'Passion' Breaks February Records

Zap2it.com ^ | February 29, 2004 | Mike Szymanski

[ultima ratio]

'Passion' Breaks February Records Sun, Feb 29, 2004, 10:02 AM PT By Mike Szymanski

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) -- Driven by religious groups packing the theaters, "The Passion of the Christ" has surpassed $117.5 million since its opening on Ash Wednesday and has set all sorts of box office records.

Not only is the Mel Gibson directed story about the last day of Jesus the biggest February opening of all time, taking in $76.2 million this weekend alone, it's the seventh biggest opening of any film of all time, just beneath "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" and its $80 mil opening in 2002. It is quickly the most successful film so far of the year.

[ultima ratio]

This is just a projection through Saturday! The take for Friday was an astonishing $39,900,000+, according to Mojo. The final numbers for the weekend should be even higher. This could be the most profitable film ever made.

[Jack Armstrong]

Date (days) Rank Gross* Theaters Avg. Total*

Feb 26 2004 (2) 1 $14.781 -37% 3006 $4917 $41.338
Feb 25 2004 (1) 1 $23.557 3006 $8816 $26.557


Running Avg. 1 $19.169 3006 $6867 -



US / Canada Gross: $117.538* All-Time: #206

[Jack Armstrong]

The Passion
Weekly Total: $55.2
$22.85
$32.32
41%

50 First Dates
Weekly Total: $9.7
$3.98
$5.68
43%

Twisted
Weekly Total: $7.0
$2.86
$4.09
43%

[Jack Armstrong]

Rank Title ,,,,,, Gross .....Budget ....Studio
1
The Passion ... $117.538.. $30.00.... Newmarket

2
50 First Dates,,,$88.718....$75.00.....Columbia Pictures

3
Along Came Polly,$85.361....$42.00.....Universal

4
Barbershop 2,,,,,$57.55.....$18.00.....MGM

5
Miracle,,,,,,,,,,$56.300.... .......... Disney