No matter how you look at it, the Fireproof movement was a cultural phenomenon. What started as a whisper grew into an impassioned shout rarely equaled among theater-goers. Word of mouth spread prolifically about the feature film, which was produced on a shoestring budget and followed the healing actions made by a young couple to repair their marriage before fizzling out. With such a timeless message, Fireproof became the number one independent movie of 2008, eventually grossing over $33 million. The movement continued well into 2009, as everything tied to the film, from the Love Dare book featured in the story, to real-life marriage seminars, seemed to turn to gold. Another manifestation of the film's momentum was the success of the soundtrack. Ten full months after the movie's premiere, and without a huge marketing campaign, the soundtrack still cracked the Billboard Top 200 in the summer of 2009. The disc includes tracks by six of contemporary Christian music's most relevant artists at the time, including Casting Crowns, Third Day, Leeland, Warren Barfield, and relative newcomers John Waller and Grey Holiday. The rest of the album features Mark Willard's original orchestral score, which underpinned the film's most poignant moments with an earthy string/piano mix. Fireproof wove itself into the tapestry of America's Christian culture, and the soundtrack was an undeniable reminder of the film's powerful, practical messages about investing in marriage. ~ Jared Johnson, Rovi
