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

8604
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.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

187102
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

12911
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456401
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25702
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments