Mel Gibson's controversial movie "The Passion of the Christ", with two Bulgarian actors in the star-set crew, had its nationwide US opening on Wednesday.

The movie opened at 2,800 cinemas in the US - and is released in the United Kingdom on March 26 - after a series of preview screenings, which left some early viewers shocked but enthusiastic about its content.

Bulgarians Hristo Shopov, in the role of Pilatus the Pontius, and Hristo Zhivkov, reincarnated into John, Christ's favorite pupil, play shoulder to shoulder with world famous James Caviezel (Jesus Christ) and Monica Bellucci (maria Magdalena) in the leading male and female role.

The film about the last 12 hours of Jesus' life received an enthusiastic response among filmgoers at preview screenings in the United States on Monday.

But it has been attacked by some Jewish groups as being anti-Semitic, while critics have denounced what they say is "brutal and graphic" violence.

Gibson denies anti-Semitism and says it highlights Christ's "huge" sacrifice.

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