New York, Mar 12 : Tom Hanks has said that `The Da Vinci Code' was a success not because of the controversies surrounding it, but because of the way Dan Brown's iconic book was adapted into the film.

The two-time Oscar-winning actor denied that the hot-button controversies about the film helped it earn 750 million dollars worldwide.

"The book was a phenomenon, and we were able to not blow that," the New York Daily News quoted him as saying at the Cinema Society/Brooks Brothers screening of `The Great Buck Howard' on March 10.

Although members of the Catholic Church condemned the film for its portrayal of their religion, its producers publicly hinted that the media buzz helped fill movie seats around the globe.

"(But) at the end of the day, controversy does not sell tickets," said Hanks.

He added: "Engagement does, entertainment does. There''d be a lot of [controversial] movies out there that would''ve made $500 million, but none of them did." (ANI)