"The PASSION" makes 14.7$ million on day two!!!

Box Office Guru ^

[yle1138]

http://www.boxofficeguru.com/022704.htm

In its second full day in theaters, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ held up remarkably well and grossed $14,781,316, dropping 44% from its opening day haul of $26,556,573. Take out the estimated $3M in preview grosses that were added to Wednesday's figure, and the decline stands at a surprisingly mild 37%. By comparison, Wednesday-to-Thursday drops for other recent high-profile event films bowing on Wednesdays include 51% for The Return of the King, 57% for Star Wars Episode I, 47% for The Two Towers, and 55% for The Matrix Revolutions.

To date, Passion has collected a stunning $41.3M going into the Friday-to-Sunday weekend period with tremendous strength. That puts it in the same company as The Phantom Menace, which launched with a Wednesday-Thursday take of $40.9M leading to a five-day bow of $105.7M. Also performing in similar fashion was The Two Towers which took in $40M in its first two days capturing $102M over its five-day opening frame. At its current pace, the Jesus tale may also reach the neighborhood of $100M over its Wednesday-to-Sunday debut frame.

[rwfromkansas]

Many people are going Sunday evening. It will be a huge day.

I wonder if any churches are just going instead of holding normal services.

[Naspino]

Why edit the movie for cable?

Yeah I don't know if the cat-o-nine-tails would be cut, it probably would be -- but its no worse than things I've seen on TNT, USA, and TBS.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I think that means for network TV

[rwfromkansas]

Would be nice to have the Ascension and all on some DVD extra footage, but it is a good movie either way to have on hand.

[jonsie]

And don't forget many of us southerners are home due to a winter storm. Sunday will be a beautiful day for all the melting snow and a visit to my local theater.

[tiki]

That was my first thought. Most people I know are going to see it this weekend.

[alisasny]

Did this Methodist child see the movie?

Frankly if she said that she got it from all the anti semite press pushing this garbage and the hollyweirdos and the abe foxmans of the world that was in full force saying this crap for the past few months.

The movie does not allude to this in any way.

Last night my husband and I had a frank talk about this subject and we discussed all the people we have known our entire lives and we NEVER ever heard a person say they didnt like a Jew because they killed Jesus.

[tiamat]

laconic wrote:

I am unaware of Methodist theology (or that of any other Christian denomination) that would teach a child to tell another child that "you killed my Savior" 2000 years after the Crucifixion. She didn't get it from a Christian church nor from the movie The Passion.

---

She may not have gotten it directly from her church, but she may have gotten it at home.

I've heard that stuff before.

I grew up in a neighborhood with lots of Jewish kids, but lots of Christian kids, too. "Christ-killer" was a playgound and lunch-room challenge.

Sadly, it seemed that it was usually the Christian kids starting the fight....

[Naspino]

Would be nice to have the Ascension and all on some DVD extra footage, but it is a good movie either way to have on hand.

I think Mel has set it up for a second movie (and more). I think of Star Wars which began in Act IV. This is really no different. You could have the next movie with Jesus appearing to the disciples and then follow Paul through part of his life. The Romans, the persecutions, etc. Mel could do a very good job of it.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Did this Methodist child see the movie?

I bet she didn't. If she had, it would have put all her pettiness to utter shame. Who knows if she is even a Christian in her heart.

[Burn24]

"but its no worse than things I've seen on TNT, USA, and TBS"

But it's infinitely worse. When's the last time you wept through a slasher film?

[alisasny]

Many I know have not gone yet because its hard to get a sitter during the week.

I went Wed. morning by myself because my kids were at school and I dont work.

No one else I know had that opportunity.

Weekend will be huge : )and many like myself may go again to take spouse or child or mother etc.

[Naspino]

But it's infinitely worse. When's the last time you wept through a slasher film?

Don't read into what I said. The "violence" and "gore" is no worse than what you can watch on cable. Someone said it would be only 15 minutes long if aired on cable. I disagreed. They won't cut footage because of its emotional effect.

[rwfromkansas]

Make sure it will still be playing then (probably....some theaters are keeping it through easter).

[Cboldt]

... an 11 year old girl said to my niece in an angry and audible voice, "You killed my Savior!"

That's a bizarre outburst, unusual especailly from a child, and likely reflecting parental influence.

I'm not sure how I would handle an outburst like that.

[AMDG&BVMH]

"Last night my husband and I had a frank talk about this subject and we discussed all the people we have known our entire lives and we NEVER ever heard a person say they didnt like a Jew because they killed Jesus."

Absolutely second that. Never, ever came up. When I heard (while in Germany as an adult) that the Oberammergau Passion play had been subject of criticism, I was astounded.

[Lee'sGhost]

A film about Jesus spoken in two foreign languages with subtitles? The public will never go for it.

[sphinx]

I am unaware of Methodist theology (or that of any other Christian denomination) that would teach a child to tell another child that "you killed my Savior" 2000 years after the Crucifixion. She didn't get it from a Christian church nor from the movie The Passion.

I expect you are right. My guess is she picked it up from the critics of The Passion, who have swerved way out of their lane to trump up that particular theme.

[rwfromkansas]

The amazing thing about this movie is that it is causing people to actually talk about Jesus again. Now that is a feat.