[Revel]

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (2004)
$370,500,000 (US total)
http://www.movieweb.com/movies/film/77/577/summary.php

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005)
$78,905,758 (US total)
http://www.movieweb.com/movies/film/57/2457/summary.php

[xzins]

This really does have a comparison problem.

It certainly is accurate in terms of dollars. The Passion took in about 5 times as much money.

But the media support for Brokeback was beyond total. It received front page, TV, radio, award, news anchor, etc. promotion beyond what could be considered reasonable. It simply didn't have to pay for the enormous amount of publicity it received.

All of liberal America actively promoted Brokeback.

One can only wonder what would have transpired with The Passion if Gibson's film had gotten the same treatment.

[NYer]

Thank you for researching those numbers. If I recall, there were quite a few in the Motion Picture Academy who refused to preview 'Passion' last year; hence fewer awards. Their consciences couldn't handle it, but they had no problems watching two men engage in a love affair.

40 years ago, Hollywood turned out such classics as 'The Ten Commandments', 'The Silver Chalice', 'The Robe' and other great religious epics, just in time for Easter. Now they challenge each other to redefine deviancy as normal. They probably don't miss my contributions at the cinema. Then again, based on the numbers you have posted, they don't need to; they are already their own supporters.