Passion Recut Opens To Empty Theaters
Although edited in hopes of attracting a wider audience, Mel Gibson's "The Passion Re-cut," which grossed $370 million last year, pulled in a meager $239,850 despite playing in nearly 960 theaters.
Although edited in hopes of attracting a wider audience, Mel Gibson's "The Passion Re-cut" opened to mostly empty theaters this weekend, having an average of less than ten people per showing. The film, which grossed $370 million last year, pulled in a meager $239, 850 despite playing in nearly 960 theaters.
Gibson said he recut the movie for people who were put off by the brutality of the original, which explicitly depicted Christ's scourging and crucifixion. But the fact that the original is available on DVD has limited theatrical prospects for the recut edition.
The head of distribution for Newmarket Films, which released the original and recut versions, expressed disappointment, but said he hopes more movie-goers will turn out as Easter approaches.
