Mel Gibson The Passion of Christ returns to theaters in September in a newly remastered format, generating anticipation for the long-awaited sequel due out next year.
leonsgate and Depth entertainment will bring the biblical drama back to the big screen from September 10 to 17, newly remastered in 4K with Dolby Atmos sound.
Ticket buyers will also receive an advance The resurrection of Christ: part onewhich Lionsgate describes as Gibson’s “most ambitious cinematic achievement” and the “largest film about faith ever brought to the screen.”
Kevin Grayson, president of worldwide distribution for Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said the reissue was aimed at giving existing fans a new experience while reaching a new generation.
“The Passion of Christ remains one of the most extraordinary theatrical experiences ever created. For millions of people, it was much more than a movie: it became a powerful shared cultural and faith experience.
“Bringing it back to theaters with a stunning new restoration allows longtime audiences to experience it in a whole new way and invites a new generation to discover it in theaters for the first time.”
The sequel has been divided into two installments.
The first part opens on May 6, 2027 and the second part on May 25, 2028, each debuting on Ascension Daythe Christian holiday that marks the ascension of Jesus to heaven.
The sequel picks up where the original left off, focusing on the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion.
The original film starred Jim Caviezel as Jesus and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, covering the last twelve hours before the crucifixion.
The sequel features new lead actors, with Jaakko Ohtonen and Mariela Garriga taking on the central roles, alongside Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio and Rupert Everett.
He Passion of Christ It remains one of the most commercially notable films ever made, grossing $610 million worldwide against a production budget of $30 million.
It held the record for highest-grossing R-rated domestic release of all time with $370 million until Disney’s release. Deadpool and Wolverine it surpassed it with $636 million domestically in 2024.
Fathom CEO Ray Nutt noted the film’s lasting cultural importance.
“Twenty years ago, both religious audiences and more secular audiences embraced Mel Gibson’s cinematic masterpiece and made it a true hit, ushering in an era of opportunity for future religious-themed projects.”
Gibson’s latest directorial effort, the Mark Wahlberg thriller Risk of escapeIt grossed just $48 million worldwide last year.
He Resurrection of Christ represents his most ambitious return to the director’s chair since Hacksaw ridge in 2016.
