'Fireproof' crosses $20M mark

NEW YORK, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Samuel Goldwyn Films said it plans to increase the number of screens on which its U.S. movie "Fireproof" is shown to more than 1,000.

The film, which is currently on 905 screens, stars Kirk Cameron and newcomer Erin Bethea. It is about a firefighter who learns how to rescue his own marriage.

Since it was released four weeks ago, the movie has earned more than $20 million and has had a per-screen average of $8,111, making it the year's highest opening weekend box office -- after "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" -- for films released on 1,000 screens or less, Samuel Goldwyn Films said, adding that its movie remained in the top 10 for three consecutive weeks while competing against films released on more than double the number of screens.

"We are thrilled with 'Fireproof's' astonishing reception and are grateful that audiences all over America are raving about this entertaining and inspirational film," Meyer Gottlieb, president of Samuel Goldwyn Films, said in a statement.

"The performance of this film obviously reflects the need for this kind of inspiring entertainment among a large audience and Affirm is committed to continuing to make such content available to this community in the future," added Bob Rubin, executive vice president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, one of the acquisition partners for the movie and the company that oversees Affirm Films.