NewsMine — propoganda — bible — the-passion — Viewing Item

Passion returns to box office for easter Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040412-123908-6617r.htm http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040412-123908-6617r.htm 'Passion' returns to top of box office LOS ANGELES (AP) — Many Christians made "The Passion of the Christ" a part of their Easter weekend, moving the Crucifixion saga back to the top box-office spot with $17.1 million. Mel Gibson's retelling of Jesus' final hours raised its domestic total since opening on Ash Wednesday to $354.8 million, passing "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" for the No. 8 spot on the all-time domestic charts, just behind "Jurassic Park." "The Passion" had been No. 1 its first three weekends, then fell back in the pack for the next three before raising itself to the top of the box-office heap — a rare feat. "That's unprecedented. I've never seen that before. 'The Passion' is just rewriting box-office history," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "This is a holy day, and this movie is tailor-made for a weekend like this. It's not just a movie. It's a religious experience for many people," he said. "The Passion" easily fended off a rush of new movies. Disney's costly historical epic "The Alamo" opened weakly with $9.2 million, tying for No. 3 with Cedric the Entertainer's comedy "Johnson Family Vacation," according to studio estimates yesterday. The figures covered sales Friday through yesterday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Final figures will be released today. Other studios actually were tracking "Johnson Family Vacation" slightly ahead of "The Alamo," which could finish in fourth place when final numbers come out. Making comparisons worse, "Johnson Family Vacation" put up the same numbers while playing in only half as many theaters as "The Alamo." Finishing ahead of "The Alamo" was the previous weekend's top movie, "Hellboy," which came in at No. 2 with $11.1 million. Newmarket Films, which distributed Mr. Gibson's "The Passion," had expected Easter and Good Friday, the holiest time of the year for Christians, to provide a solid bump for the film. Rob Schwartz, Newmarket head of distribution, said "The Passion" is expected to finish with at least $380 million and could top $400 million.

Adl attacks gibson film { July 22 2003 } Adl concern gibson film { August 11 2003 } Adl stance on passion questioned { November 14 2003 } Critics apologise to mel Film distributed independently europe { October 10 2003 } Fox doesnt want gibson film { August 30 2003 } French jews failed to get passion banned { March 29 2004 } Furor just before gibson passion opens Gibson breaks hollywood 10 commands { March 17 2004 } Gibson spewing anti semitism Gibson to delete a scene in passion { February 4 2004 } Gibsons passion hit among arabs { April 4 2004 } Jewish leaders condemn gibson films depiction of jews { January 22 2004 } Lightning strikes gibsons christ Mel gibson movie causes stir { August 2 2003 } Mel gibsons father says holocaust was exaggerated { February 19 2004 } Mostile mood awaits gibson passion in france Passion a hit in beirut damascus Passion gets special treatment in egypt { April 1 2004 } Passion returns to box office for easter Passion works miracles at box office { March 30 2004 } Pastor creates furor with sign blaming jews { February 26 2004 } Pope dod not endorse movie says aide Pope says it is as it was { December 17 2003 } Vatican thumbs up Weary french get film distribution thanks to arab { March 2 2004 } Who killed jesus Will hollywood snub passion or fahrenheit 911 Files Listed: 28

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.