Even before sunrise today Americans poured into cinemas around the United States for the opening of Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ.

An estimated 6,000 people filled all 20 auditoriums at a multiplex in Plano, a suburb of Dallas, Texas to watch the film on Ash Wednesday – which marks the day that Christians believe Christ arrived in Jerusalem before his trial.

All the tickets had been donated by Arch Bonnema, a local financial planner and Christian, who spent $42,000 on the tickets, said: "When you see the sacrifice that Jesus made, it makes you feel like, I have to do something better with my life.

He said that he was inspired to act after seeing a special screening of the film.

Other Christian viewers were just as emotional.

Rick Pierce, a 53-year-old Baptist who said that he was in tears during the screening, said: "I hope everybody sees it with an open mind. It's the kind of crying knowing that somebody would do something for me, even though I didn't deserve it. It's the greatest love story there is," he said.

Elsewhere across America, some couldn't wait for morning screenings. More than 100 people watched the midnight showing at a cinema in Los Angeles.

In the central Pennsylvania community of Bellefonte, about 50 people attended a showing after midnight. Viewers groaned as Jesus was nailed to the cross, and muffled cries could be heard during more than an hour of Jesus's torture, crucifixion and death.

A cadre of ministers were on hand to reach out to moviegoers.

Funded and directed by Mel Gibson, the actor and director of Braveheart, the film has received decidedly mixed reviews from critics.

Some have praised Gibson's total commitment to his subject - the Oscar-winning filmmaker has said that the film is both an attempt to faithfully render the Gospels and a personal vision.

Others see it as excessively bloody, obsessed with cruelty and unfair in its portrayal of Jews. But after months of hype, curiosity about the film is almost insatiable.

There is a media preview of The Passion of the Christ in London tomorrow.

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