Ten million TV viewers tuned into the ABC TV movie, "Judas" March 8, one million more than watched "Charlie's Angels" during the same timeslot on NBC, according to ratings polls. Mel Gibson's feature film, "The Passion of the Christ," has topped $315 million since it opened on Ash Wednesday.

Is there a trend happening here?

Well, said screenwriter/film analyst Barbara Nicolosi, director of the Hollywood-based Act One screenwriting program, human beings have always been fascinated by the spiritual dimension. However, for a long time, according to Nicolosi, movies mostly steered clear of spiritual themes.

"It was so desperately un-hip in the '80s to mention God in the industry --- and now it's O.K.," declared Nicolosi.

"Maybe 9/11 created a hole in people," she theorized. "Maybe everything had been done that could be done with the sexual revolution."

Recently returned from Washington, D.C., where she spoke at the John Paul II Cultural Center on the topic, "The Art of the Passion," inspired by "The Passion of the Christ," Nicolosi said she was "amazed" at the number of the people who turned out to discuss the movie.

"So many people from diverse backgrounds wanted to talk about the film," said Nicolosi. "Clearly, people are clamoring for more. They want to experience again the way it made them feel." And, she emphasized, the movie is not a feel-good-type experience but one that creates inner soul stirring.

"Judas" co-producer and Paulist Father Frank Desiderio, shares Nicolosi's views that the general public embraces films of faith.

"Judas'" respectable 10 percent share of the viewing public shows that "we were in the mainstream of the movie audience," declared Father Desiderio. He believes that while a certain number of viewers tuned in because the movie resonated with their religious beliefs, others viewed it because it was a good story and interesting to watch.

"Before, I was saying to TV executives that, if you show religious stories, religious people will show up," said Father Desiderio. But, Judas' 10 percent share, the same percentage received by the recently aired TV bio-movie on the life of the late actress Natalie Wood, has convinced Father Desiderio that the general public will support well-made films with religious themes.

And, with "The Passion of the Christ's" phenomenal success, he said, studios are now looking at religious stories as something that can make money.

"The real story here is that Mel's movie was able to tap into an underserved audience," declared Father Desiderio.