10 Trivia Facts You May Not Know About "The Passion of the Christ"
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

10 Trivia Facts You May Not Know About "The Passion of the Christ"

Let's Go Behind The Scenes Of The Bloodiest Easter Movie Of All Time

8551
10 Trivia Facts You May Not Know About "The Passion of the Christ"
Wonderland

If growing up, your family was even remotely religious, chances are you’ve seen Mel Gibson’s 2004 movie “The Passion of the Christ” starring Jim Caviezel. So, in honor of the Easter season, I compiled a list of 10 trivia facts you might not have known about the movie.

1. In their June 2006 issue, “Entertainment Weekly” named the “The Passion of the Christ” the most controversial film of all time.

2. Though Jesus is considered an important prophet, Muslims do not believe he was crucified.

Because of this, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain all banned the film; yet, the movie broke box-office records in countries like Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria. And in Israel, though they never officially banned the movie, no distribution company would touch it due to national sentiment that the movie was anti-semitic.

3. The film is the highest grossing R-rated film in the U.S with $370,782,930.

Though “Deadpool” might have something to say about that in the next month.

4. Mel Gibson basically paid for the entire film himself—$30 million—because no production company wanted to touch the project.

5. Gibson wanted the film to feel as authentic as possible.

Originally, there were to be no subtitles and no soundtrack so the audience’s attention would be focused entirely on the actors. He was later convinced otherwise; subtitles were added and John Debney was hired to compose the score, which was eventually nominated for an Academy Award.

6. The actors had to learn the phonetics of Aramaic, Latin, and a few short lines of Hebrew.

The language that would have actually been used in the region would have been Koine Greek, but there wasn’t enough source material to attempt shooting the entire film in that language. Also, some of the crude jokes or curses the Roman soldiers said were not translated in the English subtitles.

7. Jim Caviezel, who actually is Roman Catholic, shares the same initials as Jesus Christ.

He was also 33 when he did the role—the same age that it is commonly believed Jesus was when he was crucified.

8. Speaking of Jim Caveziel, he endured a period of horrible luck while making of the film. Coincidence?

During the making of “The Passion of the Christ,” Caveziel was struck by lightning and accidentally scourged twice (one incident left a 14-inch scar on his back). He dislocated his shoulder after the 150-pound cross landed on him; suffered pneumonia and hypothermia after hanging half-naked for most of the day shooting the crucifixion scenes; would regularly wake up at 2 am to apply makeup for eight to ten hours; and, to top it all off, he had to have heart surgery after production ended due to extreme stress.

9. There are also some interesting tidbits about the other actors.


During the production, Luca Lionello (Judas Iscariot) converted from atheism to Catholicism. Maia Morgenstern (Mary, the mother of Jesus) is a Jewish actress whose parents both survived the Holocaust. Rosalinda Celentano (Satan) ate only beans and rice until after the completion of production so she would look malnourished.

10. Mel Gibson pulled a Peter Jackson, making a cameo in his own film.

His hands are the ones seen nailing Jesus to the cross and tying Judas’ noose.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

92420
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

70964
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments