'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Heals the World
Posted Sunday 01 November 05:00 PM By: PopEater / Wire Services
(AP) "Michael Jackson's This Is It" pulled in $101 million worldwide in its first five days, and distributor Sony is extending the farewell performance film beyond its planned two-week run.
The film was the No. 1 Halloween thriller domestically with a $21.3 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, Paramount's low-budget horror sensation "Paranormal Activity," slipped to No. 2 with $16.5 million, lifting its total to $84.8 million.
"This Is It" raised its domestic total to $32.5 million. The movie pulled in $68.5 million overseas, including $10.4 million in Japan, $6.3 million in Germany, $5.8 million in France and $3.2 million in China.
"He's just loved everywhere on the planet," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. "It doesn't matter if it's Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, South America. Every continent in the world loved him and his music."
In Great Britain, where Jackson had planned a marathon series of 50 London concerts starting last July, the movie earned $7.6 million.
"This Is It" captures Jackson in behind-the-scenes performances in the weeks before his death last June, as he rehearsed his biggest hits for the London shows.
"This Is It" originally was scheduled for a theatrical run of only two weeks. The studio has extended it a few more weeks domestically, leaving it in theaters through Thanksgiving weekend, one of the year's busiest moviegoing times.
Sony plans to extend the run of "This Is It" overseas on a country-by-country basis, with most territories probably getting one to three weeks of extra playing time, Bruer said.
The studio paid $60 million for film rights to Jackson's rehearsal footage, an investment the movie recouped in days.
"They bet $60 million on this and got $101 million in just five days," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "It was a gamble and a bet that paid off."
The movie fell far short of last year's $31.1 million opening weekend domestically for "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert." But Bruer said "This Is It" has a shot at surpassing the $65.3 million domestic total during the entire run of Cyrus' movie, which tops the all-time charts for music documentaries.
Worldwide, "This Is It" already has shot past Cyrus' concert film. Cyrus mainly appeals to American teens, and her movie got only a limited release overseas, where it took in about $5 million to give the film a global total of just over $70 million.
"This Is It" played in 3,481 theaters domestically, about five times the number for Cyrus' movie. But "Best of Both Worlds" ran in 3-D, for which theaters typically charge a few dollars more.
And Cyrus' young fans are an audience segment that tends to rush out to see movies over opening weekend, the movie doing nearly half its business in the first few days.
Sony hopes for a longer shelf life for "This Is It," which drew older crowds that catch movies on their own schedule, with less regard for the opening-weekend frenzy. Fans older than 25 accounted for 62 percent of the audience, according to Sony.
While "Paranormal Activity" led Halloween's scary movies, an established horror franchise lost its fear factor as Lionsgate's "Saw VI" fell sharply in its second weekend after an anemic debut.
"Saw VI" came in at No. 5 this weekend with $5.6 million, raising its total to just $22.8 million after 10 days. Previous sequels in the serial-killer series all had topped $30 million during opening weekend alone.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com; final figures will be released Monday:
1. "Michael Jackson's This Is It," $21.3 million.
2. "Paranormal Activity," $16.5 million.
3. "Law Abiding Citizen," $7.3 million.
4. "Couples Retreat," $6.1 million.
5. "Saw VI," $5.6 million.
6. "Where the Wild Things Are," $5.1 million.
7. "The Stepfather," $3.4 million.
8. "Astro Boy," $3.04 million.
9. "Amelia," $3 million.
10. "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," $2.8 million.
-
On the Net:
<a href="http://www.hollywood.com/boxoffice">http://www.hollywood.com/boxoffice</a>
-
Universal Pictures and Focus Features are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.; Sony Pictures, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount and Paramount Vantage are divisions of Viacom Inc.; Disney's parent is The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is a division of The Walt Disney Co.; 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Fox Atomic are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a consortium of Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group, Sony Corp., Comcast Corp., DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Quadrangle Group; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC Films is owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corp.; Rogue Pictures is owned by Relativity Media LLC; Overture Films is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp.
Comments
(68)Add a comment
Sunday 01 November
By Danielle
This doesn't surprise. Michael Jackson was loved internationally. This is It is a masterpiece.
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By June
Yes, Michael is the King of Pop.
Sunday 01 November
By Mik
the movie only shows , that like most of us YOU NEVER GET TO FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By k
thats your opinion your most likely a weird lonely person who is jealous of him and his family, for such an opinion you should have read all the facts before being so judgemental, either way your words do not effect any of us humans!
