Mel Gibson Film '5th Largest Opening in History'

Newsmax ^ | 2-26-04 | Carl Limbacher

[truthandlife]

In the face of a vicious and sustained campaign attacking both Mel Gibson and his film "The Passion of the Christ" the opening day box office receipts Wednesday soared to $23.5 million with an additional $3 million take in advance screenings held Monday and Tuesday.

The film opened on 4,600 screens in 3,006 theaters on Wednesday.

According to the New York Times which has been in an attack mode against Gibson and his film since he first began filming the Passion, it was the fifth largest opening in Hollywood history with "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," hanging on to first place with opening day receipts of $34.4 million.

Industry experts told the Times that the box-office figure was astonishing for an extremely violent, R-rated, religious film in Aramaic and Latin with English subtitles.

"This number would be impressive for a mainstream blockbuster, let alone a subtitled historical-religious epic," Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, which tracks ticket sales told the Times. "This shows the power of public discourse with regard to religious topics and the effect a full-blown media blitz can have on the public."

Bob Berney, president of Newmarket Films, which is distributing the picture, told the Times he expected the number of theaters to increase slightly next week because of the intense interest. The film is already moving to more screens on Friday, for a total of 4,793 in 3,043 theaters.

"The success of the film so far is incredible, and it's across the board," Berney told the Times adding that theaters were packed not just in Bible Belt cities like Houston and Oklahoma City, but also at the AMC theater on 42nd Street in Manhattan and the soaring ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood. The Times reported that some producers and studio executives said the film would probably take in $75 million by the close of the weekend and, if attendance continued to hold up, could take in as much as $100 million in the first five days.

"My feeling is these people will go back more than once," Mr. Berney said. "And with this kind of number, people who are not part of churches will go just out of feeling that they've got to see it, a curiosity. I don't know how long it will go," he added "but there will be enough repeat business to sustain it for quite a while."

[montag813]

Don't spoil it and tell us how it ends please.

The coming Hollywood version will have a postscript where Jesus decries the suffering of Iraqis and "Palestinians", and declares his support for Gay marriage.

[McGavin999]

I already know the end, I read the book :o)

[rwfromkansas]

Ignorant.

God has foreordained everything that comes to pass for His glory and to bring some good from it.

Just because your sinful heart can't see that doesn't mean God is "inhumane."

Get over yourself.

[Jeff Chandler]

opening on Ash Wednesday was just a fluke?

Ash Wednesday is the perfect day for this movie to open for a devout Catholic. Opening on Ash Wednesday adds to the poignancy of the solemn season of Lent.

It sounds to me like the taking of the most beautiful story ever told, and turning it into a "slasher/bloody/gore" horror flick

It is not the story of the life of Jesus, it is The Passion. It is the story of the Blood of the Lamb being spilled to redeem man. (That's also why Catholic crosses have the Corpus Cristi attached).

perhaps it's fantastic.

Without question.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

The wife said today she would be buying the DVD the minute it hit the market, never has she ever even considered such,

We saw the movie yesterday morning, a moving experience like few other things in life. Felt as though I was a silent and helpless witness to atrocity upon all mankind, which the death of Jesus was.

There is pure evil in this world, and the radical Islamist terrorists personifies it like nothing other can. We must confront and fight it to the death, their wickedness would condemn this earth to a new dark ages.

[texas booster]

More on the money thing. According to Drudge, the movie ended Wednesday at over $26,556,573 showing in 3,006 theaters. No other movie that has opened on a (non-holiday) Wednesday has grossed more. This total may not include the Monday and Tuesday matinees, which sold about $3,000,000 in tickets.

To compare, Matrix Revolutions grossed $24,311,365 playing in 3,502 theaters, opening on the first Wednesday in November. I seem to recall theaters having midnight showings on Tuesday night, partly offsetting the Monday and Tuesday matinees of The Passion.

