10 April 2012
Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of The Christ has defied critics by taking more than £60million in ticket sales in its first five days.
It makes the movie by the Catholic actor-producer - released in the U.S, last Wednesday - the fifth-biggest five-day opener in cinema history. It is also expected to become the top February earner of all time, beating Hannibal, which took £31million in 2001.
Despite the film being attacked as anti-Semitic, Gibson is considering releasing it each year before Easter. He believes new audiences will be keen to see the bloodsoaked account of Jesus's last hours before his crucifixion.
