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If you want to see the #1 film in the world (and see it properly), you need to buy a ticket at a movie theater. And that likely will remain the case for “Avatar: The Way of Water” (Disney) for the indefinite future.

But it’s different for the #2 and (it appears) the #3 top-grossing titles in domestic theaters, at least as of Tuesday. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (Universal/19.99) marks its third week atop all three VOD charts we track. And multiple sources indicate that “M3GAN,” following the studio’s normal strategy for films that debut in theaters to less than 50 million, will add home rental platforms as well. (Universal did not respond to a request for confirmation).

“Puss” came out on only the third weekend of play in theaters, yet in successive weekends stayed strong. Its hold in consecutive weekends was down 19 percent, up 7 percent, down 21 percent this weekend.

Oscar-nominated Us screenwriter known for his work on Norma Rae, Hud and Hombre

The husband-and-wife screenwriting team of Irving Ravetch, who has died aged 89, and Harriet Frank Jr specialised in adapting the work of writers as varied as William Faulkner, Larry McMurtry and Elmore Leonard. The pair enjoyed a particularly successful collaboration with the director Martin Ritt, with whom they made eight films notable for their acute concern with social justice. The screenplays for two of these, Hud (1963) and Norma Rae (1979), were nominated for Academy awards. The latter, for which Sally Field won an Oscar for best actress, had a pro-union theme that illustrated Ravetch's belief in film's ability to "seed ideas and wake up dormant minds".

He was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Jewish immigrant parents. His father, from Russia, was a pharmacist who became a rabbi. His mother, from what is now Israel, taught Hebrew. When Ravetch...

Dennis Weaver, who played slow-witted deputy Chester Goode in the classic TV western Gunsmoke and a cowboy cop in McCloud, has died. He was 81. The actor died of complications from cancer on Friday at his home in Colorado, his publicist Julian Myers announced yesterday. Weaver appeared on Gunsmoke for nine seasons in total. The role won him an Emmy award for the 1958-59 season. The actor is also well known for playing Sam McCloud from 1970-1977, the no-nonsense lawman from New Mexico who battled crime on the streets of New York City. McCloud used wild-west tactics, such as riding his horse through the streets of Manhattan, to solve crimes. The star appeared in numerous movies including Steven Spielberg's debut feature Duel, Touch Of Evil, Ten Wanted Men, Gentle Giant, Seven Angry Men, Dragnet and The Bridges At Toko-Ri. Weaver served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1973-1975. The actor was also an activist for protecting the environment and combating world hunger and built a solar-powered home in Colorado out of recycled tires and cans. Weaver is survived by his wife, Gerry, sons Rick, Robby and Rusty, and three grandchildren.