On its first day, also a Wednesday, ROTK grossed $34,450,834 showing on 3,703 theaters. ROTK had multiple, full price midnight showings on its first day, which inflated the totals. It also had subtitles, but was mostly in English. OTOH, it is a 3+ hour long movie.

The Passion beats out the other two LOTR, all Star Wars flicks (possibly including Phantom Menace), and most other main stream movies. I am now hearing estimates of ticket sales approaching the $100,000,000 mark by the end of the weekend.

Incredible!

[dinok]

"What will drive the left really crazy is that they helped create it with their never ending attacks (read: free publicity) hehehe"

After all these years and all He endured, Jesus wins again.

[Imal]

Kind of ironic that, on the one hand, you criticize the idea that God is fixated on humanity, then finish by asserting the "if God cared" fallacy, that essentially laments God not being fixated on humanity.

As best I can tell, you're criticizing your own position.

Silly to knock God for not being more human, while at the same time evaluating Him as if He were.

[rwfromkansas]

Sorry, but God is very much involved in every detail of the world.


In Psalm 135:6, it says, "Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places." In Daniel 4:35, it says this: "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; he does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"

Matthew 10:29-31

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

1 Samuel 2:6-7:

"The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up."


Rom 13:1: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been ESTABLISHED by God."


John 19:11: "Jesus answered, 'You would have no power over me if it were not GIVEN TO YOU FROM ABOVE. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.'"


Rom 9:17-21: "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"


Eph 1:11: "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL."

[rwfromkansas]

True. I posted a bunch of Scripture to show him that well, like it or not, God is very much involved in ordaining all that comes to pass, even uncomfortable things. God is a mystery, and we should not try to make him less divine just because we don't like the thought of a sovereign God.

[Indy Pendance]

Read tomorrow bump!

[McGavin999]

And what did it cost to produce ROTK? And the fact is ROTK was the third part of a series people were already waiting to see.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

""What will drive the left really crazy is that they helped create it with their never ending attacks (read: free publicity) hehehe"


When I see and hear all the detractors and nay-sayers against the movie and mel, I think we all now know whom Satan personified as he slinked and slimed his way into and out of scenes.

[Psycho_Bunny]

I'm not religious.  Normally, I probably would never have watched this film.  

But after all the liberal venom and vitriol over it, I'm going to go buy a ticket and watch it in the theatre.

Funny thing is, I was talking to my mother and she mentioned she was going to see it tomorrow with my step-father.....for the same reason....only she would have waited for the video.

I wonder how many people are similarly motivated.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP - THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

[Ronzo]

See our U.S. 7th Cavalry's Petition for BUSH to award lifetime lifesaving Hero RICK RESCORLA the Presidential Medal at www.lzxray.com

BUMP for RICK RESCORLA both a great American hero, and a great British hero!

Men of Cornwall stop your dreaming;
Can't you see their spearpoints gleaming?
See their warriors' pennants streaming
To this battlefield.

Men of Cornwall stand ye steady;
It cannot be ever said ye
for the battle were not ready;
Stand and never yield!

[Lily4Jesus]

I say Amen. From your mouth to GODs ears

[Cboldt]

I can't explain "it," the world. Many better than me have made their attempts a matter of record. God gave humans free will. You know it, you have it. God has made a few promises, and "Peace on Earth" is not one of them.

Mel Gibson made a movie that covers God's gift of salvation from damnation. Some people poo-poo the notion of salvation, for various reasons and based on various, heartfelt beliefs. The Holy Spirit roams the earth, in an effort to bring humans with strong self-will to submit to God's will. I pray that the Holy Spirit works Its power in your heart.

[ducks1944]

We seen it yesterday (Wednesday). I was humble before I seen it for Jesus did for all of us and was VERY, VERY HUMBLE after seeing it.

[Cboldt]

Darn it. You guys and the simple reviews just blow my mind.

What was it, "the meek shall ingherit ... "