Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ’ Returns to Theaters Ahead of Ambitious Sequel

Lionsgate and Fathom Entertainment will re-release the 2004 drama The Passion of the Christ from September 10-17, 2026 in a 4K Dolby Atmos restoration. Ticket buyers will also receive a sneak-peek preview of the upcoming sequel The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One.

Variety Magazine

The original remains the highest-grossing Christian and independent film, earning about $610 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. It held the top R-rated domestic record at $370 million until Disney’s 2024 blockbuster *Deadpool & Wolverine*, which earned $636 million domestically, surpassed it. Its graphic portrayal of Jesus’ final hours resonated across faith-based and secular audiences.

Variety Magazine

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Kevin Grayson and Fathom Entertainment CEO Ray Nutt lead the re-release. Executive producers Cedar Hill and Mike Ilitch Jr. Productions back the sequel. The original starred Jim Caviezel as Jesus and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene; the sequel will star Jaakko Ohtonen and Mariela Garriga in those roles, with supporting cast including Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio and Rupert Everett. Director Mel Gibson, co-writer with his brother and Randall Wallace, returns after his 2025 thriller *Flight Risk*.

Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ’ Returns to Theaters Ahead of Highly Anticipated Sequel

Lionsgate’s distribution chief said the restoration gives longtime viewers a fresh visual experience and invites a younger generation to see the film in theaters. The studio calls the re-release the opening act for *The Resurrection of the Christ*, labeling the sequel an unprecedented faith-based project. Fathom Entertainment’s CEO noted the original’s lasting cultural impact and its role in opening doors for future religious-themed films.

Hollywood Reporter

• “’The Passion of the Christ’ remains one of the most extraordinary theatrical experiences ever created. For millions of people, it was far more than a film — it became a powerful shared cultural and faith experience,” — Kevin Grayson, President, Worldwide Distribution, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group

Variety Magazine

• “Bringing it back to theaters in a stunning new restoration allows longtime audiences to experience it in an entirely new way while inviting a new generation to discover it in theaters for the very first time.” — Kevin Grayson, President, Worldwide Distribution, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group

Variety Magazine

• “This also marks the beginning of the journey toward The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One, one of the most ambitious and anticipated faith films ever brought to the screen.” — Kevin Grayson, President, Worldwide Distribution, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group

Rolling Stone

• “Few modern-day films have made as much of an impact on the cultural landscape as ‘The Passion of the Christ,'” — Ray Nutt, CEO, Fathom Entertainment

Variety Magazine

*The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One* is slated for May 6 2027, with *Part Two* on May 25 2028. Both installments will open on Ascension Day.

Variety Magazine