Powered by first-week sales of 2 million units, Lionsgate’s action-packed “Crank” rushed to the top of both the national DVD sales and rental charts in 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 than 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 million, while “The 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 both survive and exact revenge on his killer, grossed $27.8 million in theaters. “The Illusionist,” a period romantic drama starring Ed Norton and Jessica Biel, took in $39.8 million.
New Line’s “Snakes on the Plane,” the No. 1 seller the previous week, fell to No. 7, while 20th Century 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.
Seven weeks after its release, Buena Vista’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” remains in the First Alert top five, 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.
