Gibson’s billion-dollar ‘Passion’

“The Passion of the Christ” tallied $53.2 million Friday through Sunday, $1.8 million more than its distributor Newmarket predicted. As a result, its second-weekend drop was less than originally estimated. With a total of $213.9 million and counting, the film’s domestic tally could easily reach $350 million. With conservative predictions of at least that much for its foreign theatrical run and the same amount again, or more, for its home video release, the movie’s potential revenue climbs to $1 billion, and that doesn’t include soundtrack, book sales or merchandising. Although theater owners’ share of the grosses, marketing costs, film-print costs and other expenses will take a significant chunk of that, Mel Gibson’s $30-million production investment has paid off -- handsomely.

Post-Oscar ceremony bumps of 40% for best picture “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and 6% for best actress Charlize Theron’s “Monster” pushed both films into the top 10.

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*--* Movie 3-day Total Venues Average Weeks (Studio) Gross (Millions) Per Venue 1 The Passion of the $53.2 $213.9 3,170 $16,797 2 Christ (Newmarket)

2 Starsky & Hutch $28.1 $28.1 3,185 $8,824 1 (Warner Bros.)

3 Hidalgo (Buena Vista) $18.8 $18.8 3,063 $6,147 1

4 50 First Dates (Sony) $7.6 $99.3 3,040 $2,512 4

5 Twisted (Paramount) $5.1 $16.5 2,704 $1,896 2

6 Confessions of a $4.0 $21.8 2,180 $1,856 3 Teenage Drama Queen (Buena Vista)

7 The Lord of the Rings: $3.0 $368.2 1,903 $1,596 12 The Return of the King (New Line)

8 Dirty Dancing: Havana $2.9 $10.1 2,042 $1,451 2 Nights (Lions Gate)

9 Miracle (Buena Vista) $2.5 $59.8 1,654 $1,538 5

10 Monster (Newmarket) $2.1 $30.0 1,082 $1,963 11

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Source: Nielsen EDI