'Fireproof' earns $23 million at box office

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — “Fireproof” opened its sixth weekend in nearly 900 theaters across the country Oct. 31. In its fifth week, the movie produced out of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany passed the $23 million mark, losing only 17.1 percent from the previous weekend, according to studio estimates.

The film – the latest release from the makers of “Facing the Giants” and filmed on a $500,000 budget – was boosted in part by its opening in 85 new cities. All total, it played in 898 theaters, seven fewer than the previous weekend.

In its fifth week the movie finished No. 11 for the second straight weekend with a weekend estimated gross of $2,137,000, putting it at $23,610,000 for its entire release. Its loss of 17.1 percent from the previous weekend is unusual; among the other Top 20 movies that have been in theaters more than one week, all of them lost anywhere from 27 to 57 percent.

Fireproof finished sixth that weekend among the top 15 movies on a per-theater gross, making $2,380.

The movie tells the story of how a firefighting captain played by Kirk Cameron works to save his failing marriage. “The Love Dare,” a book featured in the movie,” went No. 1 for three straight weeks on The New York Times’ paperback advice bestseller list. It is published by B&H Publishing Group. In addition, the novel “Fireproof” has been on the NYT fiction bestsellers list for four consecutive weeks. Based on the movie screenplay written by Sherwood staff members Alex and Stephen Kendrick, the book from Thomas Nelson was authored by Eric Wilson.

For updates go to www.fireproofthemovie.com.