View source for The Passion of the Christ


{{About|the film|the religious event on which the film is based|Passion of Jesus|the set of paintings|The Passion of Christ (Strasbourg)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox film
| name           = The Passion of the Christ
| image          = The Passion of the Christ poster.png
| alt            = A sepia colored image showing the face of bearded man covered in blood, on his head is a crown of thorns.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Mel Gibson]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Bruce Davey]]
* Mel Gibson
* [[Stephen McEveety]]
}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Benedict Fitzgerald]]
* Mel Gibson
}}
| based_on       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Canonical Gospels]]
* ''[[The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ]]'' by [[Anne Catherine Emmerich]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jim Caviezel]]
* [[Monica Bellucci]]
* [[Maia Morgenstern]]
* [[Sergio Rubini]]
}}
| music          = [[John Debney]]
| cinematography = [[Caleb Deschanel]]
| editing        = {{plainlist|
* [[John Wright (film editor)|John Wright]]
* Steve Mirkovich
}}
| studio         = [[Icon Productions]]
| distributor    = [[Newmarket Films]]
| released       = {{Film date|2004|02|25|United States}}
| runtime        = 127 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 126:35--><ref name="bbfc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/passion-christ-2004-4|title=''The Passion of the Christ'' (18)|website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=February 18, 2004|access-date=June 2, 2013|archive-date=September 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922053517/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/passion-christ-2004-4|url-status=dead}}</ref><!-- initial release only -->
| country        = United States
| language       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Hebrew]]
* [[Latin]]
* [[Aramaic]]<ref name="bbfc" />
}}
| budget         = $30 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm |title=''The Passion of the Christ'' (2004) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date=2004 |access-date=February 5, 2009 |archive-date=January 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129075849/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| gross          = $612.1 million<ref name="BOM" />
}}

'''''The Passion of the Christ''''' is a 2004 American [[epic film|epic]] [[List of films based on the Bible|biblical]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] co-produced and directed by [[Mel Gibson]] from a screenplay he wrote with [[Benedict Fitzgerald]]. It stars [[Jim Caviezel]] as [[Jesus]], [[Maia Morgenstern]] as [[Mary, Mother of Jesus|his mother Mary]], and [[Monica Bellucci]] as [[Mary Magdalene]]. It depicts the arrest, trial and [[crucifixion of Jesus]], largely according to the [[canonical gospels]] as well as additional accounts such as the [[The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ|purported mystical visions]] by [[Anne Catherine Emmerich]] and the [[Friday of Sorrows]].<ref name="America">{{cite magazine |last=O'Malley |first=John |title=A Movie, a Mystic, a Spiritual Tradition |magazine=[[America (Jesuit magazine)|America]] |date=March 15, 2004 |url=http://americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id%3D3481%26comments%3D1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005193623/http://americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=3481&comments=1 |archive-date=October 5, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Corl">{{cite book |last1=Corley |first1=Kathleen E. |last2=Webb |first2=Robert Leslie |title=Jesus and Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ |year=2004 |pages=160–161 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=0-8264-7781-X}}</ref><ref name="Garcia">{{cite book |last=Gracia |first=Jorge J. E. |title=Mel Gibson's Passion and philosophy |year=2004 |page=145 |publisher=Open Court |isbn=0-8126-9571-2}}</ref><ref name="Dimare">{{cite book |editor-last=Dimare |editor-first=Philip C. |title=Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia |year=2011 |page=909 |publisher=Abc-Clio |isbn=978-1-59884-296-8}}</ref>

The film primarily covers the final twelve hours before Jesus Christ's death, known as "the Passion". It begins with [[Agony in the Garden|the Agony]] in the [[Garden of Olives]] (i.e., Gethsemane), continues with the betrayal of [[Judas Iscariot]], the [[Flagellation of Christ]], the suffering of Mary as prophesied by [[Simeon (Gospel of Luke)|Simeon]], the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion and death of Jesus]], and ends with a brief depiction of [[Resurrection of Jesus|his resurrection]]. The narrative is interspersed with moments in Jesus's life, such as [[the Last Supper]] and [[the Sermon on the Mount]], and moments of Jesus' early life. The film was mostly shot in Italy.<ref>[http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/p/Passion-Of-The-Christ.php "The Passion of the Christ".] ''Movie-Locations''</ref> The dialogue is entirely in reconstructed [[Jewish Palestinian Aramaic|Aramaic]], [[Hebrew]], and [[Latin]]. Although Gibson was initially against it, the film is subtitled.

''The Passion of the Christ'' was released by [[Newmarket Films]] on February 25, 2004. The film was controversial and received polarized reviews; some critics called the film a religious and holy experience, praising the performances, production values, and [[John Debney]]'s score, while some found it [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] and the violence extreme and draining. The film grossed $612.1 million worldwide against a $30 million budget,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Passion of the Christ|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0335345/|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613145608/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0335345/|url-status=live}}</ref> and became the [[2004 in film#Highest-grossing films|fifth highest-grossing film of 2004]] internationally at the end of its theatrical run.<ref name="BOM"/> It is the highest-grossing (inflation unadjusted) [[Christian film industry|Christian film]] of all time, as well as the [[List of highest-grossing independent films|highest-grossing independent film of all time]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=christian.htm|title=Christian Movies at the Box Office|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 23, 2019|archive-date=August 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829104513/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=christian.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Stephen |date=October 17, 2020 |title=The 10 Highest-Grossing Independent Films Of All Time |url=https://screenrant.com/highest-grossing-independent-films-ever-indie-movies/ |access-date=October 11, 2022 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US |archive-date=October 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011095903/https://screenrant.com/highest-grossing-independent-films-ever-indie-movies/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the highest-grossing [[Motion Picture Association film rating system#MPA film ratings|R-rated film]] in the US, at $370.8 million, a record which remained unbroken for 20 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/mpaa_title_lifetime_gross/?by_mpaa=R |title=Top Lifetime Grosses by MPAA Rating — R |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405041957/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/mpaa_title_lifetime_gross/?by_mpaa=R |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Deadpool & Wolverine" /> It received three nominations at the [[77th Academy Awards]] in 2005, for [[Academy Award for Best Makeup|Best Makeup]], [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]], and [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Gibson|first=Mel|title=The Passion of the Christ|date=February 25, 2004|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/awards?ref_=tt_awd|access-date=September 1, 2016|archive-date=January 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128100933/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/awards?ref_=tt_awd|url-status=live}}</ref>

Two sequels, [[The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One|''The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One'']] and [[The Resurrection of the Christ: Part Two|''Part Two'']], are due to be released in 2027, with a new cast.

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for film articles should not exceed 700 words. -->
On the night of [[Passover]], [[Jesus]] [[Agony in the Garden|prays]] in [[Gethsemane]], asking for his father to protect him as his followers [[Saint Peter|Peter]], [[James the Great|James]] and [[John the Apostle|John]] fall asleep. After Jesus rebukes [[Satan]] for tempting him to escape his fate, another of his followers, [[Judas Iscariot]], is bribed by [[Caiaphas]] and the [[Pharisees]] with [[thirty pieces of silver]] to lead temple guards to the garden and [[Kiss of Judas|betray Jesus' identity]]. The guards [[Arrest of Jesus|arrest Jesus]] and beat him on the way to the [[Sanhedrin]]. John informs Jesus' mother, [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary]], and [[Mary Magdalene]] of the arrest, and they reunite with Peter, who has followed Jesus and his captors.

Caiaphas [[Sanhedrin trial of Jesus|tries Jesus]], where false accusations are made against him, and priests and Pharisees who secretly support Jesus and object to the trial are expelled from the court. Jesus claims he is the divine [[Son of man (Christianity)|Son of Man]], causing Caiaphas to angrily condemn him to death for blasphemy. As Jesus is brutally beaten, Peter is confronted by the mob and he [[Denial of Peter|denies]] being a follower of Jesus; remembering Jesus precisely predicted this, he weeps bitterly. Guilt-ridden, Judas attempts to return the money to have Jesus freed, but is refused by the priests. Haunted by [[demon]]s in the form of children, Judas hangs himself outside [[Jerusalem]].

Jesus is brought to be condemned to death by [[Pontius Pilate]], the Roman governor of [[Judaea (Roman province)|Judea]]. At the urging of his wife, [[Pontius Pilate's wife|Claudia]], [[Pilate's court|Pilate questions Jesus]] and finds no fault in him, transferring him to the court of [[Herod Antipas]] since Jesus is from Antipas' domain of [[Galilee]]. When Antipas deems Jesus harmless and returns him, Pilate offers the crowd the choice of freeing Jesus or the convicted murderer [[Barabbas]]. When the crowd demands Barabbas be freed and Jesus crucified, Pilate attempts to appease the crowd by ordering Jesus flogged, and he is [[Flagellation of Christ|brutally scourged]] by the Roman guards. Using cloths provided by Claudia, Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene clean up his blood, where Mary Magdalene reminisces on Jesus saving her from a [[stoning]]. 

The guards [[Mocking of Jesus|hurl insults at Jesus]] and place a [[crown of thorns]] on his head. Pilate presents him to the crowd and Caiphas, who all again demand that he be crucified. Unwilling to instigate unrest, Pilate orders Jesus' crucifixion, claiming no responsibility. Jesus carries a [[True Cross|heavy wooden cross]] on the [[Via Dolorosa|road]] to [[Calvary|Golgotha]] with two thieves, [[Penitent thief|Dismas]] and [[Impenitent thief|Gesmas]], following behind. [[Stations of the Cross|Along the way]], he is harassed by the guards and rampant mob, is momentarily comforted by his mother and replenished by [[Saint Veronica|a woman]] who wipes his bloodied face with [[Veil of Veronica|her veil]]. An unwilling [[Simon of Cyrene]] is pressed with helping Jesus carry the cross to Golgotha, where [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Jesus is crucified]] with Mary, Magdalene, John, and others witnessing.
Jesus [[Sayings of Jesus on the cross|prays to God]] to forgive his tormentors, who mock him for not being able to come down from the cross, while providing salvation to Dismas, crucified beside him, for his faith and repentance, and comforts his mother. Finally succumbing to his wounds, Jesus surrenders his spirit and dies. A single droplet of rain falls, triggering an earthquake which damages the [[Second Temple]] and rips the veil covering the [[Holy of Holies]], to the horror of Caiaphas and the Pharisees. The guards seek to expedite the thieves' deaths by breaking their legs and, upon seeing Jesus dead, order tribune [[Longinus|Cassius]] to [[Holy Lance|spear his side]] to be sure. As Satan screams in defeat in the depths of [[Hell]], Jesus' body is taken down from the cross and [[Burial of Jesus|entombed]]; days later, [[Resurrection of Jesus|he rises from the dead]] and exits the tomb.

