Gibson launches lawsuit

Mel Gibson’s film distribution company is suing a US cinema chain for nearly €33m, alleging that it failed to pay its share of box office receipts for the smash hit movie The Passion of the Christ.

The blockbuster made hundreds of millions of pounds worldwide when it was released earlier this year.

According to the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Gibson’s Icon Distribution Inc agreed that it would receive 55% of gross ticket sales and Regal Entertainment Group would retain 45%.

But the suit alleges that Regal, which has about 550 cinemas around the world, has offered to pay Icon only 34%.

Icon has claimed $40m in the suit – nearly €33m.