One of the most controversial films ever made, The Passion Of The Christ, is turning the box-office into a tabernacle of gold, having grossed at least $15 million on the opening day on Wednesday, according to distributor Newmarket Films.

Mel Gibson's directorial venture, which got rapped by critics for its excruciatingly gory details of torture, grossed more than what the next 50 films collected on the same day in North America. The Adam Sandler hit 50 First Dates, which was the second highest grossing film on Wednesday, earned about $1 million.

While many Christian groups across the country flocked to the theaters to see The Passion, the film also drew moviegoers who were curious and others who wanted to see a new film. Over the five-day period, the film that was made for about $30 million, may gross $50 million and become profitable in two weeks.

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The Passion raised $7 million in matinee ticket sales alone in the United States and Canada on Wednesday, said Rob Schwartz, head of distribution for Newmarket Films.

Though Gibson is an Oscar winning director (Braveheart) and has big clout with the Hollywood establishment because of his credentials as a $20 million per film star and his immense worldwide popularity, the major Hollywood studios refused to release or finance the film. Gibson put down his own finance.

Hollywood honchos were worried over the allegations that the film showed Jewish people in bad light without any redeeming features. They also feared that the film could fuel anti-Jewish feelings by giving the impression that the Jews were collectively responsible for the death of Christ. But Gibson has repeatedly said he is not anti-Jewish.

One of America's most influential religious leaders, the Roman Catholic Cardinal Edward Egan of New York spoke against anti-Semitism in a column distributed to the archdiocese's 413 parishes, according to Reuters. His message in part: "He [Christ] gave His life for us. No one took it from Him. This is, and has always been, Catholic doctrine." He did not go into details about the Gibson film.

Mel Gibson describes himself as an observing and devout Catholic who doesn't like to miss the obligatory Sunday mass.

Newmarket, which has successfully distributed small arthouse hits such as the Oscar-nominated Whale Rider ($20 million in America) and Monster ($24 million and climbing) has never distributed a film on such a grand scale as The Passion. Monster, for instance, is currently showing in some 1,000 theatres, thanks to the Oscar nomination for Charlize Theron. The Passion, on the other hand, was released in more than 3,000 theaters, as the buzz for the film got hotter day by day during the past two weeks.

The film, starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, is a bloody depiction of Christ's final hours and crucifixion. Critics were passionate about condemning and applauding the film.

In Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Phil Kloer wrote: 'This is a movie so singular, so intense, so overwhelming that it simply has to be experienced.'

But Boston Globe, which is owned by The New York Times, trashed the film, with Ty Burr saying: 'If Passion is powerful, it is only through the bludgeoning, forensic intensity with which the film dwells on Christ's suffering.'

A O Scott concluded in The Times that the film 'is so relentlessly focused on the savagery of Jesus' final hours that this film seems to arise less from love than from wrath...'

In Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert was quite generous: 'I was moved by the depth of feeling, by the skill of the actors and technicians, by their desire to see this project through no matter what.'

Among the trade publications, Kirk Honeycutt gave a pan in Hollywood Reporter: 'This graphic depiction of the crucifixion of Christ misses any spiritual meaning to this seismic event.'

Among the New York publications, the New York Post gave a guarded welcome. Lou Lumenick felt that it is 'a highly personal, provocative and in some ways riveting vision with an inspired performance by Jim Caviezel as Jesus.'

If the ecstatic welcome the film received on the opening day is sustained in the coming weeks, Gibson would have proved his critics wrong. Its success may also transform Newmarket into a major player that took a great risk and came out as a big winner.

Wonder what would Hollywood's reaction be if the film gets into the Oscar nominations next year?

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