'Percy Jackson' sweeps video charts

7:35 AM PDT 10/14/2010 by Thomas K. Arnold, AP

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'Hot Tub Time Machine,' 'The Crazies' also released

School's out, so it's no surprise that 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment's "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" scored a triple win atop all three national home video charts the week ending July 4.

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The film, which grossed $88.7 million in theaters, is based on a series of fantasy adventure books by Rick Riordan rooted in Greek mythology, that are the latest rage among preteen and young teen readers. The books are on many summer reading lists, and the video came out just in time to capitalize on that surge in awareness.

"Percy" easily beat two other newly released theatrical features, both in sales and in rental activity.

According to the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart, second-ranked "Hot Tub Time Machine," a raunchy comedy from Fox/MGM that earned $50.3 million at the box office, sold just 60% as many copies as "Percy." Anchor Bay's "The Crazies," the third new release, debuted at No. 3 with 33% as many unit sales. "Crazies" is a horror film with boxoffice earnings of $39.1 million.

On the Nielsen VideoScan Blu-ray Disc sales chart, the three titles finished in the same positions, with "Hot Tub" selling 65% as many high-def discs as "Percy" and "Crazies," 42%.

And on Home Media Magazine's rental chart for the week, "Hot Tub" also debuted at No. 2, with 74% as much rental activity as "Percy." "Crazies" bowed at No. 5, with 37% as much rental action.