Changes

Gibson was not even able to find a major distributor for his film.  For a year before the movie was even released, and well before it was first previewed or seen, attacks on the movie began starting with a ''New York Times'' story attacking Gibson's father in March 2003.  This turned out to be coupled with personal attacks on Mel Gibson with such titles as "Krazy Mel" and more attacks on his father and on Gibson's choice of church to worship. Calls to Gibson to denounce his father for his views, most famously in the Diane Sawyer television interview, were ignored by him.  The ''New York Times'' continued with an ongoing campaign against Mel Gibson and his family.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E4D61F3CF93AA35750C0A9659C8B63</ref><ref>http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/9/20/215906.shtml</ref><ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E6D8133EF931A3575BC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2</ref>

Gibson was not even able to find a major distributor for his film.  For a year before the movie was even released, and well before it was first previewed or seen, attacks on the movie began starting with a ''New York Times'' story attacking Gibson's father in March 2003.  This turned out to be coupled with personal attacks on Mel Gibson with such titles as "Krazy Mel" and more attacks on his father and on Gibson's choice of church to worship. Calls to Gibson to denounce his father for his views, most famously in the Diane Sawyer television interview, were ignored by him.  The ''New York Times'' continued with an ongoing campaign against Mel Gibson and his family.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E4D61F3CF93AA35750C0A9659C8B63</ref><ref>http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/9/20/215906.shtml</ref><ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E6D8133EF931A3575BC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2</ref>

Nevertheless, the movie went on to be a blockbuster grossing over $370 million in the U.S. and over $600 million worldwide,<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm</ref> an especially unheard of showing for the time of the year it was released (it was released around Easter; most major films are released either in summer or near Christmas).  Cries of [[anti-Semitism]] were largely silenced as people saw the movie.  With so many critics denouncing the movie without having seen it, Mel did an end around and went directly to church pastors, who were almost unanimously supportive and told their congregations.<ref>http://www.sharethepassionofthechrist.com/links/Endorsements.pdf</ref>  The movie had more pre-ticket sales than any film in history.<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/trivia</ref> Monetarily, it was the most successful Christian film ever.<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm</ref>   

Nevertheless, the movie went on to be a blockbuster grossing over $370 million in the U.S. and over $600 million worldwide,<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm</ref> an especially unheard of showing for the time of the year it was released <ref>It was released around Easter; most major films are released either in summer or near Christmas; however, the release date allowed it to capture the #1 box-office ranking on its release weekend and it would rank #1 for three additional weekends.</ref>.  Cries of [[anti-Semitism]] were largely silenced as people saw the movie.  With so many critics denouncing the movie without having seen it, Mel did an end around and went directly to church pastors, who were almost unanimously supportive and told their congregations.<ref>http://www.sharethepassionofthechrist.com/links/Endorsements.pdf</ref>  The movie had more pre-ticket sales than any film in history.<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/trivia</ref> Monetarily, it was the most successful Christian film ever.<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm</ref>   

For Mel Gibson it was a personal affair.  Thick-skinned by the nature of the business, he still did not expect the virulent attacks.

For Mel Gibson it was a personal affair.  Thick-skinned by the nature of the business, he still did not expect the virulent attacks.