==Cast==
{{Div col}}
* [[Jim Caviezel]] as [[Jesus]]
** Andrea Refuto as Young Jesus
* [[Maia Morgenstern]] as [[Mary, mother of Jesus]]
* [[Christo Jivkov]] as [[John the Apostle|John]]
* [[Francesco De Vito]] as [[Saint Peter|Peter]]
* [[Monica Bellucci]] as [[Mary Magdalene]]
* [[Mattia Sbragia]] as [[Caiaphas]]
* [[Toni Bertorelli]] as [[Annas]]
* [[Luca Lionello]] as [[Judas Iscariot]]
* [[Hristo Shopov|Hristo Naumov Shopov]] as [[Pontius Pilate]]
* [[Claudia Gerini]] as [[Pontius Pilate's wife|Claudia Procles]]
* [[Fabio Sartor]] as Abenader
* Giacinto Ferro as [[Joseph of Arimathea]]
* Olek Mincer as [[Nicodemus]]
* Sheila Mokhtari as Woman in audience
* [[Sergio Rubini]] as [[Penitent thief|Dismas]]
* Roberto Bestazoni as [[Malchus]]
* [[Francesco Cabras]] as [[Impenitent thief|Gestas]]
* Giovanni Capalbo as [[Longinus|Cassius]]
* [[Rosalinda Celentano]] as [[Satan]]
* [[Emilio De Marchi (actor)|Emilio De Marchi]] as Scornful Roman
* Lello Giulivo as Brutish Roman
* Abel Jafry as 2nd Temple officer
* Jarreth Merz as [[Simon of Cyrene]]
* Rossella Vetrano as [[Saint Veronica|Veronica]]
* Matt Patresi as [[Janus]]
* Roberto Visconti as Scornful Roman
* [[Luca De Dominicis]] as [[Herod Antipas|Herod Ántipas]]
* Chokri Ben Zagden as [[James the Great|James]]
* [[Sabrina Impacciatore]] as [[Saint Veronica|Seraphia]]
* [[Pietro Sarubbi]] as [[Barabbas]]
* [[Ted Rusoff]] as Chief Elder
* Giuseppe Loconsole and Dario D'Ambrosi as Roman Soldiers who flog Jesus
{{Div col end}}

{{notelist}}

==Themes==
In ''The Passion: Photography from the Movie "The Passion of the Christ"'', director Mel Gibson says, "This is a movie about love, hope, faith and forgiveness. Jesus died for all mankind, suffered for all of us. It's time to get back to that basic message. The world has gone nuts. We could all use a little more love, faith, hope and forgiveness."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Joseph |title=The Passion of the Christ |url=https://sydneyanglicans.net/news/the_passion_of_the_christ |website=Sydney Anglican |access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

==Source material==

===Biblical canon===
According to Mel Gibson, the primary source material for ''The Passion of the Christ'' is the four [[canonical Gospel]] narratives of Christ's [[Passion (Christianity)|passion]]. The film includes a trial of [[Jesus at Herod's court]], which is only found in the [[Gospel of Luke]]. The film also draws from other parts of the [[New Testament]]. One line spoken by Jesus in the film, "I make all things new", is found in the [[Book of Revelation]], Chapter 21, verse 5.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Holy Bible, Book of Revelation 21:5|url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021:5;&version=31|access-date=October 16, 2008|archive-date=August 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816162228/http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021:5;&version=31|url-status=live}}</ref>

The film also refers to the [[Old Testament]]. The film begins with an [[Epigraph (literature)|epigraph]] from the [[Isaiah 53|Fourth Song of the Suffering Servant]] from [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]].<ref>{{cite book | title=The Holy Bible, Book of Isaiah 53:5 | url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053:5;&version=31 | access-date=November 4, 2008 | archive-date=August 15, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815002408/http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053:5;&version=31 | url-status=live }}</ref> In the opening scene set in the [[Garden of Gethsemane]], Jesus crushes a serpent's head in direct visual allusion to [[Protoevangelium|Genesis 3:15]].<ref>{{cite book | title=The Holy Bible, Book of Genesis 3:15 | url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203:15;&version=31 | access-date=November 17, 2005 | archive-date=August 16, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816152847/http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203:15;&version=31 | url-status=live }}</ref> Throughout the film, Jesus quotes from the [[Psalms]], beyond the instances recorded in the New Testament.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Gordon |title=Psalm 22 and The Passion of Jesus |url=https://cbn.com/article/tragedy/psalm-22-and-passion-jesus |website=Cbn |access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

===Traditional iconography and stories===
Many of the depictions in the film deliberately mirror traditional representations of the Passion in art. For example, the 14 [[Stations of the Cross]] are central to the depiction of the [[Via Dolorosa]] in ''The Passion of the Christ.'' All the stations are portrayed except for the eighth station (Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem, a deleted scene on the DVD) and the fourteenth station (Jesus is laid in the tomb). Gibson was inspired by the representation of Jesus on the [[Shroud of Turin]].<ref name="Urbancinefile" >{{cite web | last = Cooney Carrillo | first = Jenny | title = The Passion of Mel | publisher = Urbancinefile | date = February 26, 2004 | url = http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=8559&s=Interviews | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040601072421/http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=8559&s=Interviews | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 1, 2004 }}</ref>

At the suggestion of actress [[Maia Morgenstern]], the [[Passover Seder]] is quoted early in the film. Mary asks "Why is this night different from other nights?", and Mary Magdalene replies with the traditional response: "Because once we were slaves, and we are slaves no longer."<ref>{{cite news |last=Abramowitz |first=Rachel |date=March 7, 2004 |title=Along came Mary; Mel Gibson was sold on Maia Morgenstern for 'Passion' at first sight |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-mar-07-ca-encounter7-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314060007/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-mar-07-ca-encounter7-story.html |archive-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref> The conflation of Mary Magdalene with the [[Jesus and the woman taken in adultery|adulteress saved from stoning]] by Jesus has some precedent in Catholic tradition, and according to the director was done for dramatic reasons.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bacon |first1=Thomas |title=Passion of the Christ: Every Scene NOT From The Bible (& Why They Were Included) |url=https://screenrant.com/passion-christ-movie-scenes-not-bible-reason/ |website=Screen rant |date=April 11, 2020 |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref> The names of some characters in the film are traditional and extra-Scriptural, such as the thieves crucified alongside the Christ, [[Dismas]] and Gesmas (also [[Gestas]]).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Martinez |first1=Ruben |title=The Revolution of the Passion |date=April 7, 2023 |url=https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/revolution-passion |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref>

The film also took some inspiration from visions from [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] visionaries such as [[Mary of Jesus of Ágreda]] and [[Anne Catherine Emmerich]]. ''[[The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ]]'', a book by [[Clemens Brentano]] that details the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, was particularly inspiring to Gibson because it provided vivid descriptions of the crucifixion, as well as additional roles played by Mary, Jesus' mother.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bacon |first=Thomas |date=April 11, 2020 |title=Passion of the Christ: Every Scene NOT From The Bible (& Why They Were Included) |url=https://screenrant.com/passion-christ-movie-scenes-not-bible-reason/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314055552/https://screenrant.com/passion-christ-movie-scenes-not-bible-reason/ |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |access-date=January 11, 2023 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref>

The depiction of [[Saint Veronica|Veronica]] wiping the face of Jesus is from a Catholic tradition and relates to a relic known as the [[Veil of Veronica]]. The film slightly showed the veil bearing the image of the face of Jesus. Its origin lies in the sixth Station of the Cross, in which Saint Veronica wipes Jesus's face with her veil after he encounters her along the Via Dolorosa to Calvary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petty |first=Michael John |date=May 13, 2022 |title=The Passion Of The Christ Scenes That Aren't In The Bible |url=https://www.looper.com/862656/the-passion-of-the-christ-scenes-that-arent-in-the-bible/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314055854/https://www.looper.com/862656/the-passion-of-the-christ-scenes-that-arent-in-the-bible/ |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |access-date=November 7, 2022 |website=Looper |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sixth Station, Way of the Cross 2011 |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2011/via_crucis/en/station_06.html |access-date=January 11, 2023 |website=www.vatican.va |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209223606/https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2011/via_crucis/en/station_06.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Production==
===Script and language===
Gibson originally announced that he would use two [[Language death#Dead languages|old languages]] without subtitles as he believed "the image will overcome the language barrier". Because the story of the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]] is so well known, Gibson felt the need to avoid vernacular languages in order to surprise audiences: "I think it's almost counterproductive to say some of these things in a modern language. It makes you want to stand up and shout out the next line, like when you hear 'To be or not to be' and you instinctively say to yourself, 'That is the question.'"<ref name="Zenit interview 2003">{{cite news |date=March 6, 2003 |title=Mel Gibson's great passion: Christ's agony as you've never seen it |url=http://www.zenit.org/article-6723?l=english |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815141913/http://www.zenit.org/article-6723?l=english |archive-date=August 15, 2009 |access-date=October 17, 2019 |publisher=[[Zenit News Agency]]}}</ref> The script was written in English by Gibson and [[Benedict Fitzgerald]], then [[translation|translated]] by [[William Fulco]], S.J., a professor at [[Loyola Marymount University]], into Latin and reconstructed Aramaic. Fulco sometimes incorporated deliberate errors in pronunciations and word endings when the characters were speaking a language unfamiliar to them, and some of the crude language used by the Roman soldiers was not translated in the subtitles.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 8, 2004 |title=Translating the passion |url=http://www.languagehat.com/archives/001196.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522043726/http://www.languagehat.com/archives/001196.php |archive-date=May 22, 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2008 |publisher=Language Hat}}</ref>

In February 2008, it was reported that screenwriter Benedict Fitzgerald was suing Gibson, along with Vicki Christianson, Icon Productions, Icon Distribution, Marquis Films, and Airborne Productions, for defrauding him of millions of dollars, as well as incorrectly taking co-writing credit for the screenplay of the film.<ref name="court2008">{{cite web |date=February 12, 2008 |title=Mel Gibson Cheated Him To Make 'The Christ,' Screenwriter Says |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/mel-gibson-cheated-him-to-makethe-christ-screenwriter-says/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=Courthouse News Service}}</ref> In May 2009, Gibson agreed to an undisclosed settlement with Fitzgerald. Details of the settlement, agreed at [[Los Angeles County Superior Court]], were not released. Gibson's representatives did not comment on the settlement.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 19, 2009 |title=Mel Gibson settles Passion of Christ Script lawsuit |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/mel-gibson-settles-passion-of-the-christ-script-lawsuit_1103829 |accessdate=January 21, 2024 |website=[[Contactmusic.com]]}}</ref>

===Filming===
[[File:Matera boenisch nov 2005.jpg|thumb|[[Matera]], Italy]]
The film was produced independently and shot in Italy at [[Cinecittà|Cinecittà Studios]] in Rome, and on location in the city of [[Matera, Italy|Matera]] and the ghost town of [[Craco]], both in the [[Basilicata]] region. The estimated US$30 million production cost, plus an additional estimated $15 million in marketing costs, were fully borne by Gibson and his company [[Icon Productions]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Passion of Christ twenty years later: film or miracle? |date=February 25, 2024 |url=https://www.omnesmag.com/en/news/movie-la-pasion-20/ |access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref> According to the DVD special feature, [[Martin Scorsese]] had recently finished his film ''[[Gangs of New York]]'', from which Gibson and his production designers constructed part of their set. This saved Gibson a lot of time and money.<ref>{{cite web |title=FIRST-PERSON: Mel Gibson's 'Passion' for Jesus |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/wp-content/uploads/images/IMG20032247944HI.jpg |publisher=Baptist Press |access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Klady |first1=Len |title=Awards Portfolio: Caleb Deschanel/Passion of the Christ |date=January 5, 2005 |url=https://mande.net/btl/awards/awards-portfolio-caleb-deschanelpassion-of-the-christ |access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref>

Gibson consulted several theological advisers during filming, including [[Jonathan Morris (priest)|Fr. Jonathan Morris]], and a local priest, Philip J. Ryan, who visited the set daily to provide counsel, [[Confession (religion)|Confession]], and [[Holy Communion]] to [[Jim Caviezel]]. Masses were celebrated for cast and crew in several locations.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sede Vacante: The Life and Legacy of Archbishop Thuc|first=Edward|last=Jarvis|author-link=Edward Jarvis (author)|year=2018|publisher=The Apocryphile Press|location=Berkeley CA|isbn=978-1949643022|pages=13–14}}</ref> There were other priests involved with the filming, including Abbé Michel Debourges from the [[Institute of Christ the King]], Stephen Somerville, and Jean-Marie Charles-Roux, all of whom were asked by Mel Gibson to daily celebrate the [[Tridentine Mass|Traditional Latin Mass]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://maryssecretary.com/2021/05/24/latin-mass-on-set-of-the-passion-of-the-christ/ |title=Latin Mass on Set of the Passion of the Christ |date=May 24, 2021 |access-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609152920/https://maryssecretary.com/2021/05/24/latin-mass-on-set-of-the-passion-of-the-christ/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During filming, key set production assistant Jan Michelini was struck twice by lightning and hence nicknamed "Lighting Boy" as seen in the credits. Minutes later, Caviezel also was struck.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Susman|first=Gary|title=Charged Performance|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/10/24/mel-gibsons-jesus-struck-lightning/|access-date=March 31, 2013|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=October 24, 2003|archive-date=May 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525182358/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,525927,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ross|first=Scott|title=Behind the Scenes of 'The Passion' with Jim Caviezel|date=March 28, 2008|url=http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/scottross-jim_caviezel_2.aspx|access-date=March 31, 2013|archive-date=June 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602180336/https://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/scottross-jim_caviezel_2.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bbc-lightning">{{cite news|title=Jesus actor struck by lightning|work=[[BBC News]]|date=October 23, 2003|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3209223.stm|access-date=April 14, 2013|archive-date=September 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917055711/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3209223.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Music===
{{main|The Passion of the Christ (soundtrack)}}

