Robin PottratzThe Success of "Fireproof" and other faith based film
November 13th 2008 01:29
Usually these posts are dedicated to various topics and issues that are well known and relevant in today's entertainment world. This time however, I will be telling you about the most popular movie that you have never heard of. The name of the movie is "Fireproof," and it stars Kirk Cameron of "Growing Pains" fame as a fire fighter contending with his own crumbling marriage. Now Cameron hasn't been a relevant draw for anything in about fifteen years. Yet the low budget ($500 K) drama was able to gross $6.8 million dollars in its opening weekend to come in fourth place in the weekend box office. It has also displayed a great deal of staying power, grossing $28.6 million to date, making it in all likelihood the most profitable movie of the year.
The remarkable grosses of this seemingly untouted film begs the question: How has this indie with the star of "Growing Pains" grossed over 52 times its budget? Lets start by looking at the plot of this film in more detail. Cameron plays Caleb Holt, a hero firefighter who becomes increasingly distant with his wife Catherine played by Erin Bethea. When Caleb wants a divorce, his father challenges him to take "the love dare," a 40 day challenge...40 days, I think you know where this is headed...which he claims saved his marriage. Eventually, Caleb finds out that "the love dare" was also responsible for his parents' renewed faith in God. Now, there is your primary reason for the success of "Fireproof." This is a movie made by devout christians, for devout christians...which is a market that is rarely tapped into as it is commonly and might I add ironically viewed as box office poison.
I have not seen the film, so I cannot give you a review or an opinion on the content itself. However, I can appreciate the irony of the success of this film when looking at the state of religion in this country, as well as its history in the movies. The United States is the last civilized nation in the western world that is still a religious one. There are still battles over abortion and gay marriage all in the name of religion and its seemingly infallable dictation over what constitutes proper morality.
Despite the contoversial issues in the political realm, most people prefer to have a religious affiliation and keep that assocation private. However, one of our most popular institutions over the last century has been...the movies. With the growth of the cinema as one of the most profitable and enjoyable aspects of the entertainment world over the past 100 years comes various subcultures and niche markets. There are specific audiences for slasher films, tragic romance, mind numbing action...etc. However, one of the niche markets that has been a perpetual lightning rod for outrage and controversy has been the religious film. Most of those films have actually failed...("The Last Temptation of Christ", "The Message" "Luther") until February 2003, when Mel Gibson made a film about Jesus's death and made $370 million dollars domestically and launched "The Passion" into the top 10 highest grossing films ever at that time.
It should have been increasingly apparent with the success of "The Passion" that religious films actually do have a place in todays film market. Since Gibson's film, 6 low budget, religious themed films have grossed more than $10 million dollars domestically. These films are profitable and though many might disagree, have a place in the business culture of the film industry.
Back to the success of "Fireproof," what also helped the film get to where it is at was probably the nostalgic feeling that people got with seeing 80's teen star Kirk Cameron as an adult leading man. I suspect that the older audiences...and by older I mean older than 35...found it interesting to see a man who they probably had posters of in their bedroom as teenagers portraying a romantic and heroic firefighter, which is a far cry from the Mike Seaver who lived in his parents attic. Cameron is no Tom Cruise, and his faith will probably prevent him from taking on mainstream roles, but "Fireproof" has helped him defy odds and become a legitamate box office draw.
With each passing day, "Fireproof" continues to astonish the "experts" in the media universe with its suprising box office total. However, if you look at the film sanely and are a student of history, the success of "Fireproof" shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone. With each passing day, and million earned, "Fireproof" continues to create a renewed interest and a new vaccum in films that are religious in nature...and all I can say is that I welcome films of all persuasions. It is encouraging to see that all creative expression, regardless of its supposed alienating qualities, are able to find a place in the great judgmental monster that is the movie business.
The remarkable grosses of this seemingly untouted film begs the question: How has this indie with the star of "Growing Pains" grossed over 52 times its budget? Lets start by looking at the plot of this film in more detail. Cameron plays Caleb Holt, a hero firefighter who becomes increasingly distant with his wife Catherine played by Erin Bethea. When Caleb wants a divorce, his father challenges him to take "the love dare," a 40 day challenge...40 days, I think you know where this is headed...which he claims saved his marriage. Eventually, Caleb finds out that "the love dare" was also responsible for his parents' renewed faith in God. Now, there is your primary reason for the success of "Fireproof." This is a movie made by devout christians, for devout christians...which is a market that is rarely tapped into as it is commonly and might I add ironically viewed as box office poison.
I have not seen the film, so I cannot give you a review or an opinion on the content itself. However, I can appreciate the irony of the success of this film when looking at the state of religion in this country, as well as its history in the movies. The United States is the last civilized nation in the western world that is still a religious one. There are still battles over abortion and gay marriage all in the name of religion and its seemingly infallable dictation over what constitutes proper morality.
Despite the contoversial issues in the political realm, most people prefer to have a religious affiliation and keep that assocation private. However, one of our most popular institutions over the last century has been...the movies. With the growth of the cinema as one of the most profitable and enjoyable aspects of the entertainment world over the past 100 years comes various subcultures and niche markets. There are specific audiences for slasher films, tragic romance, mind numbing action...etc. However, one of the niche markets that has been a perpetual lightning rod for outrage and controversy has been the religious film. Most of those films have actually failed...("The Last Temptation of Christ", "The Message" "Luther") until February 2003, when Mel Gibson made a film about Jesus's death and made $370 million dollars domestically and launched "The Passion" into the top 10 highest grossing films ever at that time.
It should have been increasingly apparent with the success of "The Passion" that religious films actually do have a place in todays film market. Since Gibson's film, 6 low budget, religious themed films have grossed more than $10 million dollars domestically. These films are profitable and though many might disagree, have a place in the business culture of the film industry.
Back to the success of "Fireproof," what also helped the film get to where it is at was probably the nostalgic feeling that people got with seeing 80's teen star Kirk Cameron as an adult leading man. I suspect that the older audiences...and by older I mean older than 35...found it interesting to see a man who they probably had posters of in their bedroom as teenagers portraying a romantic and heroic firefighter, which is a far cry from the Mike Seaver who lived in his parents attic. Cameron is no Tom Cruise, and his faith will probably prevent him from taking on mainstream roles, but "Fireproof" has helped him defy odds and become a legitamate box office draw.
With each passing day, "Fireproof" continues to astonish the "experts" in the media universe with its suprising box office total. However, if you look at the film sanely and are a student of history, the success of "Fireproof" shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone. With each passing day, and million earned, "Fireproof" continues to create a renewed interest and a new vaccum in films that are religious in nature...and all I can say is that I welcome films of all persuasions. It is encouraging to see that all creative expression, regardless of its supposed alienating qualities, are able to find a place in the great judgmental monster that is the movie business.
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