety.

-Wesley Lovell (April 22, 2007)

DVD Rental Chart: April 29, 2007

Night at the Museum – $11.6 M (Total: $11.6 M)
Deja Vu – $8.64 M (Total: $8.64 M)
The Queen – $7.51 M (Total: $7.51 M)
Smokin’ Aces – $5.81 M (Total: $12.5 M)
The Last King of Scotland – $5.56 M (Total: $12.0 M)
Freedom Writers – $5.32 M (Total: $11.4 M)
The Good Shepherd – $4.36 M (Total: $26.0 M)
The Pursuit of Happyness – $4.24 M (Total: $34.8 M)
Notes on a Scandal – $4.11 M (Total: $8.84 M)
Code Name: The Cleaner – $3.44 M (Total: $3.44 M)

Night at the Museum has the biggest opening of the year on the rental chart and tops the previous best opening of The Pursuit of Happyness at the beginning of this month.

-Wesley Lovell (April 29, 2007)

2008

None

2009

Top DVD Rentals: March 29, 2009

I have no commentary on this list at this time.

-Wesley Lovell (April 7, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: April 5, 2009

This year’s Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire, managed to open 3rd against Marley & Me and Seven Pounds despite its strong box office performance. It isn’t a surprise that Marley & Me topped this chart, but Seven Pounds was not expected, nor was Bedtime Stories opening at a lowly 8th place.

-Wesley Lovell (April 14, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: April 12, 2009

Surprisingly, the critically maligned box office dud The Day the Earth Stood Still managed to top the rental chart over the second week of Marley & Me. If it tops the sales chart next week, I’ll be surprised.

-Wesley Lovell (April 21, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: April 19, 2009

It’s difficult to believe that a film that only opened at #5 on the Sales chart would hold on to #1 on the Rental chart. The only explanation is that the second-week totals were still less than the debut of box office dud The Spirit. The Reader opening so high, at No. 6, is actually quite a success considering how abysmal its box office returns were and it’s hardly a feel-good, must-rent movie.

-Wesley Lovell (April 28, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: April 26, 2009

A surprise opening for The Wrestler put it at number one against most expectations. Also doing well was Notorious, though I would have expected it at number one instead. The Day the Earth Stood Still is still performing well with renters, which is a bit of a surprise considering how awful its box office take was.

-Wesley Lovell (May 5, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: May 3, 2009

As expected, Bride Wars takes the top spot on this week’s rental chart. It beats out kid-friendly release Hotel for Dogs. New release The Uninvited failed to make the top 5 as most horror flicks usually do.

-Wesley Lovell (May 12, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: May 10, 2009

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Bride Wars
3. Hotel for Dogs
4. Last Chance Harvey
5. The Wrestler
6. The Day the Earth Stood Still
7. The Uninvited
8. Notorious
9. Marley & Me
10. Seven Pounds

Topping this week’s rental chart is last year’s biggest Oscar nominee, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, making no surprise in its debut.

-Wesley Lovell (May 19, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: May 17, 2009

1. Taken
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
4. Bride Wars
5. Hotel for Dogs
6. Last Chance Harvey
7. The Wrestler
8. The Day the Earth Stood Still
9. The Uninvited
10. Marley & Me

Not surprisingly, the surprise box office hit Taken took th top spot of the rental chart from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which slipped to second ahead of the opening of the third film in the Underworld series.

-Wesley Lovell (May 26, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: May 24, 2009

1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
2. Valkyrie
3. Taken
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
6. My Bloody Valentine
7. Bride Wars
8. Last Chance Harvey
9. Hotel for Dogs
10. The Wrestler

Never underestimate a box office surprise hit becoming a top-of-the-chart renter. Paul Blart: Mall Cop did exactly as expected. What wasn’t expected was Valkyrie, a box office dud by most accounts, coming in second against the box office surprise Taken.

-Wesley Lovell (June 2, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: May 31, 2009

1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
2. Taken
3. Valkyrie
4. New in Town
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
6. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
7. Bride Wars
8. Killshot
9. Powder Blue
10. Hotel for Dogs

After not posting a chart last week, I have re-constructed this chart with information from the chart for June 7, so the above should be valid for that day. Paul Blart kept the top position for a second week while the newest debut, New in Town, opened at a week 4th.

-Wesley Lovell (June 9, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: June 7, 2009

1. He’s Just Not That Into You
2. Defiance
3. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
4. Taken
5. Revolutionary Road
6. Valkyrie
7. New in Town
8. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
9. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
10. Bride Wars

The romantic comedy tops the social war drama and the Leo/Kate re-teaming fails to float entering the chart at #5.

-Wesley Lovell (June 16, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: June 14, 2009

Clint Eastwood’s latest, despite having one of the least appealing trailers of last year, manages to top the rentals chart based on solid word of mouth.

-Wesley Lovell (June 23, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: June 21, 2009

Another week at the top of the Rental chart is a shock considering Tyler Perry’s latest film Madea Goes to Jail was released as was the horror remake Friday the 13th.

-Wesley Lovell (June 30, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: June 28, 2009

A mysterious, unexplained entry takes the top spot of this week’s rental spot beating out Confessions of a Shopaholic, Inkheart and The Pink Panther 2. The film stars Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas, but got very little buzz and advertising.

-Wesley Lovell (July 7, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: July 5, 2009

1. Gran Torino
2. 12 Rounds
3. Confessions of a Shopaholic
4. The Code
5. Inkheart
6. The Pink Panther 2
7. Madea Goes to Jail
8. Friday the 13th
9. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
10. He’s Just Not That Into You

In what has to be one of the weakest weeks I’ve ever seen, a rather rare occurrence took place. A former number 1 jumped back to number 1 after it had already left. Gran Torino is doing really well on home video.

-Wesley Lovell (July 14, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: July 12, 2009

1. Knowing
2. Push
3. The Unborn
4. 12 Rounds
5. Confessions of a Shopaholic
6. Gran Torino
7. The Code
8. Inkheart
9. The Pink Panther 2
10. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

Beating off horror and hero, the pseudo-sci-fi thriller Knowing takes the box office crown buoyed no doubt by Nicolas Cage’s presence.

-Wesley Lovell (July 21, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: July 19, 2009

Knowing keeps hold of the top spot for a second week with the week’s only major new opener, The Haunting in Connecticut, opening in second. The only other new entry is a film called Horsement which I’ve never heard of.

-Wesley Lovell (July 28, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: July 26, 2009

Like no one could see that coming. A modest hit earlier this year, Watchmen proved undefeatable in its Rentals debut. I fully expect that result to carry through to the sales chart as well.

-Wesley Lovell (August 4, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: August 2, 2009

One teen fanboy movie was supplanted by another. Fast & Furious toppled Watchmen for the rental chart crown.

-Wesley Lovell (August 11, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: August 9, 2009

The surprise here is that Race to Witch Mountain has failed the family film pattern and come in second to stalker flick Obsessed.

-Wesley Lovell (August 18, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: August 16, 2009

The surprise here is that the sophomoric comedy I Love You, Man beat out the teen situational comedy, one led by a former High School Musical alum. These top positions may reverse on the sales chart, but it’s certainly of note.

-Wesley Lovell (August 25, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: August 23, 2009

Why would you rent a movie you intend to buy? That is the only explanation for Hannah Montana to open a distant fourth while The Last House on the Left opens on top. This position will be reversed when the sales numbers are revealed.

-Wesley Lovell (September 1, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: August 30, 2009

Clive Owen and Julia Roberts bring their romantic film Duplicity to the top of the rental charts besting Fighting.

-Wesley Lovell (September 8, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: September 6, 2009

1. State of Play
2. Duplicity
3. The Last House on the Left
4. Fighting
5. Adventureland
6. Sunshine Cleaning
7. I Love You, Man
8. 17 Again
9. The Line
10. Bring It On: Fight to the Finish

Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck top this week’s rental chart with little surprise. The rest of the top 10 is similarly uneventful.

-Wesley Lovell (September 15, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: September 13, 2009

There were no updates at the time of posting. Above is the reconstruction of the missing list.

-Wesley Lovell (September 22, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: September 20, 2009

After two weeks at number one, the non-surprising conclusion of this week’s race is that X-Men: Origins: Wolverine topped the list.

-Wesley Lovell (September 29, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: September 27, 2009

The romcom Ghosts of Girlfriends Past topples X-Men on the rental chart. But can it make a similar transition to the sales chart?

-Wesley Lovell (October 6, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: October 4, 2009

Kids bolster this week’s numbers with the release of Monsters vs. Aliens at the top of the rentals chart.

-Wesley Lovell (October 13, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: October 11, 2009

At least Year One has somewhere it can succeed. After crashing and burning at the box office, the prehistoric "road trip" comedy takes the top spot on the rental chart.

-Wesley Lovell (October 20, 2009)

Top DVD Rentals: October 18, 2009

Two new releases this week fought for the top spot and the romcom beat out the dumbcom. The Proposal proved that its box office meant more than the box office for Land of the Lost.

-Wesley Lovell (October 27, 2009)