Three albums were released with Gibson's co-operation: (1) the soundtrack of [[John Debney]]'s original orchestral score conducted by [[Nick Ingman]]; (2) ''[[The Passion of the Christ: Songs]]'', by producers [[Mark Joseph (producer)|Mark Joseph]] and Tim Cook, with original compositions by various artists, and (3) ''Songs Inspired by The Passion of the Christ''. The first two albums each received a [[Dove Awards of 2005|2005 Dove award]], and the soundtrack received an [[Academy Award]] nomination of [[Academy Award for Best Original Music Score|Best Original Music Score]]. The music score frequently makes use of the [[wailing woman]] technique.<ref name=salon>{{cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/2004/05/25/wails/|title=Wail watching|author=Dave Roos|website=[[Salon.com]]|date=May 25, 2004|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-date=April 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430225350/https://www.salon.com/2004/05/25/wails/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A preliminary score was composed and recorded by [[Lisa Gerrard]] and [[Patrick Cassidy (composer)|Patrick Cassidy]], but was incomplete at film's release. [[Jack Lenz]] was the primary musical researcher and one of the composers;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jacklenz.com/index.htm|title=Jack Lenz Bio|publisher=JackLenz.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017050224/http://www.jacklenz.com/index.htm|archive-date=October 17, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> several clips of his compositions have been posted online.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jacklenz.com/clips.htm|title=Clips of Musical Compositions by Jack Lenz|publisher=JackLenz.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017050224/http://www.jacklenz.com/clips.htm|archive-date=October 17, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Title change===
Although Mel Gibson wanted to call his film ''The Passion'', on October 16, 2003, his spokesman announced that the title used in the United States would be ''The Passion of Christ'' because [[Miramax Films]] had already registered the title ''The Passion'' with the [[Motion Picture Association of America|MPAA]] for the 1987 novel by [[Jeanette Winterson]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Susman |first=Gary |date=October 16, 2004 |title=Napoleon Branding |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/10/16/mel-gibson-forced-rename-passion/ |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222221926/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,519051,00.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |access-date=August 16, 2008 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> Later, the title was changed again to ''The Passion of the Christ'' for all markets.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gibson to Market 'Christ' on His Own, Sources Say |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-oct-22-fi-mel22-story.html#:~:text=To%20help%20build%20support%20for,novel%20of%20the%20same%20name. |newspaper=LA Times | date=October 22, 2003 |access-date=October 15, 2025}}</ref>

===Distribution and marketing===
Gibson began production on his film without securing outside funding or distribution. In 2002, he explained why he could not get backing from the Hollywood studios: "This is a film about something that nobody wants to touch, shot in two dead languages."<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4866159-1.html| title= Gibson To Direct Christ Tale With Caviezel As Star| first= Nick| last= Vivarelli| work= The Hollywood Reporter| date= September 23, 2002| access-date= October 20, 2008| archive-date= August 15, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090815002751/http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4866159-1.html| url-status= live}}</ref> Gibson and his company Icon Productions provided the film's sole backing, spending about $30 million on production costs and an estimated $15 million on marketing.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.forbes.com/2004/03/03/cx_pp_0303mel.html | title=What Mel's Passion Will Earn Him | magazine=Forbes.com | date=March 3, 2004 | last=Patsuris | first=Penelope | access-date=August 18, 2017 | archive-date=June 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608212242/https://www.forbes.com/2004/03/03/cx_pp_0303mel.html | url-status=live }}</ref> After early accusations of [[antisemitism]], it became difficult for Gibson to find an American distribution company. [[20th Century Fox]] initially had a first-look deal with Icon but decided to pass on the film in response to public protests; Fox did however release the film on domestic home media as well as in Latin America and Asia-Pacific.<ref name=FOXpass>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-30-et-quick30.2-story.html| title=Fox passes on Gibson's 'The Passion'| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=October 22, 2004| access-date=August 30, 2008| archive-date=June 8, 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608212242/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-30-et-quick30.2-story.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fox makes Passion play|website=[[Screen International]]|first1=Mike|last1=Goodridge|first2=Jeremy|last2=Kay|date=February 26, 2004|access-date=February 6, 2025|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/fox-makes-passion-play/4017511.article}}</ref> In order to avoid the spectacle of other studios turning down the film and to avoid subjecting the distributor to the same intense public criticism he had received, Gibson decided to distribute the film in the United States himself, with the aid of independent distributor [[Newmarket Films]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-oct-22-fi-mel22-story.html|title=Gibson to Market 'Christ' on His Own, Sources Say|last=Horn|first=John|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=October 22, 2004|access-date=October 20, 2008|archive-date=December 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224075210/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/oct/22/business/fi-mel22|url-status=live}}</ref> Gibson handled the distribution and marketing on his own, whilst Newmarket assisted with shipping prints of the film and collecting the revenue from theaters.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Horn |first1=John |title=Gibson to Market 'Christ' on His Own, Sources Say |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-oct-22-fi-mel22-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=October 22, 2003 |access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref>

Gibson departed from the usual film marketing formula. He employed a small-scale television advertising campaign with no press junkets.<ref name="msnbc-cobb">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/4374411 |title=Marketing 'The Passion of the Christ' |publisher=NBC News |last=Cobb |first=Jerry |date=February 25, 2004 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304232732/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4374411 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Similar to marketing campaigns for earlier biblical films like ''[[The King of Kings (1927 film)|The King of Kings]]'', ''The Passion of the Christ'' was heavily promoted by many church groups, both within their organizations and to the public. Typical licensed merchandise like posters, T-shirts, coffee mugs and jewelry was sold through retailers and websites.<ref name="maresco">{{cite web|url=https://www.usask.ca/relst/jrpc/art8-melgibsonmarketing.html |title=Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ: Market Segmentation, Mass Marketing and Promotion, and the Internet |publisher=[[Journal of Religion and Popular Culture]] |last=Maresco |first=Peter A. |date=Fall 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705045347/http://www.usask.ca/relst/jrpc/art8-melgibsonmarketing.html |archive-date=July 5, 2008 }}</ref> The [[United Methodist Church]] stated that many of its members, like other Christians, felt that the film was a good way to evangelize non-believers.<ref name="UMNS">{{cite web|url = http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=3316|author-first1=Amy|author-last1=Green|title = Many churches look to 'Passion' as evangelism tool|publisher = [[United Methodist Church]]|access-date = June 7, 2009|archive-date = April 7, 2022|date=February 20, 2004|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220407080927/http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=3316|url-status = dead}}</ref> As a result, many congregations planned to be at the theaters, and some set up tables to answer questions and share prayers.<ref name="UMNS"/> Rev. John Tanner, pastor of Cove United Methodist Church in Hampton Cove, Alabama, said: "They feel the film presents a unique opportunity to share Christianity in a way today's public can identify with."<ref name="UMNS"/> The [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]] also expressed a similar endorsement of the picture.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/news/go/2004-02-23/ann-news-analysis-adventists-and-the-passion-of-the-christ/ |title=ANN News Analysis: Adventists and "The Passion of the Christ"|author-first1=Mark A. |author-last1=Kellner|website=Adventist News Network|date=February 23, 2004 |access-date=July 6, 2019 |archive-date=July 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706232735/https://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/news/go/2004-02-23/ann-news-analysis-adventists-and-the-passion-of-the-christ/ |url-status=live }}</ref> More than a dozen Catholic bishops and cardinals issued statements praising the film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicleague.org/what-catholics-have-said-about-the-passion-of-the-christ/|title=What Catholics Have Said About "The Passion of the Christ"|date=December 23, 2004}}</ref>

===Evangelical support===
''The Passion of the Christ'' received enthusiastic support from the American [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] community.<ref name="pauley">{{cite book|last1=Pauley |first1=John L. |last2=King |first2=Amy |editor-first=Robert H. |editor-last=Woods |title=Evangelical Christians and Popular Culture |volume=1 |publisher=Praeger Publishing |location=Westport |date=2013 |pages=36–51 |isbn=978-0313386541}}</ref> Before the film's release, Gibson contacted evangelical leaders seeking their support and feedback.<ref name="pauley-38">Pawley, p. 38.</ref> With their help, Gibson organized and attended a series of pre-release screenings for evangelical audiences and discussed the making of the film and his personal faith. In June 2003 he screened the film for 800 pastors attending a leadership conference at [[New Life Church (Colorado Springs, Colorado)|New Life Church]], pastored by [[Ted Haggard]], then president of the [[National Association of Evangelicals]].<ref name="pauley-40">Pawley, p. 40.</ref> Gibson gave similar showings at [[Joel Osteen]]'s [[Lakewood Church]], [[Greg Laurie]]'s [[Harvest Christian Fellowship]], and to 3,600 pastors at a conference at [[Rick Warren]]'s [[Saddleback Church]] in Lake Forest.<ref name="pauley-40-41">Pawley, pp. 40–41.</ref>

From mid-2003 to the film's release in February 2004, portions or rough cuts of the film were shown to over eighty audiences, including many evangelical audiences.<ref name="pauley-41">Pauley, p. 41.</ref> The film received public endorsements from evangelical leaders including Rick Warren, [[Billy Graham]], [[Robert Schuller]], [[Darrell Bock]], ''[[Christianity Today]]'' editor David Neff, [[Pat Robertson]], [[Lee Strobel]], [[Jerry Falwell]], [[Max Lucado]], [[Tim LaHaye]] and [[Chuck Colson]].<ref name="pauley-41"/><ref name="fredriksen">{{cite book|last=Fredriksen |first=Paula |title=On 'The Passion of the Christ': Exploring the Issues Raised by the Controversial Movie |publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley |year=2006 |isbn=978-0520248533}}{{page needed|date=October 2020}}</ref>

==Release==
===Box office and theatrical run===
''The Passion of the Christ'' opened in the United States on February 25, 2004 ([[Ash Wednesday]], the beginning of [[Lent]]). It earned $83.8 million from 4,793 screens at 3,043 theaters in its opening weekend and a total of $125.2 million since its Wednesday opening, ranking it fourth overall in domestic opening weekend earnings for 2004 as well as the biggest weekend debut for a February release (until ''[[Fifty Shades of Grey (film)|Fifty Shades of Grey]]'' was released). The film tied with ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]''{{'}}s record for having the highest five-day Wednesday opening. Moreover, ''The Passion of the Christ'' scored the second biggest opening weekend for any R-rated movie, behind ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Susman|first=Gary|title=''Passion'' ties record with $125 million take records|url=https://ew.com/article/2004/03/02/passion-ties-record-125-million-take/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=March 22, 2022|date=March 2, 2004|archive-date=March 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323024733/https://ew.com/article/2004/03/02/passion-ties-record-125-million-take/|url-status=live}}</ref> It went on to earn $370.8 million overall in the United States,<ref name="BOM"/> and remained the highest grossing [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system#MPAA film ratings|R-rated]] film in the domestic market (U.S. & Canada) for 20 years, before the record went to ''[[Deadpool & Wolverine]]'' in 2024 with a domestic gross of $636.7 million.<ref name="Deadpool & Wolverine">{{cite news |last1=Coyle |first1=Jake |date=August 4, 2024|title=With a $97M second weekend, 'Deadpool & Wolverine' sets a new high mark for R-rated films |url=https://apnews.com/article/deadpool-wolverine-box-office-trap-shyamalan-f6d810c4de19c78c4875ccc8728b6960 |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=Associated Press News}}</ref><ref name="Mojo R-rated gross">[https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic/mpaa.htm?page=R&p=.htm "All time box office: domestic grosses by MPAA rating".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022122046/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic/mpaa.htm?page=R&p=.htm |date=October 22, 2019 }} ''Box Office Mojo''. Retrieved October 12, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickdesantis/2016/02/22/deadpool-box-office-on-pace-to-dethrone-passion-of-the-christ-as-top-grossing-r-rated-movie-of-all-time/#42208c65758f|title='Deadpool' Box Office On Pace To Dethrone 'Passion Of The Christ' As Top-Grossing R-Rated Movie Of All Time|first=Nick|last=DeSantis|work=[[Forbes]]|date=February 22, 2016|access-date=February 23, 2016|archive-date=February 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225091020/http://www.forbes.com/sites/nickdesantis/2016/02/22/deadpool-box-office-on-pace-to-dethrone-passion-of-the-christ-as-top-grossing-r-rated-movie-of-all-time/?#42208c65758f|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TTT">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/deadpool-gods-of-egypt-eddie-the-eagle-triple-9-box-office-1201709751/|title=Powerless Versus 'Deadpool', 'Gods of Egypt' Is First 2016 Big-Budget Bomb: Saturday AM B.O. Update|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=February 27, 2016|access-date=February 28, 2016|archive-date=July 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703093601/http://deadline.com/2016/02/deadpool-gods-of-egypt-eddie-the-eagle-triple-9-box-office-1201709751/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-deadpool-entombs-big-870611|title=Box Office: 'Deadpool' Entombs Big-Budget Bomb 'Gods of Egypt' to Stay No. 1|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 28, 2016|access-date=February 28, 2016|archive-date=February 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229081001/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-deadpool-entombs-big-870611|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-zootopia-defeats-deadpool-873000|title=Box Office: 'Zootopia' Defeats 'Deadpool' With Record $73.7M|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 6, 2016|access-date=March 7, 2016|archive-date=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713191817/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-zootopia-defeats-deadpool-873000|url-status=live}}</ref> The film sold an estimated 59.6 million tickets in the US in its initial theatrical run.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|title=''The Passion of the Christ'' (2004): domestic total estimated tickets|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=May 30, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204065734/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|archive-date=February 4, 2019}}</ref>

