REEL NEWS
Fireproof Hot;Billy Bombs
No. 11 at box office, Fireproof nears $25 million mark; but Billy: The Early Years bombs while Newsweek reports on Graham 'family rift.' Plus: Stone doesn't like Bush, but empathizes; Hollywood supports gay marriage; Del Toro talks Hobbit, Frankenstein; and more.
By Josh Hurst | posted 10/27/2008
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Fireproof remained at No. 11 at the box office over the weekend, picking up $2.1 million to push its five-week total to $23.6 million—more than 47 times its $500,000 budget.
The film's smashing success comes despite a limited release, showing on about 900 theaters or less for its entire run; it actually expanded to more theaters last week. Over the weekend, Fireproof averaged $2,380 per theater, a better average than five films above it—including Max Payne, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and Eagle Eye. Not bad for an independent film made primarily by amateurs and volunteers at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia—the same church that brought us Facing the Giants two years ago.
Sherwood's hometown paper reports that "word of mouth" has been a big part of Fireproof's success. The Albany Herald also notes that churches are using the film to kick off or supplement their marriage courses—including many Catholic churches.
Fireproof has more than doubled the earnings of Giants, which tallied just over $10 million in its 2006 run, showing in only 441 theaters at its peak. Fireproof has also spawned a best-selling book, The Love Dare, written by filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick.
Meyer Gottlieb, president of Samuel Goldwyn Films, which distributed the movie, says, "We are thrilled with Fireproof's astonishing reception and grateful that audiences all over America are raving about this entertaining and inspirational film."
But while Fireproof remains hot, Billy: The Early Years never even got warm, earning just $347,000 in its first two weeks of release—showing on 282 theaters its first weekend (Oct. 10-12), then 118 theaters in Week 2 and dropping to a mere fifteen theaters last weekend. Its entire run has been primarily in Southern states, where analysts thought the film would reach the biggest audience. But apparently not.
Billy producer Larry Mortorff said Fireproof's success, ironically, might have hurt his film: "Maybe the Christian world can only take one Christian film at a time, and Fireproof may have taken that spot. It's not a superior film to ours, but it did superior business."
Mortorff added that there was "no way of knowing" whether Franklin Graham's public comments, distancing himself and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association from the film, hurt Billy's chances at the box office. The "family rift" over the film was even reported in Newsweek.
"Making peace with Franklin would've been a nice accomplishment, which we did not accomplish," Mortorff said. "I don't know that that door will ever open for us. We've made a few attempts to have a meeting, but haven't been successful. We'd love to not be at odds with Franklin and the BGEA."
Mortorff said his team was strategizing a "second wave" of theatrical releases, and was confident they would break even through DVD sales and TV deals.
In other movie news:
Stone says he doesn't like Bush, but empathizes with him (Globe & Mail)
Director quiets cries for impeachment, defends his biopic
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