But before that, the last really major international films made at Cinecitta were Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, shot way back in 2004, and Martin Scorsese's The Gangs of New York, which came out a decade ago.

BBC: Italy film industry: Battle on for Cinecitta studios

It has toppled Mel Gibson's Almighty epic The Passion of the Christ from the top of the North American box office charts.

BBC: Dawn of the Dead (2003)

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Pope John Paul II has seen the controversial Mel Gibson movie, "The Passion of Christ, " and he liked it, Vatican sources said Wednesday.

CNN: Sources: Pope likes Gibson's 'Passion of Christ'