In the Philippines, a majority-Catholic country, the film was released on March 31, 2004,<ref>{{cite news|title='The Passion of the Christ': "A milestone in the cinema history"|url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/%27The-Passion-of-the-Christ%27%3A-A-milestone-in-the-cinema-history-000599.html|access-date=April 2, 2021|work=Asia News|publisher=PIME Onlus – AsiaNews|date=April 7, 2004|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023220718/http://www.asianews.it/news-en/%27The-Passion-of-the-Christ%27%3A-A-milestone-in-the-cinema-history-000599.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Passion Of The Christ Goes International|url=https://www.worldpress.org/Americas/1860.cfm|access-date=April 2, 2021|work=Worldpress.org|date=May 2004|quote=A Philippine student shows a pirated DVD copy of ''The Passion of the Christ'', which opened in local theaters, March 31, 2004.|archive-date=May 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509012058/https://www.worldpress.org/Americas/1860.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref> rated PG-13 by the [[Movie and Television Review and Classification Board]] (MTRCB)<ref>{{cite news|last=Flores|first=Wilson Lee|title=Mel Gibson's 'Passion' is powerful, disturbing work of art|url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2004/03/29/244365/mel-gibson146s-145passion146-powerful-disturbing-work-art|access-date=April 2, 2021|work=[[The Philippine Star|Philstar.com]]|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=March 29, 2004|location=[[Gottingen]], Germany|archive-date=April 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425234846/https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2004/03/29/244365/mel-gibson146s-145passion146-powerful-disturbing-work-art|url-status=live}}</ref> and endorsed by the [[Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines]] (CBCP).<ref>{{cite news|last=Aravilla|first=Jose|title=Bishops endorse Mel Gibson film|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2004/03/11/242128/bishops-endorse-mel-gibson-film/|access-date=April 2, 2021|work=[[The Philippine Star|Philstar.com]]|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=March 11, 2004|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406022833/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2004/03/11/242128/bishops-endorse-mel-gibson-film/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[Malaysia]], government censors initially banned it completely, but after Christian leaders protested, the restriction was lifted, but only for Christian audiences, allowing them to view the film in specially designated theaters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-10-et-quick10-story.html|title=Censors in Malaysia give OK to 'Passion'|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 10, 2004|access-date=October 20, 2008|archive-date=December 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224081158/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/jul/10/entertainment/et-quick10|url-status=live}}</ref> In Israel, the film was not banned. However, it never received theatrical distribution because no Israeli distributor would market it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-mar-15-et-king15-story.html|title='Passion' goes unseen in Israel|first=Laura|last=King|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 15, 2004|access-date=October 20, 2008|archive-date=December 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224081912/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/mar/15/entertainment/et-king15|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite the many controversies and refusals by some governments to allow the film to be viewed in wide release, ''The Passion of the Christ'' earned $612 million worldwide.<ref name="BOM"/> The film was also a relative success in certain countries with large Muslim populations,<ref name=CSM>{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0409/p01s02-wome.html|title=Gibson's movie unlikely box-office hit in Arab world|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|date=April 9, 2004|last=Blanford|first=Nicholas|access-date=March 6, 2006|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405220620/https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0409/p01s02-wome.html|url-status=live}}</ref> such as in Egypt, where it ranked 20th overall in its box office numbers for 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/egypt/yearly/?yr=2004&p=.htm|title=2004 Box Office Totals for Egypt|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=October 12, 2019|archive-date=June 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608212243/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/2004/?area=EG|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, it witnessed immense popularity in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates where political parallels with the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] resonated with audiences.<ref name=CSM/><ref>{{cite web |last=Dankowitz |first=Aluma |url=https://www.memri.org/reports/reactions-arab-media-passion-christ |title=Reactions in the Arab Media to 'The Passion of the Christ' |publisher=Middle East Media Research Institute |date=April 20, 2004 }}</ref> However, it was banned in Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for religious reasons, particularly for depicting [[Jesus in Islam|Jesus contrary to Islamic teachings]].<ref name=CSM/> The film was the [[List of highest-grossing non-English films|highest grossing non-English-language film of all time]]<ref name="ncr">{{cite news |last=O'Neill |first=Eddie |title='The Passion of the Christ', a Decade Later |newspaper=National Catholic Register |date=February 2, 2014 |url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-passion-of-the-christ-a-decade-later/ |access-date=July 31, 2014 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235124/http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-passion-of-the-christ-a-decade-later/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> until 2017, when it was surpassed by ''[[Wolf Warrior 2]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/wolf-warriors-takes-all-time-china-box-office-record-1202518683/|title='Wolf Warriors II' Takes All Time China Box Office Record|first=Patrick|last=Frater|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=December 12, 2017|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808061604/http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/wolf-warriors-takes-all-time-china-box-office-record-1202518683/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''The Passion Recut''===
[[File:The_Passion_Recut.jpg|thumb|right|The theatrical poster for ''The Passion Recut'', which depicts Jesus without facial [[laceration]]s.]]
''The Passion Recut'', a [[Re-edited film|re-edited version]], was released in theaters on March 11, 2005, with five minutes of the most [[graphic violence|explicit violence]] deleted, in hopes of attracting more viewers by making the film approachable to consumers who found the original cut too gruesome. President of Newmarket Films [[Bob Berney]] stated, "I knew a lot of people that wanted to see it but couldn't go...They were just too nervous or squeamish."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/14/business/media/less-gore-no-rating-for-a-new-passion.html|title=Less Gore, No Rating for a New 'Passion'|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 14, 2005|access-date=April 11, 2024|archive-date=June 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608212723/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/14/business/media/less-gore-no-rating-for-a-new-passion.html|url-status=live|author-last1=Robischon|author-first1=Noah}}</ref> Gibson explained his reasoning for this re-edited version: {{blockquote|After the initial run in movie theaters, I received numerous letters from people all across the country. Many told me they wanted to share the experience with loved ones but were concerned that the harsher images of the film would be too intense for them to bear. In light of this I decided to re-edit ''The Passion of the Christ''.<ref name=pluggedin>{{cite web|url=http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0001657.cfm|title=''The Passion of the Christ'' Review|publisher=Plugged In|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230075351/http://www.pluggedin.com/videos/2005/q1/passionofthechrist.aspx|archive-date=December 30, 2012}}</ref>}}

Gibson anticipated that the film would be rated [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system#MPAA film ratings|PG-13]] after he edited it to bring it closer to that rating.<ref name=tampa>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2005/03/10/the-passion-recut-eases-up-on-the-gore/|title=The Passion Recut' eases up on the gore|publisher=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|date=March 10, 2005|access-date=April 11, 2024|archive-date=June 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608212242/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2005/03/10/the-passion-recut-eases-up-on-the-gore/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Motion Picture Association of America]] (MPAA) still deemed ''The Passion Recut'' too violent for the PG-13 rating, but because Newmarket is not an MPAA [[Signature|signatory]] and hence does not have to comply with MPAA guidelines, they decided to release the film as unrated.<ref name=pluggedin /> On the ''Passion Recut's'' rating and appeal to wider audiences, Berney explained:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chicagoreader.com/film/the-passion-recut/|title=The Passion Recut|publisher=[[Chicago Reader]]|date=March 11, 2005|access-date=April 11, 2024|archive-date=September 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928220830/https://chicagoreader.com/film/the-passion-recut/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{blockquote|The goal was to try and reach toward a PG-13 level, but the MPAA felt it still was an R due to the overall intensity of the film, so we are going out unrated and perhaps it's ultimately somewhere in between. The end result is a shift in tone and balance that makes the film more accessible to a wider audience, particularly those that had concerns about some of the extreme moments in the original version.}}

The film's re-release was an "experiment" for Newmarket and Icon, since the companies hoped for a four-week showing that would extended through [[Easter Sunday]] (March 27). Had the experiment succeeded, Newmarket and Icon would have released the film every year around [[Easter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2005/03/12/passion-recut-features-less-violence/29751167007/|title='Passion Recut' features less violence|author-first1=Nicole|author-last1=Sperling|publisher=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]|date=March 11, 2005|access-date=April 11, 2024|archive-date=June 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608020217/https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2005/03/12/passion-recut-features-less-violence/29751167007/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the shortened film showed for three weeks in 960 theaters for a box office total of $567,692, minuscule compared to the $612,054,428 of ''The Passion''.<ref name="Mojo Recut total">[https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3630794241/ "''The Passion Recut'': domestic total gross".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809163723/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3630794241/ |date=August 9, 2020 }} ''Box Office Mojo''. Retrieved October 12, 2019.</ref> The [[BBFC]] classified the recut with a 15 rating, lower than the original cut's 18 rating.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-passion-of-the-christ-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0znja4mjg|title=The Passion Of The Christ|publisher=[[BBFC]]|access-date=April 11, 2024|archive-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815172211/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-passion-of-the-christ-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0znja4mjg|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Differences====
During the scourging scene, the [[cat o' nine tails]] striking Jesus's flesh that resulted in [[Splatter film|blood squirting]] and his flesh being dislodged was omitted. In the crucifixion scene, the Roman soldiers nailing Jesus with blood spurting is cut, and the soldier strenuously [[Dislocated shoulder|dislocating]] Jesus's shoulder is trimmed; instead, the [[reaction shot]]s of Mary and Jesus are shown. Incidentally, the scene in which the cross is flipped over and suspended in air was also deleted, due to viewers not understanding what they saw.<ref name=pluggedin/>

On this edit's overall effect, Gibson further added, "I have toned down some of the more brutal scenes without removing them or compromising the impact of the film. By softening some of its more wrenching aspects, I hope to make the film and its message of love available to a wider audience".<ref name=tampa/>

===Home media===
On August 31, 2004, the film was released on [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] in North America by [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]], which initially passed on theatrical distribution. As with the original theatrical release, the film's release on home video formats proved to be very popular. Early estimates indicated that over 2.4 million copies of the film were sold by 3:00{{spaces}}p.m.,<ref name=vty>{{cite news |last1=Hettrick |first1=Scott |title=DVD buyers express 'Passion' |url=https://variety.com/2004/digital/features/dvd-buyers-express-passion-1117909854/ |access-date=June 18, 2019 |work=Variety |date=September 1, 2004 |language=en |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809063756/https://variety.com/2004/digital/features/dvd-buyers-express-passion-1117909854/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with a total of 4.1 million copies on its first day of sale.<ref name="Today 2004 4.1">[[Associated Press]] (September 1, 2004). [https://www.today.com/popculture/passion-dvd-sells-4-1-million-one-day-wbna5888815 "''Passion'' DVD sells 4.1 million in one day".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220000000/https://web.archive.org/web/20220220193856/https://www.today.com/popculture/passion-dvd-sells-4-1-million-one-day-wbna5888815 |date=February 20, 2022 }} ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]''. Retrieved October 13, 2019.</ref> The film was available on DVD with English and Spanish subtitles and on VHS tape with English subtitles. The film was released on [[Blu-ray]] in North America as a two-disc Definitive Edition set on February 17, 2009.<ref name="PassionoftheChristBlu-ray">{{cite AV media | title=The Passion of the Christ | url=http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/302426419 | oclc=302426419 | publisher=20th Century Fox Home Entertainment | edition=definitive | location=Beverly Hills, California | first=Mel | last=Gibson | type=Blu-ray; visual material | language=la, he | access-date=March 29, 2013 | archive-date=June 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608212244/https://search.worldcat.org/title/302426419 | url-status=live }}</ref> It was also released on Blu-ray in Australia a week before Easter.

