'Passion' rising toward box-office history

Box-office prognosticators point out that few predictions about the filmhave proved accurate. Its success in the Bible Belt was expected, and Berney reports a strong showing in Houston, Dallas, and other Southern cities.

But no one expected "one of the highest-grossing theaters [to be] the AMC Empire in Manhattan," Berney said. "Urban areas, such as metro Detroit, are doing great.... There's a strong African American and Latino component" to the audience.

This article also contained a chart listing the top 10 grossing films of all time, for perspective as to how TPOTC ranks thus far.

All-time domestic blockbusters

Rank / Title / Gross (in millions) / Year of initial release

1. Titanic $600.8 1997
2. Star Wars $461.0 1977
3. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial $435.1 1982
4. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace $431.1 1999
5. Spider-Man $403.7 2002
6. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King $371.1* 2003
7. Jurassic Park $357.1 1993
8. Lord of the Rings: Two Towers $341.8 2002
9. Finding Nemo $339.7 2003
10. Forrest Gump $329.7 1994

* Gross as of Sunday.
Note: Figures are not adjusted for inflation.

A more complete list shows TPOTC currently at #22 all time...nestled between The Matrix Reloaded and Shrek.