Passion thrice crowned

Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of the Christ" has topped US box office figures for the third week in succession.

15:10 15 March 2004

Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of the Christ" has topped US box office figures for the third week in succession.

Sony's thriller "Secret Window", which stars Johnny Depp and Maria Bello, debuted at second.

"The Passion", a film that centres on the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus, has grossed about $264 million (147 million) since it opened.

"The Passion has single-handedly made what was turning out to be a pretty lousy year into a really good year so far," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Walt Disney's "Hidalgo," slid to fourth with $11.7 million in ticket sales, while "Starsky and Hutch" also dropped a place from second to third.

"Agent Cody Banks 2 - Destination London" starring former S-Clubber Hannah Spearritt alongside Malcolm in the Middle's Frankie Muniz's took a paltry $8 million - just over half what the first "Cody Banks" film grossed.

1 -Passion of Christ
2 - Secret Window
3 - Starsky & Hutch
4 - Hidalgo
5 - Agent Cody Banks 2 - Destination London
6 - 50 First Dates
7 - Twisted
8 - Teenage Drama Queen
9 - Lord of the Rings - Return of the King
10 - Spartan