Posted on Nov 24, 2008 | by Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--"Fireproof" passed the $31 million mark in total box office gross over the weekend, but its amazing streak of top 10 finishes in per-theater average came to an end.

Playing in its ninth weekend and in more than 160 new theaters (and more than 800 total), Fireproof averaged $1,094 per theater, which placed it No. 14 on a per-theater average among all movies playing in at least 100 theaters, according to studio estimates. It had finished in the Top 10 in that category its first eight weekends.

The film -- the latest release from the makers of the 2006 hit "Facing the Giants" -- finished No. 13 in weekend gross with $900,000 and has made $31.5 million in total gross, according to estimates. It cost $500,000 to make.

Its $900,000 in weekend gross was a loss of only 28.3 percent from the previous weekend, which is impressive by Hollywood standards. It was the third smallest drop among all Top 20 movies that have been out more than one weekend.

With Fireproof slowly ending its theatrical run, movie officials announced last week that it will be released on DVD Jan. 27, just in time for Valentine's Day and National Marriage Month (February).

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, was No. 1 for three straight weeks on The New York Times' paperback advice bestseller list and now is No. 2. It is published by B&H Publishing Group.

Fireproof was made by Sherwood Pictures, which is owned by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga.
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Compiled by Michael Foust, assistant editor of Baptist Press. Movie data compiled from BoxOfficeMojo.com. For more information about "Fireproof," visit FireproofTheMovie.com. For resources, visit FireproofMyMarriage.com.