SHERLOCK HOLMES SEQUEL DEBUTS ATOP VIDEO CHARTS

Warner Bros.’ Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows shot up the DVD and Blu-ray charts last week, debuting at No. 1 on both of them, according to Nielsen VideoScan First Alert, which tracks home video sales. Disney’s John Carter, which briefly had its day in the sun on home video last week after failing theatrically, dropped to No. 5 on the sales chart in its second week. Fox’s Act of Valor remained in second place. Debuting at No. 3 was Sony’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Although actual home-video sales figures are not disclosed publicly, Nielsen VideoScan First Alert did observe that the Sherlock Holmes movie took in twice the amount of the Ghost Rider sequel. Ordinarily Warner Bros. imposes a 28-day embargo on its movies before they are released on the rental market. But it did not do so in the case of Ghost Rider, which it effectively allowed to escape.