"Passion" Viewers Passionate About the Movie

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- If the latest Gallup Poll is any indication, Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ," is likely to be among the highest grossing films of all time, perhaps even competing with "Titanic" for the title. As of last weekend, the movie had grossed more than $200 million, with -- according to the poll -- 11% of all Americans saying they had already seen it. Another 34% of Americans say they expect to see the movie in a theater, and 31% expect to see it when it comes out on DVD or VHS. "Titanic" grossed about $600 million in the United States and Canada, and about $1 billion worldwide.

Two characteristics are highly related to people's plans to see the movie. The older people are, the less likely they are to see the movie at all and in a movie theater. Also, people who attend church at least monthly are more likely to see the movie than are people who seldom or never attend.

One interesting note: People who attend religious service weekly are no more likely to see the movie in the long run than are people who attend monthly -- but the more frequent churchgoers are more likely to have already seen the movie.

There are only minor differences in movie plans between men and women, among people of different educational levels, and among people of different regions in the country.

Among people who have watched the movie, reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Seventy-two percent of movie watchers say they have a "very favorable" impression of the movie and another 20% say "favorable." Among all Americans, including those who have not seen the movie but base their opinions on what they have heard or read from other sources, 30% have a "very favorable" and 47% a "favorable" impression.

Impression of The Passion of the Christ Compared by Movie Plans

March 5-7, 2004

Sixty-four percent of people who have seen the movie also say that the film gave them "a new understanding" of what their religious faith is about. And 78% of filmgoers say the film strengthened their faith.

Though many critics have faulted the movie for its violence, including more than 40 minutes focused on the beating of Christ, the vast majority of people who have seen the film say the violence is necessary for the film's message. Just 13% say there was an unnecessary amount of violence.

Reasons for Seeing the Film

Among the people who have seen or plan to see the movie, 61% say the major reason for seeing it is the film's religious content; 31% cite the publicity the movie has received; and 18% say it is because Mel Gibson made the movie. (This adds to more than 100% because respondents could choose more than one reason.)

For each of the following, please say if it is a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason why you have seen or plan to see this movie. How about – [RANDOM ORDER]?

BASED ON 754 ADULTS WHO HAVE SEEN OR PLAN TO SEE "THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST"

Reasons for Not Seeing the Film

Among the quarter of Americans who say they do not plan to see the movie, the two major reasons are the reported violence in the film (mentioned by 37%) and the fact that they do not generally see many movies anyway (33%). Just 8% say they won't see the movie because of its religious content, while 4% say it's because of both the religious content and violence.

Are you unlikely to see this movie because you generally do not watch movies, or is there something about this movie that makes you not want to see it?
Are you unlikely to see this movie because of - [ROTATED: its religious content (or) the amount of violence], or because of something else?

BASED ON 242 ADULTS WHO DO NOT PLAN TO SEE "THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST"

Among people who have attended a movie in the past year, 43% say they won't see "The Passion" because of its violence, 18% because they do not generally watch movies.

Survey Methods

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,005 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted March 5-7, 2004. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.

For results based on the sample of 242 adults who do not plan to see "The Passion of the Christ," the maximum margin of sampling error is ±7 percentage points.

For results based on the sample of 117 adults who have seen the movie, "The Passion of the Christ," the maximum margin of sampling error is ±10 percentage points.

For results based on the sample of 754 adults who have seen "The Passion of the Christ" or plan to see it, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Thinking now about the movie made by Mel Gibson called The Passion of the Christ,

38. Based on what you have heard or read, what would you say your impression of the movie is? Is it very favorable, favorable, unfavorable, or very unfavorable?

39. Which of the following applies to you -- you have seen this movie, you have not seen it yet, but you plan to see it in a movie theater, you have not seen it yet, but you plan to see it when it comes out on DVD or VHS, or you do not plan to see this movie?

40. Are you unlikely to see this movie because you generally do not watch movies, or is there something about this movie that makes you not want to see it?

BASED ON –242—ADULTS WHO DO NOT PLAN TO SEE THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

41. Are you unlikely to see this movie because of – [ROTATED: its religious content (or) the amount of violence], or because of something else?

BASED ON –242—ADULTS WHO DO NOT PLAN TO SEE THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

(COMBINED RESPONSES: Q.40-41)

42. Did seeing this movie – [RANDOM ORDER], or not?

BASED ON –117—ADULTS WHO HAVE SEEN THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

A. Give you a new understanding of what your religious faith is about

B. Strengthen your religious faith

43. Which comes closer to your view – [ROTATED: there was an unnecessary amount of violence in the movie, (or) the amount of violence in the movie was necessary for the film's message]?

BASED ON –117—ADULTS WHO HAVE SEEN THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST