NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–The movie “Fireproof” and its companion book “The Love Dare” were surprise hits in the mainstream market late last year, and with the film’s DVD recent release, the tandem is back high on the charts.
Fireproof, which was released on DVD Jan. 27 and was made mostly by volunteers at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., opened at No. 2 in DVD sales for the week ending Jan. 31 — trailing only “Open Season 2” — and now sits at No. 5, according to data compiled by the company Rentrak and posted on VideoBusiness.com.
Billboard, which compiles its data differently, had “Fireproof” opening at No. 3 and behind Open Season 2 and “Lakeview Terrace” in the magazine’s Feb. 21 edition.
Not to be outdone, The Love Dare (B&H Publishing) — a book which plays a central role in the movie’s plot — once again is No. 1 in The New York Times’ bestseller list for paperback advice books. It has been ranked in the list for 20 weeks and was No. 1 last fall.
In addition:
— The Love Dare was No. 3 Feb. 17 on Amazon.com’s sales list for all books — paperback or hardback. (Amazon.com updates its lists hourly.)
— Fireproof was No. 3 Feb. 16 on Amazon.com’s list of top-selling DVDs and was No. 2 Feb. 17 on Barnes & Noble’s DVD bestsellers.
— Fireproof set a first-week DVD sales record in Christian bookstores.
Made by the same company that filmed “Facing the Giants,” Fireproof tells the story of a firefighter (Kirk Cameron) whose marriage is headed for divorce. His father, though, gives him a 40-day journal (called The Love Dare) and encourages him to read through it before going through with the divorce proceedings.
The film had a budget of $500,000 but made $33.5 million and was the top-grossing independent movie of 2008. It opened in the Top 5 nationally in total gross — despite playing in only 800-plus theaters — and finished in the Top 10 on a per-theater average its first eight weekends.
–30–
Michael Foust is an assistant editor of Baptist Press. Fireproof and The Love Dare are available at LifeWay Christian Stores and at LifeWayStores.com.
