Powered by first-week sales of 2 million units, Lionsgate’s action-packed “Crank” rushed to the top of the national DVD sales and rental charts for the week ending Jan. 14 despite a stiff challenge from a bigger theatrical release.
“Crank” topped the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart by selling about 10% more units that second-ranked “The Illusionist,” from 20th Century Fox. On Home Media Magazine’s video rental chart, “Crank” also debuted at No. 1 with estimated rental revenue of $6.1 million, while “Illusionist” bowed at No. 2 with estimated rental earnings of $5.6 million.
“Crank,” about a man injected with a deadly poison who relies on adrenaline to survive and exact revenge on his killer, grossed $27.8 million in theaters. “Illusionist,” a period romantic drama starring Edward Norton and Jessica Biel, took in $39.8 million.
New Line’s “Snakes on a Plane,” the No. 1 seller the previous week, fell to No. 7, while Fox’s “Little Miss Sunshine,” the top renter last week, slipped to No. 3. After four weeks in stores, “Sunshine” has earned 42% of its $59.3 million theatrical gross from rentals alone.
Buena Vista’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” remains in the First Alert top five seven weeks after its release, down a notch from No. 4 the previous week, while another Buena Vista title, “Cars,” has now been in the First Alert top 15 for 11 consecutive weeks.
