Film fans flock to Passion

The Passion Of The Christ, Mel Gibson's blood-soaked Easter offering, is proving a sell-out at the box office.

Despite the controversy surrounding the film, many cinemas have reported bumper ticket sales and the total ticket sales for the weekend amounted to an impressive £2,019,803.

The movie features graphic torture scenes and has been accused of being anti-Semitic.

'Historically, such controversies have a positive effect,' said a spokesman for Odeon Cinemas' bookings service. 'The Life Of Brian and The Last Temptation Of Christ sold well too.' Last week, a priest in Brazil became the second person to die during a screening of the film.