Movie Trivia: The Passion of The Christ (2004)

In 2004, Mel Gibson directed a film on Jesus Christ, titled The Passion of the Christ. The film was headlined by Jim Caviezal, as Jesus of Nazareth, with Maria Morgenstern playing Mary, mother of Jesus and Monica Belluci, essaying the role of Mary Magdalene. The film depicted the Passion of Jesus largely according to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The film earned both Gibson and Caviezel a lot of acclaim. But did you know that something strange happened to Jim Caviezel during the last day of the shoot of the film?

• The actor, in an interview, had once revealed that during the final moments of filming the iconic Sermon on the Mount scene, he was struck by lightning. This shocking incident took place on the fifth take of the scene, leaving Caviezel with severe injuries that led to multiple heart surgeries and a prolonged period of medical treatment.

• Following the lightning strike, Caviezel underwent two heart surgeries, including open-heart surgery, and endured a significant amount of medication to manage the aftermath of the incident. He stated that it wasn’t until 2014 that the issues caused by the lightning strike were finally resolved.

• In addition to the lightning strike, Caviezel faced another terrifying incident while filming. A massive cross weighing over 150 pounds fell on him, causing him to bite through his tongue and cheek. Despite the severity of the injuries, this scene, with blood streaming from his mouth, made it into the final cut of the film, capturing the physical toll of his portrayal of Christ.

• Reflecting on his time filming The Passion of the Christ, Caviezel expressed the challenges he faced, both physically and emotionally, throughout the production. From the lightning strike to the cross mishap and the subsequent surgeries and recovery, his journey in bringing this pivotal biblical narrative to life was marked by intense trials and tribulations.

• Some producers said they saw actors dressed in white they didn’t recognize during one of the filming sessions, and when they reviewed the recordings they realized they couldn’t see them in the footage.

• Mel Gibson paid $30 million out of his own pocket for the production of the film because no studio would take on the project. The Passion Of The Christ was praised for their performances and grossed over $612 million worldwide.