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Library/Film/The Passion of the Christ
Grade B21 sourcesHIS-01261

The Passion of the Christ

Film · 2004 · Viral

60Editable slideCertificate

Church groups backed a film that opened to $83.8 million in North American cinemas.

Trailer · Icon Film Distribution ANZ on YouTube
Theatrical poster for The Passion of the Christ, with Jim Caviezel in the crown of thorns.
Fathom Entertainment
20th-anniversary re-release poster for The Passion of the Christ.
Icon Film Distribution
Title card from the film's official trailer.
Icon Film Distribution ANZ on YouTube
Jim Caviezel as Jesus carrying the cross among Roman soldiers, in a still from the film.
The Hollywood Reporter
Mel Gibson at Cannes in 2016; a later portrait, not a photograph from the film's launch.
Georges Biard / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Spread Score

How it works
Reach93Contagion45Breadth50Velocity42Longevity4460

Numbers

All releases worldwide, The Numbers; live tracker
$623.4M
As of Oct 22, 2026 · The Numbers
Milestone date
Week of Feb 29, 2004
Feb 25 ’04 to Week of Feb 29, 2004
Platforms
5
Started on Box office
Leverage
21×
$623.4M on $30M budget

Mechanics

  • Identity badgePrimary
  • Underdog
  • Controversy
  • Platform jump

How it spread

Trace the origin

Gibson financed the film and courted religious leaders before release. Churches booked theaters and offered tickets beyond their congregations. The North American opening reached $125.2M in five days; Easter brought a rebound, and Fox later reported strong DVD sales.

Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

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PressOpen webTVBox officeRetail

13 more events on this chart

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Timeline (16)

  1. August 2003

    Los Angeles Times precursor · Aug 30 ’03

    The Los Angeles Times reported that Fox had passed on distributing Gibson's film.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. October 2003

    Icon / Newmarket Films precursor · Oct 22 ’03

    The Los Angeles Times reported that Icon would distribute the film with Newmarket's assistance.[2]

  3. February 2004

    Icon / evangelical organisations precursor · Feb 5 ’04

    AP reported that promotional kits helped pastors reserve theaters and plan movie-related sermons.[3]

  1. precursor · Feb 7 ’04

  2. precursor · Feb 19 ’04

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Why it worked

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Origin
Mixed
Sector
Entertainment
Region
US
All releases worldwide, The Numbers; live tracker
$623.4M
As of Oct 22, 2026 · The Numbers
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

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Bad Moms

STX Entertainment

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$183.9M box office

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