The Passion of the Christ

film by Gibson [2004]

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June 17, 2026

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The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 film directed by Mel Gibson that depicts the final 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life, from his arrest to his crucifixion. The film is based primarily on the biblical Gospels and features dialogue in Aramaic and Latin with English subtitles.12

While a box office success, the film faced criticism for alleged antisemitism, excessive violence, and its theological message. Portraying Jesus in film presents challenges due to the nature of the Gospels as non-biographical sources, differing interpretations of Jesus's significance, and the depiction of miracles. The Passion of the Christ attempts to navigate these by focusing on a specific, intense period of Jesus's life.12

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Christology
Film
Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ (2004) avoids some of the problems attending a film on Jesus by concentrating on the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life, from his arrest to his Crucifixion. The film was criticized, however, for alleged antisemitism, excessive gore and violence, and…
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Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ (2004) avoids some of the problems attending a film on Jesus by concentrating on the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life, from his arrest to his Crucifixion. The film was criticized, however, for alleged antisemitism, excessive gore and violence, and…
Read More

Mel Gibson
… (2002)—Gibson returned to directing with The Passion of the Christ (2004), an account of the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life that was based primarily on the biblical Gospels, with dialogue in Aramaic and Latin (with English subtitles). Although The Passion was a box office success, among the top-grossing…
Read More
… (2002)—Gibson returned to directing with The Passion of the Christ (2004), an account of the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life that was based primarily on the biblical Gospels, with dialogue in Aramaic and Latin (with English subtitles). Although The Passion was a box office success, among the top-grossing…
Read More

Blessed Anna Katharina Emmerick
…controversial and highly successful film The Passion of the Christ (2004).
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…controversial and highly successful film The Passion of the Christ (2004).
Read More