Although the original DVD release sold well, it contained no bonus features other than a trailer, which provoked speculation about how many buyers would wait for a [[special edition]] to be released.<ref name=vty/> On January 30, 2007, a two-disc Definitive Edition was released in the North American markets, and March 26 of that year elsewhere. It contains several documentaries, soundtrack [[Audio commentary|commentaries]], [[deleted scene]]s, [[outtake]]s, the 2005 [[re-edited film|unrated]] version, and the original 2004 theatrical version.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Passion of the Christ: A Note on the DVD "Definitive Edition" |url=https://decentfilms.com/articles/passion_de |publisher=decentfilms.com |access-date=October 15, 2025}}</ref>

The British version of the two-disc DVD contains two additional deleted scenes. In the first, Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (at the eighth station of the cross) and falls to the ground as the women wail around him, and [[Simon of Cyrene]] attempts to hold up the cross and help up Jesus simultaneously. Afterwards, while both are holding up the cross, Jesus says to the women weeping for him, "Do not weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children". In the second, Pilate washes his hands, turns to Caiaphas, and says: "Look you to it" (i.e., the Pharisees wish to have Jesus crucified). Pilate then turns to Abanader and says: "Do as they wish". The scene next shows Pilate calling to his servant, who is carrying a wooden board on which Pilate writes, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews", in Latin and Hebrew. He then holds the board above his head in full view of Caiaphas, who after reading it challenges Pilate on its content. Pilate replies angrily to Caiaphas in non-subtitled Hebrew. The disc contains only two deleted scenes in total. No other scenes from the movie are shown on disc 2.<ref>{{cite web |first=Stella |last=Papamichael |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/03/19/the_passion_of_the_christ_special_edition_dvd_2007_review.shtml |title=The Passion of the Christ: Special Edition DVD |publisher=BBC |access-date=June 5, 2012 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927233412/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/03/19/the_passion_of_the_christ_special_edition_dvd_2007_review.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

On February 7, 2017, 20th Century Fox re-released the film on Blu-ray and DVD featuring the theatrical version and the edited version (The Passion Recut), where the graphic violence is reduced. The theatrical version features English and Spanish dubs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/20th_Century_Fox/Disc_Announcements/mel-gibsons-the-passion-of-the-christ-returns-to-bluray/37982 | title=Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' Returns to Blu-ray | publisher=High-Def Digest | access-date=February 12, 2017 | archive-date=February 13, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213005315/http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/20th_Century_Fox/Disc_Announcements/mel-gibsons-the-passion-of-the-christ-returns-to-bluray/37982 | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Television broadcast===
On April 17, 2011 ([[Palm Sunday]]), [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]] (TBN) presented the film at 7:30&nbsp;p.m. ET/PT, in the United States with multiple showings scheduled. The network had continued to air the film throughout the year, and particularly around Easter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tbn.org/watch-us/our-programs/the-passion-of-the-christ |title=The Passion of the Christ |publisher=TBN |access-date=June 5, 2012 |archive-date=June 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606022007/http://www.tbn.org/watch-us/our-programs/the-passion-of-the-christ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On March 29, 2013 ([[Good Friday]]), as a part of their special [[Holy Week]] programming, [[TV5 (Philippine TV network)|TV5]] in the Philippines presented the Filipino-dubbed version of the film at 2:00{{spaces}}p.m. ([[Philippine Standard Time|PST]], [[UTC+8]]). Its total broadcast ran for two hours, but excluding the advertisements, it would only run for approximately one hour instead of its full run time of two hours and six minutes. It ended at 4:00&nbsp;p.m. It has been rated SPG by the [[Movie and Television Review and Classification Board]] (MTRCB) for themes, language and violence with some scenes censored for television. TV5 is the first broadcast network outside of the United States and dubbed the Vernacular Hebrew and Latin language to Filipino (through translating its supplied English subtitles).

==Reception==
Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports an approval rating of 49% based on 277 critical reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "Director Mel Gibson's zeal is unmistakable, but ''The Passion of the Christ'' will leave many viewers emotionally drained rather than spiritually uplifted."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Passion of the Christ {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/passion_of_the_christ |access-date=November 23, 2025 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>  On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average of 47 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|title=''The Passion of the Christ'' (2004): reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/passionofthechrist|access-date=July 16, 2008|website=[[Metacritic]]|archive-date=June 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616082304/http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/passionofthechrist|url-status=dead}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a rare "A+" grade.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |title=Why CinemaScore Matters for Box Office |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719145918/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/ |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In a positive review for ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', its critic [[Richard Corliss]] called ''The Passion of the Christ'' "a serious, handsome, excruciating film that radiates total commitment".<ref name="metacritic" /> ''[[New York Press]]'' film critic [[Armond White]] praised Gibson's direction, comparing him to [[Carl Theodor Dreyer]] in how he transformed art into spirituality.<ref>{{cite news|author-last1=White|author-first1=Armond|date=March 18, 2008|url=http://www.nypress.com/article-19539-steve-mcqueens-hunger.html|title=Steve McQueen's Hunger|work=[[New York Press]]|access-date=April 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423043019/http://www.nypress.com/article-19539-steve-mcqueens-hunger.html|archive-date=April 23, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> White also noted that it was odd to see Gibson offer audiences "an intellectual challenge" with the film.<ref name="White, Armond">{{cite news|author-last1=White|author-first1=Armond|date=February 26, 2004|title=Africana Reviews: The Passion of the Christ (web archive)|url=http://www.africana.com/reviews/moviestv/mtv20040227passion.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040312222102/http://www.africana.com/reviews/moviestv/mtv20040227passion.asp|archive-date=March 12, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] from the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the movie four out of four stars, calling it "the most violent film I have ever seen" as well as reflecting on how it struck him, a former [[altar boy]]: "What Gibson has provided for me, for the first time in my life, is a visceral idea of what the Passion consisted of. That his film is superficial in terms of the surrounding message—that we get only a few passing references to the teachings of Jesus—is, I suppose, not the point. This is not a sermon or a homily, but a visualization of the central event in the Christian religion. Take it or leave it."<ref name="Ebert CST">{{cite news|first=Roger|last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|title=The Passion of the Christ|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=February 24, 2004|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-passion-of-the-christ-2004|access-date=August 2, 2006|via=rogerebert.com|archive-date=March 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314190316/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-passion-of-the-christ-2004|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a negative review for ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', [[David Edelstein]] called ''The Passion of the Christ'' "a two-hour-and-six-minute [[Snuff film|snuff movie]]".<ref name="Edelstein 2004 Slate">{{cite news|first=David|last=Edelstein|author-link=David Edelstein|title=Jesus H. Christ|date=February 24, 2004|url=https://slate.com/culture/2004/02/the-passion-mel-gibson-s-bloody-mess.html|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123175411/http://slate.msn.com/id/2096025|archive-date=November 23, 2009}}</ref> [[Jami Bernard]] of the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' felt it was "the most virulently anti-Semitic movie made since the [[Nazi propaganda|German propaganda films of World War II]]".<ref>{{cite news|first=Jami|last=Bernard|author-link=Jami Bernard|title=The Passion of the Christ|date=February 24, 2004|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/167326p-146309c.html|work=[[New York Daily News]]|publisher=[[Tronc]]|location=New York City|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040416131649/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/167326p-146309c.html|archive-date=April 16, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the ''[[Dallas Observer]]'', [[Robert Wilonsky]] wrote that he found the film "too turgid to awe the nonbelievers, too zealous to inspire and often too silly to take seriously, with its demonic hallucinations that look like escapees from a [[David Lynch]] film; I swear I couldn't find the devil carrying around a hairy-backed midget anywhere in the text I read".<ref name="metacritic" />

The June 2006 issue of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' named ''The Passion of the Christ'' the most controversial film of all time, followed by [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]'' (1971).<ref>{{cite web |date=June 10, 2006 |title=Passion 'most controversial film' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5067480.stm |website=[[BBC]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 10, 2006 |last1=Finke |first1=Nikki |title=EW Gets It Horribly Wrong, Again: Tries to List 'Most Controversial Movies' and Fails |url=https://deadline.com/2006/06/ew-gets-it-horribly-wrong-again-lists-most-controversial-movies-340/ |website=Deadline Hollywood }}</ref> In 2010, ''Time'' listed it as one of the most "ridiculously violent" films of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Josh|last=Sanburn|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2015869_2015874_2015850,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905022317/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2015869_2015874_2015850,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 5, 2010|title=Top 10 Ridiculously Violent Movies|date=September 3, 2010|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|location=New York City|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref>

=== Disputed papal endorsement ===

On December 5, 2003, ''Passion of the Christ'' co-producer [[Stephen McEveety]] gave a rough cut<ref name="Vivarelli 2003 Pope peeks">Vivarelli, Nick (December 15, 2003).[https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/pope-peeks-at-private-passion-preview-1117897210/ "Pope peeks at private ''Passion'' preview".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017230916/https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/pope-peeks-at-private-passion-preview-1117897210/ |date=October 17, 2019 }} Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2019.</ref> of the film to Archbishop [[Stanisław Dziwisz]], the pope's secretary.<ref name="Flynn 2003 5sw">Flynn, J. D. (December 18, 2003). [https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/378/pope-john-paul-endorses-the-passion-of-christ-with-five-simple-words "Pope John Paul endorses ''The Passion of Christ'' with five simple words".]  ''[[Catholic News Agency]]''. Retrieved October 17, 2019.</ref> Pope [[John Paul II]] watched the film in his private apartment with Archbishop Dziwisz that night, and later met with McEveety<ref name="Allen More 2004 NCR"/> and Jan Michelini, an Italian and the movie's assistant director.<ref name="Rich 2004 thumbs up"/><ref name="Wooden 2004 never"/> On December 17, ''[[The Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]]'' columnist [[Peggy Noonan]] reported John Paul II had said "It is as it was", citing McEveety, who said he heard it from Dziwisz.<ref name="Noonan 2003 thumbs-up">{{cite news|url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110004442|title='It is as it was': Mel Gibson's ''The Passion'' gets a thumbs-up from the pope.|author-last1=Noonan|author-first1=Peggy|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=December 17, 2003|access-date=October 20, 2008|author-link=Peggy Noonan|archive-date=March 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327022139/http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110004442|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Snyder 2004 Plug">Snyder, Gabriel (January 19, 2004).[https://variety.com/2004/film/features/did-pope-really-plug-passion-1117898727/ "Did Pope really plug ''Passion''? Church denies papal support of Gibson's pic".] ''Variety''. Archived from [https://variety.com/2004/film/features/did-pope-really-plug-passion-1117898727/ the original] on December 19, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2019.</ref> Noonan had emailed [[Joaquín Navarro-Valls]], the head of the Vatican's press office, for confirmation before writing her column, surprised that the "famously close-mouthed" Navarro-Valls had approved the use of the "It is as it was" quote, and his emailed response stated he had no other comment at that time.<ref name="Noonan WSJ 2004 curiouser"/> ''[[National Catholic Reporter]]'' journalist [[John L. Allen Jr.]] published a similar account on the same day, quoting an unnamed senior Vatican official.<ref name="Allen More 2004 NCR"/> Reuters<ref name="Noonan WSJ 2004 curiouser">{{cite news|last=Noonan|first=Peggy|url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110004587|title=The story of the Vatican and Mel Gibson's film gets curiouser|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=January 22, 2004|access-date=October 20, 2008|archive-date=December 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220095533/http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110004587|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Associated Press]] independently confirmed the story, citing Vatican sources.<ref name="Allen 2004 NCR">[[John L. Allen Jr.|Allen, John L. Jr.]] (January 23, 2004).[http://nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/word012304.htm "Week of prayer for Christian unity; update on ''The Passion''{{nbsp}}...".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705014934/http://nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/word012304.htm |date=July 5, 2008 }} ''[[National Catholic Reporter]]'': The Word from Rome. Retrieved October 20, 2008.</ref>

