September 17, 2026, 9:32 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Controversial films usually draw attention because they tackle controversial topics or explicitly depict sex and violence. They often become cult films or arthouse classics—or both. Typically, they don’t become box office hits, but there are exceptions. One of them is “The Passion of the Christ.” The story of Jesus is now set to return to theaters.
“The Passion of the Christ” Returns to U.S. Theaters
This is now being reported by the U.S. trade magazine “Variety.” According to them, the studios Lionsgate and Fathom Entertainment plan to bring “The Passion of the Christ” back to theaters. The reason is a remaster of the film in 4K quality with a new Dolby Atmos sound mix.
In the U.S., the re-release is scheduled to take place from September 10 to 17. Attendees will also get an exclusive preview of the sequel “The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One,” which will directly follow the events of the original story—naturally closely aligned with the Bible.
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Those who are not religious might find little appeal in “The Passion of the Christ” aside from its bloody spectacle. However, when Mel Gibson’s directorial work was released in 2004, the biblical film quickly became a global phenomenon. With an estimated budget of only $30 million, it grossed a total of $610 million.
To this day, it remains the most successful independent film of all time, produced outside the major Hollywood studios. For 20 years, it was also the most successful U.S. box office debut with an R rating (restricted to audiences 17 and older), earning $370 million in the U.S. alone. It wasn’t until 2024 that the comic blockbuster “Deadpool & Wolverine” surpassed it with $636 million.
The film’s release was accompanied by various controversies in different countries. Gibson faced accusations of excessive violence, with some critics even comparing it to a snuff film. Additionally, there were allegations of anti-Semitism at the time, as the film did not delve into the Jewish leaders who demanded Jesus’ execution, while the Roman Pontius Pilate was portrayed more favorably.
Re-release Also in Germany?
So far, the re-release of “The Passion of the Christ” seems to be planned only for the U.S. market. Whether German theaters will follow suit is unknown. In Germany, Constantin Film holds the rights to the title. TECHBOOK has inquired with the distributor but has not yet received a response.
It is quite possible that Germany might forgo the re-release. However, since a new 4K master is available, a reissue as an HD Blu-ray is conceivable.