Chronic Murmuring

Since the movie is going to evangelize folks, I would suggest to him that he should use his money to support our church's building campaign.

This has already started to be the next big criticism of the film by its opponents. People will be saying he knew all along how much money he'd make and that he played the controversy for the sake of making more money. They will try to put his motives for making the film into question. I seriously doubt Gibson thought the movie would do this well at the box office, though.

It will be interesting to see if he makes any public statements about the financials, and also to see if he just pockets the money or puts any of it towards Christian or other charitable causes.

Ya, I want him to kick down some cash for our building fund.

who that reads this blog genuinely thinks he did it for the money? please tell me....:/

I don't think any of us think that. I certainly don't. However, I do think that will be the accusation of cynical members of the media.

I don't think so. But it would be good, I think, if he gave some of the money to charitable causes.

But just tithing on it would be enough to satisfy me :)

I think he probably had an idea it would be commercially successful, although I don't think he anticipated something like this (though he definitely hoped for it). If you look at how the movie was marketed, it is very purposeful. The movie was prescreened among people who would generate national buzz among conservatives and religious people. I think it becoming a hit isn't accidental, in the sense that Gibson wanted it to succeed commercially. But I don't think any filmmaker can *make* a movie become a runaway success like this. The movie has found its audience and they like it.