A dispute emerged a few days later, when an anonymous Vatican official told [[Catholic News Service]] "There was no declaration, no judgment from the pope." But Allen defended his earlier reporting, saying that his official source was adamant about the veracity of the original story.<ref name="Allen More 2004 NCR">Allen, John L. Jr. (January 9, 2004).[http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/word010904.htm "U.S. bishops issue abuse report; more on ''The Passion''{{nbsp}}...".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608212243/http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/word010904.htm |date=June 8, 2024 }} ''National Catholic Reporter'': The Word from Rome. Retrieved October 20, 2008.</ref> Columnist [[Frank Rich]] for ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that the statement was "being exploited by the Gibson camp", and that when he asked Michelini about the meeting, Michelini said Dziwisz had reported the pope's words as "It is as it was", and said the pope also called the film "incredibile", <!-- This is Italian; it is not misspelled --> an Italian word Michelini translated as "amazing".<ref name="Rich 2004 thumbs up">[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/18/movies/the-pope-s-thumbs-up-for-gibson-s-passion.html Rich, Frank (January 18, 2014). "The pope's thumbs up for Gibson's ''Passion''"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018072204/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/18/movies/the-pope-s-thumbs-up-for-gibson-s-passion.html |date=October 18, 2019 }}. ''[[The New York Times]]'' Retrieved October 18, 2019.</ref> The following day, Archbishop Dziwisz told CNS, "The Holy Father told no one his opinion of this film."<ref name="Wooden 2004 never">{{cite news|last=Wooden|first=Cindy|title=Pope never commented on Gibson's 'Passion' film, says papal secretary|publisher=[[Catholic News Service]]|date=January 19, 2004|url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/20040119.htm|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20040124050858/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/20040119.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 24, 2004}}</ref> This denial resulted in a round of commentators who accused the film producers of fabricating a papal quote to market their movie.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 30, 2004 |title=Did Pope Endorse Mel Gibson's 'Passion'? |url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Pope/story?id=131519&page=1#:~:text=Did%20Pope%20Endorse%20Mel%20Gibson's%20'Passion'?,It%20is%20as%20it%20was.%22 |work=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bruni |first=Frank |date=January 19, 2004 |title=Vatican Raises Doubts About Pope's View of Passion Film |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/19/international/middleeast/vatican-raises-doubts-about-popes-view-of-passion.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223062820/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/19/international/middleeast/vatican-raises-doubts-about-popes-view-of-passion.html |archive-date=December 23, 2023 |access-date=December 21, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en }}</ref>

According to [[Rod Dreher]] in the ''Dallas Morning News'', McEveety was sent an email from papal spokesman Navarro-Valls that supported the Noonan account, and suggested "It is as it was" could be used as the [[leitmotif]] in discussions on the film and said to "Repeat the words again and again and again."<ref name="Dreher 2004 endorse">Dreher, Rod (January 21, 2004).[https://web.archive.org/web/20120127050959/http://osdir.com/ml/music.dadl.ot/2004-01/msg00784.html "Did the Vatican endorse Gibson's film – or didn't it?"] ''[[Dallas Morning News]]''. Archived from [http://osdir.com/ml/music.dadl.ot/2004-01/msg00784.html the original] on January 27, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2008.</ref><!-- The period here belongs inside the quotation marks as in the original. See [[Quotation marks in English#Order of punctuation]]. --> Dreher emailed Navarro-Valls a copy of the email McEveety had received, and Navarro-Valls emailed Dreher back and said, "I can categorically deny its authenticity."<ref name="Dreher 2004 endorse"/><ref name="Noonan WSJ 2004 curiouser"/> Dreher opined that either Mel Gibson's camp had created "a lollapalooza of a lie", or the Vatican was making reputable journalists and filmmakers look like "sleazebags or dupes" and he explained: {{blockquote|Interestingly, Ms. Noonan reported in her Dec. 17 column that when she asked the spokesman if the pope had said anything more than "It is as it was," he e-mailed her to say he didn't know of any further comments. She sent me a copy of that e-mail, which came from the same Vatican email address as the one to me and to Mr. McEveety.<ref name="Dreher 2004 endorse"/>}}

Noonan noted that she and Dreher had discovered the emails were sent by "an email server in the Vatican's domain" from a Vatican computer with the same IP address.<ref name="Noonan WSJ 2004 curiouser"/> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that, when it asked after the story first broke if the "It is as it was" quote was reliable, Navarro-Valls had responded "I think you can consider that quote as accurate."<ref name="Munoz 2004 LAT fallout">Munoz, Lorenza and Stammer, Larry B. (January 23, 2004).[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-23-et-munoz23-story.html " Fallout over ''Passion'' deepens".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019235902/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-23-et-munoz23-story.html |date=October 19, 2019 }} ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]''. Contributions by Greg Braxton and the Associated Press. Retrieved October 19, 2019.</ref> Allen noted that while Dziwisz stated that Pope John Paul II made no declaration about this movie, other Vatican officials were "continuing to insist" the pope did say it, and other sources claimed they had heard Dziwisz say the pope said it on other occasions, and Allen called the situation "kind of a mess".<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Miles |date=January 21, 2004 |title='The Passion' Stirs Controversy at the Vatican |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0401/21/lol.07.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428190252/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0401/21/lol.07.html |archive-date=April 28, 2009 |work=CNN}}</ref> A representative from Gibson's Icon Productions expressed surprise at Dziwisz's statements after the correspondence and conversations between film representatives and the pope's official spokesperson, Navarro-Valls, and stated "there is no reason to believe that the pope's support of the film 'isn't as it was.'"<ref name="Snyder 2004 Plug"/>

After speaking to Dziwisz, Navarro-Valls confirmed John Paul II had seen ''The Passion of the Christ'', and released the following official statement:
<blockquote>The film is a cinematographic transposition of the historical event of the Passion of Jesus Christ according to the accounts of the Gospel. It is a common practice of the Holy Father not to express public opinions on artistic works, opinions that are always open to different evaluations of aesthetic character.<ref name="Allen 2004 NCR"/>
</blockquote>

In a follow-up column in ''The Wall Street Journal'', Noonan addressed the question of why the issues being raised were not just "a tempest in a teapot" and she explained:<ref name="Noonan WSJ 2004 curiouser"/>{{blockquote|The truth matters. What a pope says matters. And what this pontiff says about this film matters. ''The Passion'', which is to open on Feb. 25, has been the focus of an intense critical onslaught since last summer. The film has been fiercely denounced as anti-Semitic, and accused of perpetuating stereotypes that will fan hatred against Jews. John Paul II has a long personal and [[Pope John Paul II and Judaism|professional history]] of opposing anti-Semitism, of working against it, and of [[Pope John Paul II#Relations with other Christian denominations|calling for dialogue]], respect and reconciliation between all religions. His comments here would have great importance.}}

=== Allegations of antisemitism ===
Before the film was released, there were prominent criticisms of perceived [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] content in the film. It was for that reason that 20th Century Fox decided to pass on the film, informing New York Assemblyman [[Dov Hikind]] that a protest outside the [[1211 Avenue of the Americas|News Corporation Building]] made them decide against distributing the film. Hikind warned other companies that "they should not distribute this film. This is unhealthy for Jews all over the world."<ref name=FOXpass />

A joint committee of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs of the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]] and the Department of Inter-religious Affairs of the [[Anti-Defamation League]] obtained a version of the script before it was released in theaters. They released a statement, calling it <blockquote>one of the most troublesome texts, relative to anti-Semitic potential, that any of us had seen in 25 years. It must be emphasized that the main storyline presented Jesus as having been relentlessly pursued by an evil cabal of Jews, headed by the high priest [[Caiaphas]], who finally blackmailed a weak-kneed [[Pontius Pilate|Pilate]] into putting Jesus to death. This is precisely the storyline that fueled centuries of anti-Semitism within Christian societies. This is also a storyline rejected by the Roman Catholic Church at [[Second Vatican Council|Vatican II]] in its document ''[[Nostra aetate]]'', and by nearly all mainline Protestant churches in parallel documents...Unless this basic storyline has been altered by Mr. Gibson, a fringe Catholic who is building his own church in the Los Angeles area and who apparently accepts neither the teachings of Vatican II nor modern biblical scholarship, ''The Passion of the Christ'' retains a real potential for undermining the repudiation of classical Christian anti-Semitism by the churches in the last 40 years.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Pawlikowski|first=John T.|title=Christian Anti-Semitism: Past History, Present Challenges Reflections in Light of Mel Gibson's ''The Passion of the Christ''|journal=Journal of Religion and Film|date=February 2004|url=http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/2004Symposium/Pawlikowski.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820085751/http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/2004Symposium/Pawlikowski.htm|archive-date=August 20, 2006}}</ref></blockquote>

The ADL itself also released a statement about the yet-to-be-released film:
<blockquote>For filmmakers to do justice to the biblical accounts of the passion, they must complement their artistic vision with sound scholarship, which includes knowledge of how the passion accounts have been used historically to disparage and attack Jews and Judaism. Absent such scholarly and theological understanding, productions such as ''The Passion'' could likely falsify history and fuel the [[wikt:animus#Noun|animus]] of those who hate Jews.<ref>{{cite press release|title=ADL Statement on Mel Gibson's 'The Passion'|publisher=[[Anti-Defamation League]]|date=June 24, 2003|url=http://www.adl.org/presrele/mise_00/4275_00.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723132238/http://adl.org/PresRele/Mise_00/4275_00.asp|archive-date=July 23, 2008}}</ref></blockquote> [[Rabbi Daniel Lapin]], the head of the [[Toward Tradition]] organization, criticized this statement, and said of [[Abraham Foxman]], the head of the ADL, "what he is saying is that the only way to escape the wrath of Foxman is to repudiate your faith".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forward.com/articles/6434/|title='Passion' Critics Endanger Jews, Angry Rabbis Claim, Attacking Groups, Foxman|first=Nacha|last=Cattan|work=[[The Forward|The Jewish Daily Forward]]|date=March 5, 2004|access-date=October 22, 2008|archive-date=December 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204082817/http://www.forward.com/articles/6434/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In ''[[The Nation]]'', reviewer [[Katha Pollitt]] wrote: "Gibson has violated just about every precept of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops own 1988 'Criteria' for the portrayal of Jews in dramatizations of the Passion (no bloodthirsty Jews, no rabble, no use of Scripture that reinforces negative stereotypes of Jews.) [...] The priests have big noses and gnarly faces, lumpish bodies, yellow teeth; [[Herod Antipas]] and his court are a bizarre collection of oily-haired, [[epicene]] perverts. The 'good Jews' look like Italian movie stars (Magdalene actually ''is'' an Italian movie star, [[Monica Bellucci]]); [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Jesus's mother]], who would have been around 50 and appeared 70, could pass for a ripe 35."<ref name="pollitt">{{cite news|last=Pollitt|first=Katha|title=The Protocols of Mel Gibson|work=[[The Nation]]|date=March 11, 2004|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/protocols-mel-gibson|access-date=August 20, 2008|archive-date=October 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018024641/http://www.thenation.com/article/protocols-mel-gibson|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jesuit priest Fr. [[William Fulco]], S.J. of Loyola Marymount University—and the film's translator for [[Hebrew]] dialogue—specifically disagreed with that assessment, and disagreed with concerns that the film accused the Jewish community of [[Jewish deicide|deicide]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wooden|first=Cindy|title=As filming ends, 'Passion' strikes some nerves|work=[[National Catholic Reporter]]|date=May 2, 2003|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_26_39/ai_101680926|access-date=August 20, 2008|archive-date=December 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206160324/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_26_39/ai_101680926|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In ''[[The Guardian]]'', Jewish biblical scholar and expert on the [[historical Jesus]], [[Géza Vermes]] wrote a highly critical review of the movie: he stated that the movie is "horribly gory, historically wrong - and it will inspire judeophobia". According to Vermes, "the real problem is not with his attitudes or avowed intentions, but with the lack of appropriate steps taken to prevent visual images from inspiring judeophobia. Caiaphas and his priestly colleagues often struggle not to smile when they see the defeat of Christ. In the film they allow their policemen to beat him up in open court without protest. In the Gospels itself they are depicted as doing things according to the book and reject the witnesses who testify against Jesus. This does not seem to be so in the film. These are dangerous opportunities for inspiring vengeful sentiments".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vermes|first=Geza|date=February 27, 2004|title=Geza Vermes: Christ film will inspire Judeophobia|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/feb/27/religion.film|access-date=January 11, 2022|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=June 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608212724/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/feb/27/religion.film|url-status=live}}</ref>

