Mel Gibson's 'Passion' ascends to blockbuster status $117.5 million

Boston Globe ^ | March 1, 2004 | David Germain, AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

LOS ANGELES (AP) Mel Gibson's gamble on ''The Passion of the Christ'' paid off enormously, riding a storm of religious debate to a $117.5 million haul in its first five days, according to studio estimates Sunday.

''The Passion,'' which debuted on Ash Wednesday, rocketed to the No. 1 box-office slot for the weekend with $76.2 million from Friday to Sunday.

[DollyCali]

France has deep Catholic roots, although the growth above the ground in not seen much these days. But I think the present generation which is largely unchurched will be curious to see this film.

Think you are right.. many will go out of curiosity & to find more ammo against the USA.. I think many of them will be touched & it will backfire. WE can only pray that this sharing of God's message will NOT come back fallow, in all the locales of the world.. even Hollywood. I think there will be an impact on many of the stars. Many of them have chruch in their backgrounds. Their souls will be confronted.

[Dataman]

I checked out the Mojo chart and it doesn't make sense to me. I think the figure (available later this afternoon) will be closer to $125 million just following the pattern of other movies. Notice the Sunday figure for TPOTC drops of significantly when compared to ROTK or Star Wars. The projection is irrationally pessimistic. check it out

We went with 6 other friends last night, having bought tickets the previous Wed. All the shows that afternoon were sold out and I imagine they were also packed throughout the evening.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

It is a moot point because He did sacrifice Himself for us. However, His teaching would be of no more value than that of Siddhartha Gautama or Ron Hubbard if He had not willingly taken on the physical and spiritual punishment for our sin. And He is the only one who could have done it.

[uncbob]

Even here in "Kennedy Country", the lines to see this movie are phenomenal

And comes November what % will be lining up to vote for the Godless abortion loving democrat candidates

[AFPhys]

My discussions with people seem to indicate that only about a quarter of those who intend to see this have yet done so.

I'll personally be surprised if this does not hit a half-billion.

[AFPhys]

For those who feel the need to go with their spouses or friends and are waiting for the right time... I advise, don't wait.

This is not a "date" movie.

I was personally very happy that I was by myself when I saw it.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Go ahead and sob.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The Passion doesn't need an Oscar blessing.

[AFPhys]

A movie reviewer predicted yesterday that next year's crop of crap out of Hollywood is going to be all about violence in a direct response to the violence contained in this movie.

If so, they are going to be totally baffled that the violence does not sell their tickets.

It is Gibson's willingness to be a disseminator of the message that is selling the tickets, much as it is Limbaugh's dissemination of the message which has made his show popular, not his method of presentation.

I don't think they'll be able to ever get it, though.

[AFPhys]

It would be even more gratifying if 2004 were the year that the top-grossing film recieved NO Hollywood awards.

I believe that would send the world the most powerful message possible - and that message would clearly not be about the film.

[AFPhys]

This is NOT a date movie. I recommend you go by yourselves - or possibly, join her after you first see it yourself if that is the only way she'll attend it.

[AlbionGirl]

Kind of you to say.

[onyx]

Amen. I saw it last night; my stomache was upset watching the cruelty for what Jesus had to endure.....and I wasn't thinking it was because of the Jews....I was thinking because of me...and for all the people I was sitting next to, many of whom will never accept Him.....that hurt more.

Thank you for telling me that.

[Willgamer]

{This is going to be HUGE. The Latin America market alone will be at least as large as the US and the DVD sales will again equal theater numbers. Mel could be hitting a billion gross before this is over.}

I'm blown away by the size of the market for a movie with nothing that screams USA, USA....!

Not filmed here, no cultural artifacts, no english, no USA in 33 AD period.

Jesus is known around the world; draw you own conclusions!

[onyx]

Like the song goes, "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love." Except, for real. This is something bigger than all the Catholic and Protestant congregations of America combined. It is actually weirding me out. Great Awakening II, here we come, and not a moment too soon.

Your comment gave me chills -- the good kind. Uncanny isn't it? I truly believe God has blessed Mel Gibson and in turn, all of us.

[tertiary01]

Great comment!! I can see the headlines now...France surrenders to Mel Gibson's movie!!!

[NeoCaveman]

the place in Shaker we FReeped where Hitlery had her booksigning is no longer there (she does that with people too

Fort Macy Park?

.. actually they moved to a more desirable locale, but the coincidence is funny.

They never got the old place fully fumigated :^)

[Dataman]

Hey Dan: I was right. ROTK is now second. TPOTC is #1. checkitout

[Former]

It would also require sincerity, the true kind, not the smarmy kind. I don't care if Mel gets an Oscar or not.. It actually doesn't matter at all. I don't even watch the Oscars. The only thing that matters here, is that this movie was made and that we all see it.

I saw the movie with people from my church, including my priest. There were several people who bought popcorn, but did not eat it. Everyone in the theater sat perfectly upright and still. The reactions of our group ranged from expressions of horror to stunned silence. I know the beauty of the ressurection and have extreme loyalty to my Christian faith, but even (or more accurately, especially) knowing these things, the movie still made me cry. Cry for humanity and our iniquities and His ability to still die for us unworthy people. It is awesome. Thank you Mel Gibson for taking a stand. You are a true Christian servant to God's people.

[fishbabe]

right you are.....the real money in films is the tie-ins from merchandise and the dvd's and videos......the movies barely break even..thats why the studios are steamed at gibson,he showed the world it can be done without hollywood...i'm waiting for a conservative to open their own studio,make great movies and pi$$ the hollywood crowd off so much,they explode[literally]!!!!!!!!!!!!