DaVinci Code surpasses Passion Worldwide

[DKW 86 7,437]

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/da-v...sion-worldwide/

I'm told that Da Vinci Code is still red hot overseas and set another benchmark: passing The Passion of the Christ globally with $642 million compared to $623 million, making Sony's religious thriller the 26th biggest all-time hit. As far as foreign box office, all the Hollywood studios expected deep slides because of the ongoing World Cup action. But Da Vinci added another $22 mil internationally, making it the #1 movie for the fourth week in a row and putting its foreign take at over $453 million. In the U.S., Da Vinci mustered 6th place with slightly less $10.3 mil for a domestic cumulative of $189.0 mil, which is still far less than Mel Gibson's religious homage took in from American moviegoers. But Da Vinci's $189 mil domestic/$453 mil foreign winning formula proved enough to surge past Passion's $370 mil domestic/$253 mil foreign.

That, my friends, is why so many objected to TDC when it was first released. I bet more than not believe it is actually non-fiction or a fictionailized story of a non-fiction reality.

[bigsixfive 328]

Whats the average cost of a movie now compared to then? Its probably not much different, but could account for some increased earnings. I'm convinced that's the only way movies keep breaking records... its not that many people are going to see the movie, its the fact that those who do are paying 3 and 4 times what previous record holding movies went for.

Also, was the Passion released everywhere like the DC was? Movies like United 93 and End of the Spear were limited release, which is a shame. United 93 was hardly shown in theatres, but is supposedly a great move. Its one of the highest rated on rottentomatoes.com (while DC is one of the lowest rated).

[CCTAU 3,336]

What is the comparison for here in the US? We already know that most of the world is either heathen or muslim. any movie that could possibly disprove the bible and make it look like Jesus married a crack-whore and had a child by her would be enticing to non-believers. Only his sheep hear his voice. If not his voice then whose?

[vatz22au 142]

Whats the average cost of a movie now compared to then?  Its probably not much different, but could account for some increased earnings.  I'm convinced that's the only way movies keep breaking records... its not that many people are going to see the movie, its the fact that those who do are paying 3 and 4 times what previous record holding movies went for.

Also, was the Passion released everywhere like the DC was?  Movies like United 93 and End of the Spear were limited release, which is a shame.  United 93 was hardly shown in theatres, but is supposedly a great move.  Its one of the highest rated on rottentomatoes.com (while DC is one of the lowest rated).

239979[/snapback]

I disagree about United 93 being a great movie. I thought it was horribly done. I think people tend to make it a "great" movie just because of the cause it was subject to.

Honestly, they could've done alot better with United 93... and I am just viewing this as a movie critic.... not some terrorist loving SOB.

[AURaptor 1,125]

Hey, i only saw Da Vinci once. Honest!

[AUJarhead 70]

Hey, i only saw Da Vinci once. Honest!

240057[/snapback]

Yeah, right. How long before you take down the picture of the Serenity crew, and replace it with Tom Hanks?

[AURaptor 1,125]

Hey, i only saw Da Vinci once. Honest!

240057[/snapback]

Yeah, right. How long before you take down the picture of the Serenity crew, and replace it with Tom Hanks?

240059[/snapback]

I'm gonna do you a favor and pretend I didn't read that post, AUJarhead.

and to whom it may concern... xbox live handle = HEROofCANTON

[quietfan 233]

Of course there's also the possibility that some people went to see The DaVinci Code knowing it's a fictional suspense thriller and they just thought it might be a good show. That will be my case if I go to see it (haven't found the time yet). Of course now I hear a lot of critics have said it's not such a great movie from the entertainment standpoint. But still, sometimes a story is just a story and we don't have to read significant religious meaning into everything.

By contrast, I never saw Passion, basically because I knew the story and didn't feel any particular curiosity about seeing Mel Gibson's interpretation of it.

[Tiger Al 0]

Of course there's also the possibility that some people went to see The DaVinci Code knowing it's a fictional suspense thriller and they just thought it might be a good show.  That will be my case if I go to see it (haven't found the time yet).  Of course now I hear a lot of critics have said it's not such a great movie from the entertainment standpoint.  But still, sometimes a story is just a story and we don't have to read significant religious meaning into everything.

