megamii

Trivia: Is currently the fastest major theatrical film to earn back its production and marketing costs ($55 million in three days). It is also the fastest film to earn a profit (grossing over the $110 million threshold within five days), since a film needs to earn twice the production and marketing costs to make a profit.

megamii

Trivia: Until October 2003, the film was originally called "The Passion" until Mel Gibson found that Miramax owns the rights to that name (from a romantic fantasy book), so he decided to add "of Christ" to it. Then a month latter, Gibson added an additional "the" between "of" and "Christ" which makes it "The Passion of the Christ," the title which was released in theaters.

megamii

Trivia: Contrary to earlier media reports, Pope John Paul II never publicly endorsed the film after receiving a private screening of it.

megamii

Trivia: Not only is the film the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time in North America, it was the first to pass the $300 million mark on March 24, 2004. However, it is only second ($609 million) to 2003's "The Matrix Reloaded" ($739 million) as the highest-grossing R-rated film worldwide.

megamii

Trivia: Is the highest-grossing ($370 million) R-rated film in North American box office history, breaking the previous record held by "The Matrix Reloaded" (2003).

megamii

Trivia: Before an Israeli arthouse theater decided to screen the film in Israel, no theater in the country was willing to show it because of the anti-Semitism controversy.

megamii

Trivia: The film has become the highest grossing foreign-language film in North America, grossing more than Cantonese-language film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000).

megamii

Trivia: As of September 5, 2004, the film has become the highest-grossing independent (not owned by a major Hollywood studio) film of all time, surpassing "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (2003).

megamii

Trivia: With box office receipts of over $370 million (as of September 5, 2004), "The Passion" has become the highest-grossing religious-themed film of all time.

megamii

Trivia: James Caviezel spent between four to eight hours in the makeup chair each shooting day transforming into his role as Jesus.

megamii

Trivia: Director/producer Mel Gibson wanted the film to look like the paintings from the Italian baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1573-1610). The artist is known for works marked by intense realism and revolutionary use of light. His best work is the "Deposition of Christ" (1604).

megamii

Trivia: According to the movie's official web site, 40% of the film was shot at night or indoors under wraps.

megamii