The Passion of the Christ

The Passion of the Christ
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mel Gibson
Produced by	Bruce Davey Mel Gibson Stephen McEveety Enzo Sisti
Screenplay by	Mel Gibson Benedict Fitzgerald Translation: William Fulco
Based on	The Passion in the New Testament of the Bible
Starring	Jim Caviezel Monica Bellucci Claudia Gerini Maia Morgenstern Sergio Rubini
Music by	John Debney
Cinematography	Caleb Deschanel
Edited by	John Wright
Production company	Icon Productions
Distributed by	Newmarket Films
Release date	February 25, 2004 (2004-02-25)
Running time	126 minutes Recut: 121 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Aramaic Latin Hebrew
Budget	$30 million
Box office	$612 million

The Passion of the Christ (also known simply as The Passion) is a 2004 American biblical epic drama film directed by Mel Gibson, written by Gibson and Benedict Fitzgerald, and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It also draws on pious accounts such as the Friday of Sorrows along with other devotional writings, such as the reputed Marian apparitions attributed to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.

The film primarily covers the final twelve hours of Jesus' life, beginning with the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, the insomnia and grievance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and ending with a brief depiction of his resurrection. Flashbacks of Jesus as a child and as a young man with Mary his mother, giving the Sermon on the Mount, teaching the Twelve Apostles, and at the Last Supper are some of the most notable images depicted. The film was shot in Italy, and the dialogue is entirely in reconstructed Aramaic, vernacular Hebrew, and Latin with subtitles.