I'm gonna leave all the deep talk alone and just update on the box office figures...
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It's official, Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ earned an impressive $26.6 million Wednesday. The figure includes $3 million from special screenings of the film on Monday and Tuesday. The R-rated film opened in 3,006 theaters and averaged a big $8,835 per theater.
"Passion" now marks the third-biggest Wednesday opening ever and the largest for a non-sequel. Only The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($34.5 million) and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace ($28.5 million) had bigger Wednesday openings. The Matrix Reloaded is the only R-rated film to make more ($42.5 million) on its first day, which was a Thursday including previews. Spider-Man holds the single-day record of $43.6 million
Gibson put up the film's $25 million budget out of his own pocket. After theater owners take their cut, about half of the box office take will come back to Gibson, who then pays Newmarket a percentage fee for distribution.
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