The Passion of the Christ
Newmarket Films | Release Date: February 25, 2004 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
47
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 44 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
20
Negative:
9
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
This is not a sermon or a homily, but a visualization of the central event in the Christian religion. Take it or leave it. Read full review
90
L.A. WeeklyScott Foundas
Gibson has made a big, bold, nightmarishly beautiful film not just about the dawn of the Christian faith, but about the awful tendency of human communities (wherever and whenever in the world they may exist) toward self-preservation, intolerance and mob rule. Read full review
88
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
A gripping, powerful motion picture -- arguably the most forceful depiction of Jesus' death ever to be committed to film. It leaves an indelible imprint on the psyche; viewers of this movie may never look at a crucifix in quite the same way. Read full review
80
VarietyTodd McCarthy
If an age produces the renditions of classic stories that reflect those times, then The Passion of the Christ, which is violent, contentious, emotional, extreme and highly proficient, must be the Jesus movie for this era. Read full review
80
TimeRichard Corliss
A serious, handsome, excruciating film that radiates total commitment. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
It's a strange kind of spiritual movie -- one that aims for the gut more often than the heart. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Tempting as it may be to dismiss Mel Gibson as a glorified pain freak, dressing up a martyrdom fantasy in Aramaic and Latin, it would be more accurate, I think, to say that the filmmaker, a Catholic fundamentalist, presents his torture-racked vision of Jesus' last 12 hours on earth as a sacred form of shock therapy. Read full review
75
USA TodayClaudia Puig
There is enlightenment -- even stark poetry -- in The Passion. Read full review
75
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
Stunning in its violence and fascinating in its ironbound focus. Read full review
75
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Powerfully moving and fanatically obtuse in equal doses. The typical star rating doesn't apply, because scenes range from classic to poor and all stops in between. Read full review
75
New York PostLou Lumenick
A highly personal, provocative and in some ways riveting vision with an inspired performance by Jim Caviezel as Jesus. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
It's not the most flattering depiction of Jews I've seen. Still, The Passion of the Christ is something of a masterpiece, terrible to behold, unfit for children, certainly, but very much the work of a director in the throes of his own distinct passion. Read full review
63
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
The main message of this drama is driven home with emotional hammer blows. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Seems to be exactly the movie Mel Gibson wanted to make as an abiding profession of his traditionalist Catholic faith. On that score it is a success. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
More spirit and grace and less blood and guts may be what Passion needs. Read full review
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