UP's "Easter Lives Here" programming got off to a good start when it's Palm Sunday feature, "The Passion of the Christ" drew two million viewers, according to the Nielsen report.

The controversial movie, mostly panned for its bloody portrayal of the Agony of Jesus Christ, was directed by Mel Gibson and starred Jim Caviezel. Released in 2004 on a budget of $30 million, the film went on to earn more than $600 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

According to the press release, the film will be shown again on Mar. 25 at 11 p.m. and on Saturday, Mar. 26, at 9 p.m. with "limited commercial interruption."

As part of UP's "Easter Lives Here," the movies to be shown in the network carry religious themes. At 12:30 p.m. of Mar. 26, for example, the Charleston Heston classic, "The Ten Commandments" will be shown.

This will be followed at 4:30 p.m. by "The Greatest Story Ever Told," which is the story on the life of Jesus Christ, played by Max Von Sydow.

UP will show "Fireproof" at 2 p.m. on Easter Sunday, Mar. 27, to be followed by "Courageous" at 4:30 p.m.

"Fireproof" revolves around a firefighter who is struggling to save his marriage and agreed to experiment on what is called as the "love dare." In "Courageous," the faith of four cops is shaken when tragedy strikes close to home.

"The network's Easter event culminates on Easter Sunday, March 27, with the cable television premiere of the hit musical drama Grace Unplugged starring AJ Michalka ('The Goldbergs,' 'Oliver Beene') at 7 and 9 p.m. EDT."

Atlanta-based UP is a division of UP Entertainment, and reaches about 70 million homes across the US. "Easter Lives Here" is the annual Holy Week programming of the network.