By contrast, I never saw Passion, basically because I knew the story and didn't feel any particular curiosity about seeing Mel Gibson's interpretation of it.

240126[/snapback]

Aw, come on, Q!!! That's not a very sexy response!!! You know as well as I do that hidden in those box office numbers is an anti-Christian assault just waiting to be uncovered!!!

[Ranger12 46]

I have read the book, because I feel it is better to comment about something like that if I am familiar with what is in it. I feel like if Brown would not have made his statement that it was a work of fiction based around factual historical events, it would have been a good book and even sold more copies then it did. Instead, he ticked alot of Christians off, including the powerful Catholic Church (this is one fo the few times I am their corner).

I am into alternative history books (I enjoy Harry Turteldoves' series of books), but I read them as fiction and not fact, as it should be. The DVC could have been just like that and I would not have gotten offended if the author would have left it at that. I would have read it as a "what if" type of book and would have not saw anything that questioned my faith. But, it is very hard to read it that way when in the front of the book, they author tries to convince me that this fictional book is based upon facts, only the leading characters are fiction.

It is ironic that the DVC has broke this record seeing how just about everybody that has seen it and also read the book said it stinks. I guess that did not matter because their purchased ticket went right into the box office sales numbers anyway. When it comes to the whole debate about the book, there are times that I think us conservative Christians are better off keeping quiet and this was one of those times. Christians gave this so much free publicity that people that may have initially had any interest in the book now wanted to read it. There are times to speak up and stand up against something, then there are times to keep quiet so that you do not help that something. I think sometimes, as conservative Christians, we get overzealous and forget what we are supposed to do, that is be ambassadors of Christ and to minister to the lost. However, sometimes we sweat the small stuff and overlook the important stuff. We get caught up in our "movements" against anti-Christian groups and ideas, that we forget to minister to the lost and hurting soul, to comfort the widow, feed the hungry, clothe the poor. There is nothing wrong with doing both, but if you forget the later, then you have nothing to stand on when it comes to the former.

Off my soapbox now.

[quietfan 233]

However, sometimes we sweat the small stuff and overlook the important stuff. We get caught up in our "movements" against anti-Christian groups and ideas, that we forget to minister to the lost and hurting soul, to comfort the widow, feed the hungry, clothe the poor. There is nothing wrong with doing both, but if you forget the later, then you have nothing to stand on when it comes to the former.

Off my soapbox now.

240135[/snapback]

Can it be? Ranger and I actually agreeing on something? Actually, I think that's a fine soapbox you're on in this case.

[but be careful--keep saying things like "minister to the lost", "feed the hungry", and "clothe the poor" and someone might accuse you of being one of those liberal pinko- socialists ]

* * * *

On the general subject of Brown claiming TDC is based on fact...

Well, that is a pretty broad statement. Certainly there are some facts in the story: the Templars actually existed, for example; the disciple John in DaVinci's Last Supper does look rather feminine; and Opus Dei is a real organization. So even though the whole "Priory of Sion, child of Magdalene & Christ, an evil Opus Dei, etc" stuff may be total BS, it's not a complete lie to say something as general as "based in part on historical facts". Deceptive and misleading perhaps, but not a total lie.

[Ranger12 46]

Hey, if somebody wants to call me a liberal-pinko for those comments, then so be it. Good thing is that I don't answer to them, but I do have to answer to my Savior someday.

Yeah, the part about the Knights Templar and some of that other stuff is true, but Brown took it a step further by saying all the other stuff is true also. Like I said, I think Brown got some free publicity and sold more books at the expense of the debate about his book, whereas if it would have been ignored, it would not have been in the headlines so much. I think the story would have made a non-believer, that gave any serious thought about the supposed "facts" in the book, some interest to look into history of Christ some more and then would have found out the truth. The Bible tells us that if you seek the truth, you will find it. I put more faith in the Word of God then I do an "movement' any day.