Video Rental Chart : Foster’s ‘Man’ Off to Good Start

Jody Foster’s recent Oscar victory undoubtedly boosted interest in “Little Man Tate,” a family-oriented drama totally different from her chilling “The Silence of the Lambs.” Foster, who stars as a waitress struggling to deal with a genius child, also made her directorial debut with this movie, which entered the Billboard magazine rental chart at No. 10. “Tate” did decent business in theaters ($24-million gross), further indication that it has Top 5 potential. According to some retailers, “The Last Boy Scout”--overall No. 2--is the hottest rental. Look for it to dethrone “The Fisher King” in the next week or two. “The Taking of Beverly Hills,” an action movie starring Ken Wahl, entered at No. 27 and should go much higher.

* A lot of critics didn’t like this one but fright-flick fans love the way the Scaremaster, director Wes Craven, mixes humor and horror. His “The People Under the Stairs” debuted at No. 17 and should be, through midsummer, one of the most popular movies in the genre.

Rank Weeks Last on the Week Chart 1. “The Fisher King” 1 6 2. “The Last Boy Scout” 5 2 3. “Boyz N the Hood” 2 7 4. “Ricochet” 4 4 5. “Deceived” 3 4 6. “Curly Sue” 6 4 7. “Dead Again” 7 7 8. “Shattered” 9 5 9. “The Doctor” 10 7 10. “Little Man Tate” ... 1 * “The People Under the Stairs” ... 1