Late yesterday afternoon Market Watch posted an article on the success to date of the film Fireproof. The article begins by rattling off a number of statistics that, in general, show Fireproof as a hit. Adding to its theatrical accomplishments, The Love Dare, the book featured in the film, has held steady for two weeks in the #1 spot on the New York Times best seller list (paperback – advice).
Having seen the film multiple times in a variety of states prior to its theatrical release, I have yet to actually purchase a ticket and view it in a real theater with a real audience, but through the grapevine, I’ve heard numerous stories of friends and co-workers being tremendously affected by the movie. So much so that some have told me they have gone straight from the theater to the bookstore to purchase multiple copies of The Love Dare. And while I was at Mardel this past weekend, a reporter from the Colorado Springs Gazette called to speak with the manager about the book’s strong sales and how to best position an article about it.
(In fact, don’t tell my family this, but they’re all getting copies of The Love Dare for Christmas…)
I also have the privilege of knowing many of the team members who have helped raise viewer awareness of Fireproof long before it even hit the theaters. Their efforts have been months in the making and have not been without a few life changing moments of their own. (And they’ve seen the film more often than I have!)
So, what do you think it is about this film that continues drawing in audiences? Have you seen it? Have you read the book? How has it affected you or your customers? What do you want to see next?
I have read the Love Dare book; it's outstanding. It's probably the best thing I've done for my marriage in a very long time. I even heard a story about a wife buying it as a gift for her husband...but SHE'S doing the devotional, so the real gift is HER being a better wife! How cool is that?
Posted by: tnt | October 22, 2008 at 05:16 PM
I totally missed the fact during the movie that The Love Dare was a real book. I'll have to tell my son-in-law, who is a pastor overseeing many small group ministries. Sounds like a great Christmas gift!
www.kristiholl.com
www.writers-first-aid.blogspot.com
Posted by: Kristi Holl | October 27, 2008 at 02:15 PM
I personally have seen Fireproof 3 times. Like Lauren I got to see 3 pre-screenings of it at various retail shows this summer and fall and have not actually seen it in the theater. In Midland, MI the city where I and my bookstore reside, Fireproof has been at least the #3 movie at our local theater. It was #1 opening weekend! Opening weekend our theater actually let us come in and set up a book table in the lobby to sell the Love Dare to people coming out of the movie. We sold 120 copies of the Love Dare that weekend and since then sold an additional 300 copies and climbing. I am a single woman so I have not actually read the Love Dare, but I have a few of my Sales Associates reading it and keeping me updated on what their thoughts are and they have all loved it so far!
I am not sure if you know this but they have set up a website where people can go and share their testimonies of how Fireproof and the Love Dare have impacted their marriages and lives over all...
http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/stories/
Posted by: Jeanette Blackson | October 28, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Nice concept.. thanks for sharing this info...
Posted by: market entry research | November 02, 2009 at 05:11 AM