An American box office movie sensation has made its UK debut not in Leicester Square but in a Norwich church, organizers believe.

 

Excited voices filled the foyer and the smell of fresh popcorn wafted enticingly as people looked forward to the premiere of a major new film in Norwich yesterday evening (February 25). However it wasn’t at Riverside or Castle Mall where the crowds gathered but at Witard Road Baptist Church.

 

Showing on the big screen at the church was the film Fireproof which has proved a box office sensation in the USA. With the international licence for the film only granted for this country on Friday, Witard Road was swiftly off the mark by purchasing the authorisation over the weekend. The church believes that it is possibly the first in the UK to show the film.

 

Fireproof tells the story of a firefighter who, while saving lives through his work, has a dramatic battle to save his marriage, helped in no small way by an introduction to the Christian faith. 

 

The film was made by Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia, USA with the help of 1200 volunteers from the church and is the follow up to their last successful movie, ‘Facing the Giants’. 

 

Fireproof, which cost $0.5 million to make, has confounded critics who said that it would be a limited success, by debuting at No4 at the US box office with receipts to date of $33.5 million. The DVD of the film climbed to No 3 on Billboard’s DVD chart and the accompanying book ‘The Love Dare’ has sold over 2 million copies, propelling it into the bestsellers list.

 

‘Fantastic’, ‘Wonderful movie’ and ‘Brilliant’ were just a few of the comments from members of the church, friends and invited guests as they left the building. Members have become accustomed to seeing Hollywood blockbusters at their church with a monthly ‘Reel Issues’ evening, where people look at clips of movies and discuss the associated life issues from a Christian perspective.

See the Fireproof trailer at www.fireproofthemovie.com

Pictured above is the movie showing at Witard Road Church.