One specific scene in the film perceived as an example of anti-Semitism was in the dialogue of Caiaphas, when he states "[[Blood curse|His blood [is] on us and on our children!]]" (Mt 27:25), a quote historically interpreted by some as a curse taken upon by the Jewish people. Certain Jewish groups asked this be removed from the film. However, only the subtitles were removed; the original dialogue remains in the Hebrew soundtrack.<ref>{{cite news|last=Vermes|first=Geza|title=Celluloid brutality|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=February 27, 2003|url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,4120,1157381,00.html|access-date=August 20, 2008|location=London|archive-date=May 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517043555/http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,4120,1157381,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked about this scene, Gibson said: "I wanted it in. My brother said I was wimping out if I didn't include it. But, man, if I included that in there, they'd be coming after me at my house. They'd come to kill me."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seethepassion.com/article.php?id=21|title=The Jesus War|access-date=June 9, 2008|archive-date=December 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216053841/http://www.seethepassion.com/article.php?id=21|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In an interview with the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'', when asked about the scene, he said, "It's one little passage, and I believe it, but I don't and never have believed it refers to Jews, and implicates them in any sort of curse. It's directed at all of us, all men who were there, and all that came after. His blood is on us, and that's what Jesus wanted. But I finally had to admit that one of the reasons I felt strongly about keeping it, aside from the fact it's true, is that I didn't want to let someone else dictate what could or couldn't be said."<ref>{{cite news|title=Mel Gibson and Other 'Passion' Filmmakers say the Movie was Guided by Faith|work=[[Detroit Free Press]]|first=Terry|last=Lawson|date=February 17, 2004 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-divine-inspiration/168934217/ }}</ref>

The allegations of antisemitism were satirized in the ''[[South Park]]'' episode "[[The Passion of the Jew]]", which focuses on the reactions of the protagonists to the film. In the episode, [[Eric Cartman]] leads a neo-Nazi rally whilst dressed as [[Adolf Hitler]], [[Kyle Broflovski]] has nightmares about the excessive violence and complains about the Jews' apparent responsibility for the death of Jesus, and [[Stan Marsh]] and [[Kenny McCormick]] go to Mel Gibson to get a refund.<ref name="forward">{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/news/israel/5445/e2-80-98the-passion-of-the-christ-e2-80-99-fuels-antisemitism/|title='The Passion of the Christ' Fuels Antisemitism — on 'South Park'|author=Max Gross|work=The Jewish Daily Forward|date=April 9, 2004|access-date=March 7, 2022|archive-date=March 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307201029/https://forward.com/news/israel/5445/e2-80-98the-passion-of-the-christ-e2-80-99-fuels-antisemitism/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Allegations of the film's antisemitism were intensified after Mel Gibson's 2006 arrest for [[driving under the influence]] in Malibu, California, where during the arrest, he made antisemitic remarks against the arresting officer. He was recorded saying to the officer, "Fucking Jews... the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you a Jew?"<ref>{{cite news|last=Weiner|first=Allison Hope|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/us/30gibson.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Mel Gibson Apologizes for Tirade After Arrest|date=July 30, 2006|access-date=June 6, 2020|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613121700/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/us/30gibson.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=tmz>{{cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2006/07/28/gibsons-anti-semitic-tirade-alleged-cover-up/|title=Gibson's Anti-Semitic Tirade Alleged Cover Up|work=[[TMZ.com]]|date=July 28, 2006|access-date=June 6, 2020|archive-date=May 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531031522/https://www.tmz.com/2006/07/28/gibsons-anti-semitic-tirade-alleged-cover-up/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Sara|last=Dover|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/james-mee-jewish-cop-who-arrested-mel-gibson-gets-trial-discrimination-suit-394898|title=James Mee: Jewish Cop Who Arrested Mel Gibson Gets Trial in Discrimination Suit|date=January 12, 2012|work=[[International Business Times]]|access-date=November 27, 2016|archive-date=February 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210120815/http://www.ibtimes.com/james-mee-jewish-cop-who-arrested-mel-gibson-gets-trial-discrimination-suit-394898|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Reactions to allegations of antisemitism ===
[[File:Roger Ebert (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Roger Ebert]] gave ''The Passion of the Christ'' a positive review and defended it against allegations of anti-semitism.<ref name="Ebert Judge" />]]
Film critic [[Roger Ebert]], who awarded ''The Passion of the Christ'' four out of four stars in his review for the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', denied allegations that the film was anti-semitic. Ebert described the film as "a powerful and important film, helmed by a man with a sincere heart and a warrior's sense of justice. It is a story filled with searing images and ultimately a message of redemption and hope." Ebert said, "It also might just be the greatest cinematic version of the greatest story ever told."<ref name="Ebert Judge">{{cite web |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |title=Judge ye not Gibson's film until you've actually seen it |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/judge-ye-not-gibsons-film-until-youve-actually-seen-it |website=Chicago Sun-Times |date=March 30, 2004 |access-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418035309/https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/judge-ye-not-gibsons-film-until-youve-actually-seen-it |url-status=live }}</ref>

Conservative columnist [[Cal Thomas]] also disagreed with allegations of antisemitism and wrote in ''[[Townhall]]'': "To those in the Jewish community who worry that the film might contain anti-Semitic elements, or encourage people to persecute Jews, fear not. The film does not indict Jews for the death of Jesus."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/CalThomas/2003/08/05/the_greatest_story_ever_filmed|title=The Greatest Story Ever Filmed|publisher=TownHall.com|date=August 5, 2003|access-date=October 22, 2008|archive-date=June 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611143252/http://townhall.com/columnists/calthomas/2003/08/05/the_greatest_story_ever_filmed|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Bob Smithouser of [[Focus on the Family]]'s ''Plugged In'' also believed that the film was trying to convey the evils and sins of humanity rather than specifically targeting Jews, stating: "The anthropomorphic portrayal of Satan as a player in these events brilliantly pulls the proceedings into the supernatural realm—a fact that should have quelled the much-publicized cries of anti-Semitism since it shows a diabolical force at work beyond any political and religious agendas of the Jews and Romans."<ref name="pluggedin" />

Moreover, senior officer at the Vatican [[Darío Castrillón Hoyos|Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos]], who had seen the film, addressed the matter so:
<blockquote>Anti-Semitism, like all forms of racism, distorts the truth in order to put a whole race of people in a bad light. This film does nothing of the sort. It draws out from the historical objectivity of the Gospel narratives sentiments of forgiveness, mercy, and reconciliation. It captures the subtleties and the horror of sin, as well as the gentle power of love and forgiveness, without making or insinuating blanket condemnations against one group. This film expressed the exact opposite, that learning from the example of Christ, there should never be any more violence against any other human being.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gaspari|first=Antonio|title=The Cardinal & the ''Passion''|work=[[National Review Online]]|date=September 18, 2003|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-gaspari091803.asp|access-date=2008-08-20|archive-date=September 19, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030919193930/http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-gaspari091803.asp|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

Asked by [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] if his movie would "upset Jews", Gibson responded, "It's not meant to. I think it's meant to just tell the truth. I want to be as truthful as possible."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030127-409570,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041026072423/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030127-409570,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2004|title=The Passion of Mel Gibson|magazine=Time|date=January 19, 2003|access-date=May 25, 2010|first=Richard|last=Corliss}}</ref> In an interview for ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', he added: "If anyone has distorted Gospel passages to rationalize cruelty towards Jews or anyone, it's in defiance of repeated Papal condemnation. The Papacy has condemned racism in any form...Jesus died for the sins of all times, and I'll be the first on the line for culpability."<ref>{{cite news|title=Mel Gibson Interview|work=The Globe and Mail|date=February 14, 2004}}</ref>

=== Criticism of excessive violence ===
[[A.O. Scott]] in ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote "''The Passion of the Christ'' is so relentlessly focused on the savagery of Jesus' final hours that this film seems to arise less from love than from wrath, and to succeed more in assaulting the spirit than in uplifting it."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A07EFD6143CF936A15751C0A9629C8B63 |author=A. O. Scott |title=Good and Evil Locked in Violent Showdown |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 25, 2004 |access-date=July 8, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213071647/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A07EFD6143CF936A15751C0A9629C8B63 |archive-date=February 13, 2012 }}</ref> [[David Edelstein]], ''Slate''{{'}}s film critic, dubbed the film "a two-hour-and-six-minute snuff movie—''The Jesus [[The Texas Chain Saw Massacre|Chainsaw Massacre]]''—that thinks it's an act of faith", and further criticized Gibson for focusing on the brutality of Jesus' execution, instead of his religious teachings.<ref name="Edelstein 2004 Slate"/>

In 2008, writer Michael Gurnow in [[American Atheists]] stated much the same, labeling the work a mainstream [[snuff film]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesecularparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/American-Atheists-April-2008-issue.pdf |author=Gurnow, Michael|date=April 2008|title=The passion of the snuff: how the MPAA allowed a horror film to irreparably scar countless young minds in the name of religion|publisher=[[American Atheists]]|pages=17–18|access-date=February 17, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218074258/http://www.thesecularparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/American-Atheists-April-2008-issue.pdf|archive-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> Critic Armond White, in his review of the film for Africana.com, offered another perspective on the violence in the film. He wrote, "Surely Gibson knows (better than anyone in Hollywood is willing to admit) that violence sells. It's problematic that this time, Gibson has made a film that asks for a sensitive, serious, personal response to violence rather than his usual glorifying of vengeance."<ref name="White, Armond"/>

During [[Diane Sawyer]]'s interview of him, Gibson said:
<blockquote>I wanted it to be shocking; and I wanted it to be extreme...So that they see the enormity of that sacrifice; to see that someone could endure that and still come back with love and forgiveness, even through extreme pain and suffering and ridicule. The actual crucifixion was more violent than what was shown on the film, but I thought no one would get anything out of it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Critics have a problem with the Gospels, not with me: Gibson |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/645/critics-have-a-problem-with-the-gospels-not-with-me-gibson |work=[[Catholic News Agency]] |date=15 February 2004}}</ref></blockquote>

