Reflecting on "The Passion"

Facts, stats and thoughts on Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ"

By John Grasmeier
Angelqueen.org
 

From the get-go, “The Passion” lacked the basic ingredients which usually accompany such highly successful films..

None of the big distributors (who are now kicking themselves) would pick it up, thus it was forced into a limited theater distribution and unconventional pre-release promotional model. Unlike most blockbusters that reach its level of success, it drew an “R” rating, ensuring that the kiddie-crowd dollars would be forfeited out of the gate. According to a USA Today article from March 2, 2004, only 7% of the audience were children ages 10 to 17. It was an independent, sub-titled foreign film that was released mid-week during the off-season on the holy day of Ash Wednesday. "The Passion" enjoyed none of the pre-release big money advertising or standard promotional hoopla associated with an anticipated blockbuster. No Burger King cups, no flashy television commercials, no "thumbs up" from glowing talking heads.

Not only did the movie have these variables working against it (which would have sunk many other productions), but it and its creator, Mel Gibson, became the target of public attacks, some of them very vicious, from various groups that were opposed to the film, its message, its producer or its subject - Christ Himself.

The majority of secular old-media critics suddenly discovered en masse that they didn’t like “violent” movies and panned it relentlessly. It was labeled "anti-Semitic" and Gibson, along with his family, were dragged relentlessly through a hostile gauntlet for perceived thought-crimes against the ruling politically correct oligarchy.

Incredibly, many cardinals, bishops and priests enthusiastically joined the public hazing. In a written statement, the French Bishop's Conference declared that the film "could be used to support anti-Semitic opinions" and added "In this film, the face of Christ shows through less than the obsessions of our times". Bishop Patrick McGrath of San Jose committed outright heresy when in a piece he penned for the San Jose Mercury News, he claimed that the Gospels "are not historical accounts of the historical events they narrate", but "theological reflections". A group of "scholars" affiliated with the USCCB who were working with renowned Catholic hater Abe Foxman, stole a pre-release copy of the movie and used it as fodder a scurrilous propaganda program which targeted  Mel, the movie and the Gospels themselves. 

Some Bishops stated publicly that they would refuse to see the film, while bishop Levada stated that he would see it but would only be watching it "through the eyes of a Jew". Countless Catholics were forced to suffer through Sunday homilies denouncing the movie. There were "warnings" posted in parish and diocesan  literature.

Despite all of this, “The Passion” achieved phenomenal success, managed to break numerous records and crossed many cinematic milestones. It became the highest grossing "R" rated film of all time, the highest grossing foreign film of all time and the highest grossing religious movie of all time. It boasts the highest opening take ever of a movie outside of a summer release,  the highest grossing five-day opening in history for any film released on a Wednesday, the 3rd highest 5 day opening in movie history, and the 9th highest grossing opening day of all time.

Nine million copies of "The Passion" DVD were sold in the first week of release – second only to “Finding Nemo” for the all-time record. The box office take in the US alone was over $370,000,000 and over $600,000,000 worldwide. It is said that Gibson himself has made somewhere around a half of a billion dollars from the venture. According to an article from the BBC, "The Passion" was singularly responsible for making 2004 the best year ever for the movie industry. Without it, overall box office revenues would have been 5% less than the previous year (2003).

Ignoring all of this, and disregarding its compelling cinematography, acting, musical score and screenplay, and despite it winning "Best Drama" from the consumer driven people's choice award, "The Passion" did not win a single award from any of the Hollywood awards venues. It received token nominations for cinematography, makeup and original score at the Oscars but not a single nomination or even mention at the Golden Globes.

When all was said and done, the scorn, wailing, attacks and slander had no effect. The film became an enormous success, seen by multitudes. It was hailed by the vast majority of Catholic and non-Catholic Christians, who went to see it in droves. It became a catalyst for countless conversions and reversion to the faith. It now sits in the DVD collections of millions of households around the world and will be deservedly relished as the historic work of art that it is for years to come.  It seems that the holy sacrifice Our Lord made on Mount Calvary will continue to get plenty of future screen-time and meditation.

You done good Mel.