The Final Solution
March 16th, 2004, 04:52 PM
NO FALSE PROFITS; 'PASSION' MAKES MEL $700M RICHER
By PAUL THARP
March 16, 2004 -- Snubbed last year from Hollywood's power list, Mel Gibson is turning the town upside down - and emerging as one of its richest actors.
His blockbuster flick, "The Passion of the Christ," is raking in such huge box office sales and other revenue that Gibson will personally take home more than $700 million in profit this year.
Last year, Gibson didn't even make the Forbes top 100 entertainers list, but this year he's expected to be among its top 10 - possibly upstaging the likes of Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts when the new list comes out in June, sources said.
Gibson, a devout Catholic, is expected to give up as much as $100 million of his new riches to the Catholic Church in donations and tithes. His spokesperson says he's an active benefactor to the church, but never reveals what he gives.[ed: how much will the papistry waste on trying to convert Senegalese apes into humans?]
Gibson's graphic movie about the death of Jesus is heading toward records here and abroad.
Box office analysts say it will probably eclipse this year's leader, "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which to date has sold $371.1 million in tickets.
"We expect the Easter sales for 'Passion' will be huge and take it past 'Lord,' " said Anthony Kusich, an analyst at ReelSource, which tracks box offices.
Gibson's movie has already soared to $264.5 million in ticket sales as of yesterday, and "is on track to hit $400 million domestically this year," said Kusich.
Overseas, record-breaking sales of as much as $600 million are expected as the movie opens in coming weeks in Latin America, Europe and other counties with large Christian populations. It already set a box office record in Australia's relatively small movie market.
What's surprising the movie industry is the unorthodox way Gibson did the deal, spending more than half of his estimated $50 million net worth to make the movie.
Gibson produced his epic abroad on the cheap, for about $30 million, using non-union Italian actors and lower-cost studios in Italy and Rome.
He saved another bundle by cutting a deal with a small independent distributor, Newmarket Films, which has distributed such small films as "Whale Rider" and "Monster," which turned into Oscar hits.
Distributors often get half of the producer's take, but Gibson's deal gives his distributor just 12.5 percent. Movie theaters usually get about 40 to 50 percent of the ticket price.
The Christian market, which generates more than $5 billion annually in sales of books, films and retail goods and services, has firmly embraced Gibson's movie.
The director is expected to see another $50 million in licensing fees from tie-ins, ranging from educational products to religious conventions and faith seminars that draw more than 30 million people a year.
Some of Gibson's highest profit margins, upwards of 50 percent, will be in DVD sales, which could surpass $400 million annually with heavy re-orders each Easter.
"Gibson hasn't ruled out doing other self-produced projects on other Bible stories or the earlier days of Jesus," said Kusich.
NEW YORK POST is a registered trademark of NYP Holdings, Inc. NYPOST.COM, NYPOSTONLINE.COM, and NEWYORKPOST.COM
are trademarks of NYP Holdings, Inc. Copyright 2004 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
By PAUL THARP
March 16, 2004 -- Snubbed last year from Hollywood's power list, Mel Gibson is turning the town upside down - and emerging as one of its richest actors.
His blockbuster flick, "The Passion of the Christ," is raking in such huge box office sales and other revenue that Gibson will personally take home more than $700 million in profit this year.
Last year, Gibson didn't even make the Forbes top 100 entertainers list, but this year he's expected to be among its top 10 - possibly upstaging the likes of Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts when the new list comes out in June, sources said.
Gibson, a devout Catholic, is expected to give up as much as $100 million of his new riches to the Catholic Church in donations and tithes. His spokesperson says he's an active benefactor to the church, but never reveals what he gives.[ed: how much will the papistry waste on trying to convert Senegalese apes into humans?]
Gibson's graphic movie about the death of Jesus is heading toward records here and abroad.
Box office analysts say it will probably eclipse this year's leader, "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which to date has sold $371.1 million in tickets.
"We expect the Easter sales for 'Passion' will be huge and take it past 'Lord,' " said Anthony Kusich, an analyst at ReelSource, which tracks box offices.
Gibson's movie has already soared to $264.5 million in ticket sales as of yesterday, and "is on track to hit $400 million domestically this year," said Kusich.
Overseas, record-breaking sales of as much as $600 million are expected as the movie opens in coming weeks in Latin America, Europe and other counties with large Christian populations. It already set a box office record in Australia's relatively small movie market.
What's surprising the movie industry is the unorthodox way Gibson did the deal, spending more than half of his estimated $50 million net worth to make the movie.
Gibson produced his epic abroad on the cheap, for about $30 million, using non-union Italian actors and lower-cost studios in Italy and Rome.
He saved another bundle by cutting a deal with a small independent distributor, Newmarket Films, which has distributed such small films as "Whale Rider" and "Monster," which turned into Oscar hits.
Distributors often get half of the producer's take, but Gibson's deal gives his distributor just 12.5 percent. Movie theaters usually get about 40 to 50 percent of the ticket price.
The Christian market, which generates more than $5 billion annually in sales of books, films and retail goods and services, has firmly embraced Gibson's movie.
The director is expected to see another $50 million in licensing fees from tie-ins, ranging from educational products to religious conventions and faith seminars that draw more than 30 million people a year.
Some of Gibson's highest profit margins, upwards of 50 percent, will be in DVD sales, which could surpass $400 million annually with heavy re-orders each Easter.
"Gibson hasn't ruled out doing other self-produced projects on other Bible stories or the earlier days of Jesus," said Kusich.
NEW YORK POST is a registered trademark of NYP Holdings, Inc. NYPOST.COM, NYPOSTONLINE.COM, and NEWYORKPOST.COM
are trademarks of NYP Holdings, Inc. Copyright 2004 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.