=== Accolades ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width: 99%"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:20%;"| Award
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[National Board of Review]]
| 2004
| Freedom of Expression Award
| ''The Passion of the Christ''
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Awards for 2004 |url=http://www.nbrmp.org/search/?search=Finding%20Neverland |website=National Board of Review |access-date=August 13, 2025 |archive-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813145503/http://www.nbrmp.org/search/?search=Finding%20Neverland |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> (tie)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[People’s Choice Awards]]
| 2004
| Favorite Motion Picture — Drama
|''The Passion of the Christ''
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Fahrenheit and Passion triumph at People's Choice awards|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/jan/10/awardsandprizes.news |website=The Guardian |date=January 10, 2005 |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Satellite Awards]]
| 2004
| Best Director
| Mel Gibson
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Mel Gibson Biography |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mel-gibson/bio/3030599316/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|  [[Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy]]
| 2004
| Best Film Actress
| [[Maia Morgenstern]] (as Mary, Mother of Jesus)
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Passion takes multicultural awards |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2004/0525/401628-thepassion/ |website=Rte |date=May 25, 2004 |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Golden Reel Award (Motion Picture Sound Editors)|Golden Reel Awards]]
| 2004
| Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film — Music
| Michael T. Ryan
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Golden Reel Winners Announced by MPSE |date=February 28, 2005 |url=https://www.mixonline.com/technology/golden-reel-winners-announced-mpse-381062 |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards]]
| 2004
| Top Box Office Films (Henry Mancini Award recognition)
| [[John Debney]] (composer)
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bond |first1=Jeff |title=John Debney, Emmy- and Oscar-Nominated Composer, Will Receive ASMAC Golden Score Award |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/john-debney-passion-christ-composer-824288/ |website=Hollywood Reporter |date=September 17, 2015 |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Hollywood Film Festival]]
| 2004
| Hollywood Producer of the Year
| Mel Gibson
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000154/awards|title=Mel Gibson|website=IMDb|access-date=February 1, 2019|archive-date=March 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312105453/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000154/awards?|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodawards.com/2004/10/hollywood-awards-and-the-winners-are-2/|title=Hollywood Awards ... and the winners are ...|date=October 19, 2004|website=Hollywood Film Awards|language=en|access-date=February 1, 2019|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202045601/https://www.hollywoodawards.com/2004/10/hollywood-awards-and-the-winners-are-2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[GMA Dove Awards]]
| 2004
| Instrumental Album of the Year (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
| John Debney / soundtrack team
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=John Debney - Passion Of The Christ (Coloured, Gold)P |url=https://www.vinylstore.gr/en/passion-of-the-christ-coloured-gold-p-5318.html |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Golden Eagle Award (Russia)|Golden Eagle Awards]] 
| 2005
| Best Foreign Language Film
| ''The Passion of the Christ''
| {{won}}
|<ref name="2004 nominations2">{{cite web|url=https://ruskino.ru/award/orel/2004|script-title=ru:Золотой Орел 2004|trans-title=Golden Eagle 2004|publisher=Ruskino.ru|access-date=March 6, 2017|language=ru|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225022346/https://ruskino.ru/award/orel/2004|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Movieguide|Movieguide Faith & Values Awards]] 
| 2005
| John Templeton Foundation Epiphany Prize (Most Inspirational Movie)
| ''The Passion of the Christ''
| {{won}}
|<<ref name=movieguide-2015/>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Movieguide|Movieguide Faith & Values Awards]] 
| 2005
| Grace Prize for Acting in a Movie
| [[Jim Caviezel]] (as Jesus Christ)
| {{won}}
|<ref name=movieguide-2015>{{cite web |title=2005 Movieguide® Awards Winners |url=https://movieguideawards.com/category/winners/ |access-date=October 11, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|[[Irish Film and Television Awards]]
| 2004
| [[2nd Irish Film & Television Awards#People's Choice Awards|Jameson People's Choice Award for Best International Film]]
| ''The Passion of the Christ''
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners of the 2nd Annual Irish Film & Television Awards |url=https://www.ifta.ie/awards/iftawinners2004.html |website=Ifta |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[MTV Movie Awards]]
| 2004
| [[MTV Movie Award for Best Performance#2000s|Best Male Performance]]
| Jim Caviezel
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Passion star nominated for MTV award |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30143863.html |website=Irish examiner |date=April 21, 2004 |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2004 MTV Movie Awards |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/2004-mtv-movie-awards-20040716-gdjcqd.html |website=Sydney Morning Herald |date=July 16, 2004 |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[77th Academy Awards]]
| 2005
| Best Cinematography
| [[Caleb Deschanel]]
| {{nom}}
|<ref name=cbn-snub/>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[77th Academy Awards]]
| 2005
| Best Makeup
| Keith Vanderlaan & Christien Tinsley
| {{nom}}
|<ref name=cbn-snub/>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[77th Academy Awards]]
| 2005
| Best Original Score
| John Debney
| {{nom}}
|<ref name=cbn-snub>{{cite web|last1=Carpenter |first1=Chris |title=The Snub of the Christ|url=https://secure.cbn.com/entertainment/screen/carpenter_snub_passion.aspx?mobile=false&q=entertainment/screen/carpenter_snub_passion.aspx |publisher=[[Christian Broadcasting Network]] (CBN) |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[American Society of Cinematographers]] 
| 2005
| [[2004 American Society of Cinematographers Awards#Nominees|Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases]] 
| Caleb Deschanel
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=30th Annual ASC Awards — 2015 |url=https://theasc.com/38th-asc-awards/past-nominees-winners |website=ASC |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards]]
| 2005
| [[10th Critics' Choice Awards#Best Film - Popular|Best Popular Movie]]
| ''The Passion of the Christ''
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=The Passion of the Christ Awards and festivals |url=https://mubi.com/en/films/the-passion-of-the-christ/awards |website=Mubi |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[Nastro d'Argento]] ([[:it:Nastri d'argento 2005|2005]]) 
| 2005
| [[Nastro d'Argento for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] 
| [[Monica Bellucci]]
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=May 9, 2017 |title=Monica Bellucci, nastro d'argento europeo |trans-title=Monica Bellucci, European silver ribbon |url=https://www.ansa.it/lifestyle/notizie/people/persone/2017/05/09/cinema-monica-bellucci-nastro-dargento-europeo_72e80892-b622-4811-9af6-09fa6743a988.html |url-status=live |language=it |work=[[Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204165138/https://www.ansa.it/lifestyle/notizie/people/persone/2017/05/09/cinema-monica-bellucci-nastro-dargento-europeo_72e80892-b622-4811-9af6-09fa6743a988.html |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Morgoglione |first=Claudia |date=January 22, 2005 |title=Gianni Amelio contro&nbsp;... |trans-title=Gianni Amelio against Sorrentino in the race for the Nastro d'Argento |url=https://www.repubblica.it/2005/a/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/nastri/nastri/nastri.html |url-status=live |language=it |work=[[la Repubblica]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050125095051/https://www.repubblica.it/2005/a/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/nastri/nastri/nastri.html |archive-date=January 25, 2005 |access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref>
|}

==Sequels==
{{main|The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One}}

 {{main|The Resurrection of the Christ: Part Two}}

In June 2016, writer [[Randall Wallace]] stated that he and Gibson had begun work on a sequel to ''The Passion of the Christ'' which will focus on the [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection]] and the events surrounding it.<ref name="Sequel_THR">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/mel-gibson-planning-passion-christ-901299/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|title=Mel Gibson Planning 'Passion of the Christ' Sequel (Exclusive)|author=Bond, Paul|date=June 9, 2016|accessdate=July 6, 2023|archive-date=July 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707162318/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/mel-gibson-planning-passion-christ-901299/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, Caviezel said that Gibson had sent him the third draft of the screenplay.<ref name="Sequel_Aleteia">{{cite news|last=Burger|first=John|title=Jim Caviezel to play Jesus again in sequel to 'The Passion of Christ'|url=https://aleteia.org/2020/09/25/jim-caviezel-to-play-jesus-again-in-sequel-to-the-passion-of-christ/|access-date=October 7, 2020|work=[[Aleteia]]|publisher=Aleteia SAS|date=September 25, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031122531/https://aleteia.org/2020/09/25/jim-caviezel-to-play-jesus-again-in-sequel-to-the-passion-of-christ/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Sequel_EI">{{cite news|last=Guno|first=Nina V.|title='Passion of the Christ 2' is coming, says Jim Caviezel|url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/391636/passion-of-the-christ-2-is-coming-says-jim-caviezel|access-date=October 7, 2020|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer|Inquirer Entertainment]]|publisher=INQUIRER.net|date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031122530/https://entertainment.inquirer.net/391636/passion-of-the-christ-2-is-coming-says-jim-caviezel|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, Caviezel said that it would be titled ''The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection'' and predicted, "It's going to be the biggest film in world history."<ref name="Sequel_CBN">{{cite web|url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2020/september/the-passion-of-the-christ-sequel-ahead-actor-says-it-will-be-biggest-film-in-world-history|work=Christian Broadcast Network|title='Resurrection': Actor Jim Caviezel Reveals Third Draft for 'Passion of The Christ' Sequel|author=Morris, Andrea|date=September 14, 2020|accessdate=July 6, 2023|archive-date=March 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319060331/https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2020/september/the-passion-of-the-christ-sequel-ahead-actor-says-it-will-be-biggest-film-in-world-history|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2023, Gibson stated that the sequel was "coming soon", and that he was working on two versions of the script, saying, "one of them is a very structured and very strong script, and kind of more what one should expect, and the other is like an [[acid trip]]."<ref name="Sequel_CS">{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1302836-the-passion-of-the-christ-2-is-like-an-acid-trip-mel-gibson|website=ComingSoon.net|title=The Passion of the Christ 2 Is 'Like an Acid Trip,' Says Mel Gibson|author=Dela Paz, Maggie|date=July 4, 2023|accessdate=July 6, 2023|archive-date=July 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706010042/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1302836-the-passion-of-the-christ-2-is-like-an-acid-trip-mel-gibson|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2024, Gibson had reportedly begun scouting various locations with a production team in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |date=September 19, 2024 |title=Mel Gibson Is Scouting Locations in Europe for 'The Passion of the Christ' Sequel |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/mel-gibson-scouting-locations-passion-of-the-christ-sequel-1236150494/ |access-date=September 19, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In January 2025, during an appearance on ''[[The Joe Rogan Experience]]'', Gibson announced the film's title as ''The Resurrection of the Christ''. When [[Joe Rogan|Rogan]] asked if he would be recasting the lead character, Gibson confirmed that Caviezel would reprise the role, and added that the use of [[Computer generated imagery|CGI]] and various [[special effect]]s would be used to allow the actor to [[De-aging|appear the same age]].<ref name="Sequel_Deadline">{{Cite web |last=Ntim |first=Zack |date=January 11, 2025 |title=Mel Gibson Says He Aims To Shoot 'The Resurrection Of The Christ' Next Year: "It's Very Ambitious" |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/mel-gibson-joe-rogan-the-resurrection-of-the-christ-very-ambitious-1236253457/ |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=January 11, 2025 |title=Mel Gibson Says 'Passion of the Christ' Sequel Will Journey to Hell: "It's an Acid Trip" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mel-gibson-passion-of-the-christ-sequel-update-1236106284/ |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-GB}}</ref> The title would be confirmed in May, with [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]] co-producing and distributing the film in North America. it was announced that [[Sony Pictures Releasing]] under its [[Columbia Pictures]] banner had picked up the international distribution rights for the first film, instead of [[Newmarket Films]]. with [[Walt Disney Pictures]] to distribute the film in Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/mel-gibson-resurrection-of-the-christ-lionsgate-icon-1236399604/|title=Mel Gibson Sets 'Resurrection Of The Christ' With Lionsgate; Follow-Up To Blockbuster 'The Passion Of The Christ'|last=Fleming Jr.|first=Mike|date=May 15, 2025|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref> and Caviezel ultimately being recast with [[Jaakko Ohtonen]] due to budget concerns over digital deageing, with the film having an all-new cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/mel-gibson-resurrection-of-the-christ-new-jesus-mary-magdalene-1236552209/|title=Mel Gibson's 'Resurrection of the Christ' Finds New Jesus and Mary Magdalene in Jaakko Ohtonen and Mariela Garriga, Reveals Main Cast (EXCLUSIVE)|first=Nick|last=Vivarelli|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 14, 2025|access-date=October 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000011559849.html|title=Jaakko Ohtonen näyttelee Jeesusta Mel Gibsonin uudessa elokuvassa|trans-title=Jaakko Ohtonen plays Jesus in Mel Gibson's new film|first=Sara|last=Harju|website=[[Helsingin Sanomat]]|date=October 14, 2025|access-date=October 14, 2025|language=fi}}</ref> In August 2025, Lionsgate officially announced that two sequels were in development, with ''Part One'' scheduled to release on [[Good Friday]] 2027 (March 26), and ''Part Two'' on [[Ascension Day]] 2027 (May 6).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=August 5, 2025 |title=Mel Gibson's 'The Resurrection Of The Christ' Split Into Two Movies; Release Dates Set For Both |url=https://deadline.com/2025/08/the-resurrection-of-the-christ-release-dates-lionsgate-1236479264/ |access-date=August 5, 2025 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Depiction of Jesus]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==

{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb title|0335345|The Passion of the Christ}}
* {{Mojo title|passionofthechrist|The Passion of the Christ}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=The Passion of the Christ}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|passion_of_the_christ|The Passion of the Christ}}

{{Mel Gibson}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Passion Of The Christ}}
[[Category:The Passion of the Christ| ]]
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:2004 drama films]]
[[Category:2004 independent films]]
[[Category:2004 multilingual films]]
[[Category:2004 American films]]
[[Category:2000s Hebrew-language films]]
[[Category:American drama films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
[[Category:American multilingual films]]
[[Category:American religious epic films]]
[[Category:Aramaic-language films]]
[[Category:Caiaphas]]
[[Category:Censored films]]
[[Category:Christianity-related controversies in film]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Judas Iscariot]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Pontius Pilate]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Saint Peter]]
[[Category:Demons in film]]
[[Category:The Devil in film]]
[[Category:Film portrayals of Jesus' death and resurrection]]
[[Category:Films about capital punishment]]
[[Category:Films about Christianity]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mel Gibson]]
[[Category:Films produced by Bruce Davey]]
[[Category:Films produced by Mel Gibson]]
[[Category:Films set in 1st-century Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Films scored by John Debney]]
[[Category:Films shot at Cinecittà Studios]]
[[Category:Films shot in Matera]]
[[Category:Films shot in Rome]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Mel Gibson]]
[[Category:Golden Eagle Award (Russia) for Best Foreign Language Film winners]]
[[Category:Icon Productions films]]
[[Category:Islam-related controversies]]
[[Category:Judaism-related controversies]]
[[Category:Latin-language films]]
[[Category:Newmarket films]]
[[Category:Films about Jesus]]
[[Category:Portrayals of Mary Magdalene in film]]
[[Category:Portrayals of Mary, mother of Jesus, in film]]
[[Category:Religious controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:Scanbox Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Films about torture]]
[[Category:American splatter films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Herod Antipas]]
[[Category:Flagellation of Christ]]
[[Category:Films set in Israel]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=The Passion of the Christ|access_date=2026-03-07}}