While newly inaugurated California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger grapples with the state's budget crisis, his latest movie turn as the Terminator is doing brisk business in video stores across the country.

"Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines," ranked as the leading DVD and VHS rental in the United States during its first week of release with combined revenues of $12.2 million, according to data issued on Thursday by Rentrack Corp.

"T3," starring Schwarzenegger in his signature role as the virtually indestructible, gun-slinging cyborg from the future, supplanted the animated underwater adventure "Finding Nemo" as the No. 1 video rental for the week ended Nov. 16, the trade group said.

First-week DVD rentals of "T3" totaled $8.2 million, while VHS rentals of the movie generated another $4 million. The film topped the North American box office during its July 4 holiday weekend opening in theaters and went on to gross more than $150 million domestically.

"Finding Nemo" slipped to No. 2 in its second week of video release with combined DVD and VHS revenues of $7.6 million, followed by "Legally Blonde 2" "Terminator 3" was released on DVD and video on Nov. 11, just six days before Schwarzenegger was sworn in as governor of the nation's most populous state.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Lifestyle News
+IPO approval procedure reform ( 2003-11-20) +US textile decree to cloud trade relations ( 2003-11-20) +US urged to be straight on one China ( 2003-11-20) +Lawsuit fires up in case of vanishing virtual weapons ( 2003-11-20) +Restructuring cash welcome ( 2003-11-20)		+"Terminator 3" leads US video rentals ( 2003-11-20) +Britney mocks Justin's size ( 2003-11-20) +Jackie Chan nominated as Inspirational Person candidate ( 2003-11-20) +Hollywood's chief lobbyist predicts movies online by 2005 ( 2003-11-20) +University traditions dying ( 2003-11-20)