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Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Extends Theatrical Run After $101 Million Opening Week

11/2/09, 10:39 am EST


After five days in theaters, Michael Jackson’s This Is It grossed more than $101 million worldwide, making Sony’s $60 million investment in the concert rehearsal footage profitable after only one week, Variety reports. Additionally, with no DVD due out until early 2010, Sony extended This Is It’s two-week theatrical run by three weeks in North America, keeping the King of Pop in theaters through Thanksgiving.

Read our opening night review of This Is It.

In the days following This Is It’s cinematic release on October 27th, Hollywood pundits argued whether the film was a hit or a disappointment based on early box-office projections. This Is It was expected to finish the week in the $30-40 million range in the U.S., and while final numbers put the film at the lower end of that prediction with a haul of $32.5 million, Halloween weekend has historically sapped box office receipts. However, This Is It dominated overseas, raking in $68.5 million in five days to top the foreign box office. Japan alone contributed $10.4 million, followed by $7.6 million from the U.K., Variety reports. This Is It also registered the fifth best international box office week of 2009.

See photos from Jackson’s This Is It rehearsals.

This Is It’s $32.5 million gross in the States was still enough to top the domestic box office, beating out made-for-Halloween fare like Paranormal Activity and Saw VI. This Is It also set the record for highest-grossing debut week by a concert film, just edging the $31.1 million record set by Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour in 2008. As Rolling Stone previously reported, the soundtrack for This Is It is also expected to place Number One on this week’s Billboard Top 200.

Related Stories:

Jackson’s “This Is It” DVD Pushed to 2010, Doc Dominates Theaters
Michael Jackson’s Final Dreams Come to Life as “This Is It” Film Premieres
Michael Jackson Is “Genius” In “This Is It” Tweets Elizabeth Taylor


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Comments

Anonymous | 11/2/2009, 11:39 am EST

I did enjoy the movie.

But I knew along that it would be extended beyond the ‘two week run’. It was surely Sony’s intention all along, and just a slick marketing strategy. They must think we’re all gullible.

Coen | 11/2/2009, 12:47 pm EST

We are.

Iowa Fan | 11/2/2009, 12:49 pm EST

Like this wasn’t planned all along.

Black Hole Sun | 11/2/2009, 4:52 pm EST

Even if it flopped, they would’ve extended its run.

Wayne | 11/2/2009, 8:44 pm EST

This “movie” is bullshit. And all of you suckers are worshipping a kiddie-raper just because he’s famous. You are sad, stupid people. And, there are too many of you. That’s what is wrong with this world. Too many morons. Well, at least we lost one a few months ago. I’m glad MJ is dead.

Reality Check | 11/2/2009, 10:58 pm EST

Someone needs to point out that, extraordinarily talented or not, the man was a pedophile. The proceeds of this ‘film’ should be used to support abused and exploited children.

In Sacto | 11/3/2009, 12:22 am EST

I saw the movie a second time yesterday. Every seat was filled. Every person was engaged – laughing, clapping, oohing & awe-ing. It was very inspiring.

Wayne & Reality Check – there is more evidence that MJ was in fact the victim of extortion. He was still close friends with most of the grown adults that were children he spent time with. Check your facts before you judge.

MoreMileyPlease | 11/3/2009, 6:40 am EST

Has Rolling Stone become brain dead? The movie theaters get half the box office receipts, the average studios spend marketing a wide release is $30 million, Sony said it made 18,000 film prints which cost $3,000 minimum each, so let’s do some movie math.

$120 Mil to recover footage costs
$60 Mil recover marketing ads
$100 Mil+ recover film print costs

$280 Million dollars is the very minimum this film needs just to bread even. Sony will lose money unless the DVD sales are over $100 million dollars.

chuck | 11/3/2009, 2:33 pm EST

Hahah cute. Wayne thinks he’s the only smart one in the world.

And “MoreMileyPlease” how do you know they haven’t configured that into their math already?

I swear…the internet has created way too many “know it alls.”

Long live MJ’s legacy.

mercy | 11/3/2009, 6:58 pm EST

To me michael was like Jesus . When jesus came to this earth .people spit on jesus they told him he was lying and on on on. They end up killing him . Michael was like that people never believe what he says and they accused him fo so many . I LOVE MICHAEL I KNOW YOUR WITH GOD let the evil say what they say . He has seen the Kingdom and us not yet .

oakie | 11/3/2009, 7:06 pm EST

Wayne: did you know that he was acquitted, on all counts, of the sexual molestation charges against him?

if your daddy told me you suck dicks for money but you told me that you do it for free, you would think i’m stupid to believe him over you and keep offering you cash.

it’s confusing to me that, despite the truth, you still choose to suck cock for free and believe he was a pedophile.

Tina | 11/13/2009, 5:30 pm EST

Michael Jackson and pedophile!! What a joke! What a pity that the world worships real culprits and punishes someone who really cared for the world, like MJ.

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