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.

[NewJerseyJoe]

WAY TO GO, MEL! I hope he makes a billion dollars from this movie, so he can tell all the Hollywood liberals and pagans where to go.

Wouldn't it be fantastic to see this in a few years? --
VATICAN II -- A Mel Gibson Film

[Dante3]

It is true that in France there have been very disturbing incidents. IMHO it is not the Christians there who are anti Jews, its the Muslims France has been importing to boost anti-Jewish sentiments.

[Jonx6]

I'm suprised the Boston Globe ran this.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Since most films are no longer actually made in Hollywood, only three things keep it alive. Hollywood big film investment money is one. Another is the "star" system. The traditional view of Hollywood moguls is you have to have a "household name" star to make a financially successful film. Hollywood has controlled that system through insufferable agents and insider contacts.

The third thing is distribution to theaters.

Mel's success threatens all those pillars holding up the rotten whorehouse in Hollywood.

If theaters can make money without Hollywood completely controlling output, the selection of films should vastly improve.

[InvisibleChurch]

the left will accuse the right of "hate-movie viewing"

[nicmarlo]

God has truly rewarded Mel and us. Praise the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ.

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.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Could it be they don't want to offend they very large moslem population? too. It is however funny, is France srendering to Mel Gibson's movie?

I think the French govt has stirred up so much hate for Jews they do believe it could cause riots. The French govt. is banning Muslim students from wearing their traditional head garb. So they've pissed off that group.

[fishbabe]

isn't that tooooo funny?????no one, i mean no one wanted to distribute this movie...but,once the green started pouring into the boxoffice,everyone wants the dvd rights....

[fishbabe]

isn't that tooooo funny?????no one, i mean no one wanted to distribute this movie...but,once the green started pouring into the boxoffice,everyone wants the dvd rights....

[TomB]

I wonder how much of a resurgence this will see Easter week?

What better way to "celebrate" Good Friday than to see this movie (after services, of course)?

[AmericaUnited]

Mel could be hitting a billion gross before this is over.

Yes, but since "he'll never work in this town again...", he'll need the cash to buy a few Hollywood studios and hire himself. LOL!

[TomB]

Mel's success threatens all those pillars holding up the rotten whorehouse in Hollywood.

Interesting point.

If you look at "Lord of the Rings", it has much in common with "Passion".

-Not a second was filmed in Hollywood.

-Mostly unknown actors.

-Miramax pulled funding early in the project.

I'd like to see more movies do it this way. And as production costs skyrocket, it will probably happen.

[Dante3]

The film "Brigham City" (about a serial killer that received great reviews, but includes a scene of people praying) reportedly also faced similar problems. I wonder how many other independent films would have made it big if they had been given a fair chance.

[JosephW]

I don't know how big the world market will be as Mad Mo's Orcs will probably not allow it to be seen in the areas that need it most.

[goodolemr]

Saw it this weekend, 3:45 showing. Packed theater. A manager warned the people "Please turn off your cell phones... if ever there was a movie, this is it" I just loved the way he said that and, of course, it was a wonderful experience.

[Moby Grape]

I wish I could recall which news service I saw this in, but, after the successful Wednesday opening, one of the wire services reported that;

"Movie analyst predict a considerable drop off this weekend and expect the movie to finish with reciepts of around $35 million."

I said at the time that you could just sense in those words that the HOPED it would flop....EAT CROW "EXPERTS".

[longtermmemmory]

I have read that the studios make MORE money from DVD's than from actual releases. People want some movies for their collections.

If every family that say this eventually buys this movie...

(odd how you don't hear about piracy and this movie)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I read that too. "Nothing to see here, move along folks."

[kittymyrib]

If Jesus isn't welcome in France, I don't want to go there.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Oh! That's a great post!