'PASSION' IS HEADED FOR HOLY $UNDAY ($100 million in its first five days)

New York Post ^ | 2/28/04 | LOU LUMENICK

[kattracks]

February 28, 2004 -- Mel Gibson's controversial "The Passion of the Christ" scored a second strong day and could take in a whopping $100 million at the box office in just its first five days, experts said yesterday. Thursday's reported take by distributor Newmarket was an estimated $14.7 million, a drop from Wednesday's opening-day number of $23.6 million.

[KriegerGeist]

"Every record: VHS and DVD sales included."

I already bought the movie soundtrack. I plan to buy the DVD. I think you can bet (perhaps not the correct word) count? on those that saw the movie and were affected by it will purchase the tape, DVD and perhaps the soundtrack.

Plus, it has not yet opened around the world. Can you imagine the ticket sales, and then the VHS/DVD sales of the rest of the world factored in?

One question, but not an important one: wonder what the Golden Globe or the Motion Picture Academy is going to do to sweep this mega-buster under the rug or how they can ignore it? As the words to the song go: "I see your true colors shining through..."

[onyx]

I read where theaters in Poland are sold-out for weeks in advance and it's not due to open there yet. You are right. The world will see Mels film.

You already have the soundtrack? Is it good?

As to your question: You have provided the answerL "I see your true colors shining thru.."

I think they'll either ignore Mel and his film entirely OR nominate Mel and his film in ALL categories but permit him to win not one of 'em.

[tiamat]

DoughtyOne wrote:

May your families be cursed for generations to come, for your evil influence on our society.

---

Hey, DoughtyOne


You need to be really careful with that cursing stuff. Things like that have a tendancy to come back to the the person who issued the curse: Hard, fast and WITH interest.

[tiamat]

BradyLS wrote:

The REAL "Return of the King!"

---

THAT is a great line. The advertisers for "Passion" should use it.

[shiva]

...and I'll repeat what ONYX said, EXCELLENT!!!!!!

[Taffini]

It is 10:15 AM Saturday. I am in a detroit suburb. I just checked my AMC 20 movie theater on line and 8 of 12 of todays showings are already sold out.

so much for the "looser" movie.

[Tricorn]

"I am have tempted to buy a ticket and not go in "

Buy a ticket and GO IN.

[SpookBrat]

Like someone wrote in to O'Reilly the other night, "Everyone is talking about Jesus. Isn't it great?". Or something like that. I can't remember. It's exciting isn't it?

[padfoot_lover]

I plan on giving a copy of the DVD to everyone in my extended family when it comes out -- that's 5 copies plus 1 for me.

[SpookBrat]

I have the same prayer cupcakes. That some of my friends will go see it in secret then go read the Bible. God will bless all of our prayers, I know it!!

Prayerfully, Spookbrat

(ps: I scrapbook too). :)

[Tricorn]

The best comment I heard coming in to Fox was an e-mail from some guy (it might have been on O'Reilly's show, but maybe not) that read:

"Anybody who doesn't like the movie probably didn't like the book."

[RayChuang88]

Mel is doing something even more devastating to Hollywood than making a bunch of money. He made a motion picture without Hollywood money, without name stars and without their distribution help.

Mel may be bringing down the whole rotten Hollywood system of whores, liars and thieves.

AMEN (pun intended!) to what you just said.

All those Hollywood entertainment executives that denounced this movie are now officially doing this because they just missed out on a huge payday. It seems that money does talk in Hollywood, to say the least.

What's interesting was that The Passion of the Christ was distributed by Newmarket Films, the same company that distributed this little film called My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a movie that made US$241 million in theatrical release. This is not going to sit well with one Harvey Weinstein--too bad, Harvey.

[commish]

MY personal take on this was that it would bring in $200-250 Mil domestically and another $200 Mil overseas. I was basing this on what I percieve as a two week run with fairly sharp dropoff after that as I don't see this as a "Repeat business" movie.

That said, I haveheard so many people saying they are going to go see it again that I am hoping my guess is going to be a lowball one.

AS Such, I will revise slightly and say that Domestic & Overseas will top $500 Million. Not the biggest alltime, but well into the top 10.

NOw, DVD sales is a different story. I think the Passion of the Christ will SHATTER all previous DVD and Tape sales.

[countrydummy]

Me too. I would love to see it break every Hollywood record. That'll show 'em.

Yeah me too!!!!!!!!! Go Mel Go!

[shiva]

your post #72 regarding post #64...LOL!

[SauronOfMordor]

Has anyone compiled a list of the top Thursday grosses?

BoxOfficeMojo has the total gross of the top 10 films on Thursday being $18 million. Passion accounted for almost $15 million of that, leaving the other top 9 with about 3 million COMBINED revenue.

Mel's doing VERY well at the box office

[SpookBrat]

LOL I heard that too. It was great wasn't it? This film's success is such a great encouragement to all of us. I think we all needed a lift. The culture war has been such a drag lately.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Buy a ticket and GO IN.

Yes. If He could suffer and die for me, I can respect Him by having the trembling courage to take a tiny glimpse at a moving depiction of the price He paid.

[Taffini]

It's interesting how the secularists decry the violence and bloodshed



BUT Kill Bill and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre were "just fine" and "don't go see it if you don't like it" and "its
free speech" and on and on.

WHY are some people freaking out over this movie BUT were so silent when Kill Bill was released???? They pan The Passion and praised Kill Bill. I think they are mental.

[Taffini]

Mel's doing VERY well at the box office



I think his critics are praying it dies an early death.