Reply
Monday 02 November
By clusk
so sad to see so many people blind the reality of things and yes I mean people like you
Monday 02 November
By Sam
actually, i'm not blinded. i'm not ignorant of the real facts. so please, be mature enough & not trash others on an article you will disagree with. act your age, & don't start pointing fingers & insulting. this is the internet, which makes it even more sad the extent people go through just to degrade others.
Sunday 01 November
By Biff Jones
The only healing being done is the healing to the pocketbooks of certain people. Michael Jackson was a great entertainer but he was far from a great human being, he was as flawed as flawed could be. I would like those Jackson fanatics to explain how he was such a great father when he was being medically managed 24 hours a day. I highly doubt Jackson was coherent long enough during the day to take care of his so called children. Great entertainer yes, great human being no.
Reply
Monday 02 November
By chris
I bet you havnet seen the film.... another person who judges someone or something without knowing all the facts... you see the film you would know he wasnt on drugs and he was actually pretty healthy stop believing everything the media says about people
Sunday 01 November
By Julia Kraintz
None of the charges against Michael Jackson ever stuck. People, including his family took advantage of him, his vulnerability, weak nesses, and wealth, and they have made a lot of money as a result. It is sad that even though you don't know him or the truth, you would say such hateful and judgemental things. You must be very lonely at the top never having made any mistakes yourself.
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By tgreear
Regardless of what he did or did not do Michael Jackson was part of my teen years. Growing up in the 1970's it was all about the Jackson 5 and the Osmonds. I went to see the movie because I wanted to honor that time in my life. Separate from everything else he was an incredible entertainer and a profound songwriter. I will miss his music and his dancing. The movie made me very sad because it showed a wonderfully gifted entertainer who never had the guidance he needed. Fame created an imaginary world for Michael that he never escaped from. It really is tragic.
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By misfit
wasn't he charged with being a child molester and then ran to Europe till his victims parents were paid off to drop the charges?
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By tiger
no, do some research.............
Sunday 01 November
By jade
I saw This is It last night. AMAZING and sad..
MJ was talented and loved as well as had so much love for those that worked with him. The theater was quiet as we all watched in amazment and love. The end of the movie no one left right away. We talked with others on the way out and all we sadden by the loss of this loving man.
Those who accused MJ of molesting their children I hope your hearts are bleeding for YOU are part of the reason we lost such a LOVING person. The blood money you have will leave its stain forever. MJ will always be in our hearts and loved by the world. RIP
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By Rebecca
Get some help please!
Reply
Monday 02 November
By THIBEAUX
Facts are the facts michael jackson was found not gulity by too jurys
to me there are only be two kings
elvis and michael
but you really can't compare the two they were in a class by themselves
but keep in mind this is only my opinion but i feel that there would have been no jackson 5 if elvis wouldn't have broke down the doors in music
bottom line they should never ever use the term king of
anymore i feel that would be disrespectful too the ones of actually earned it
they are the bookends of music
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By jackie
OMG.....MJ,,,,,give me a break....next it will be Oprah who gets a peace prize......
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By Katrina
The movie was great and Michael Jackson will live in my heart forever!!!!!
Its sad how many ignorant people are in the world, the man was not found guilty of anything, but yet you continue to condemn him. (Remember take the plank out of your eye, before taking the splinter out of someone else).
If he was white, it would be alright, you people are singular thinking morons!
Reply
Wednesday 04 November
By Kellie
Wow, ok let's make this a black thing. You people who play the race card make me ill. Michael Jackson was not a God and didn't heal anything in life and not in death either. This world is in a sad state and a movie isn't going to fix anything. Get real.
Sunday 01 November
By alexa
I saw THIS IS IT tonight. I loved it. I cryed every time Michael Jackson sang. Thank God I brought tissue!!! He still had it all and more. I stayed till the last credit, which was the dedication to his children. Then I cryed some more. There wasn't one dry eye in the theatre.
I might see it again and I already ordered the DVD.
Looks like it was going to be quite a concert.
RIP Michael Jackson
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By yalitza
u need 2 really shut ur trap @ stop saying all that garbage u saying about the world best entertainer ever he didnt do shyt 2 those two little f..kers the parents just wanted money @ aint nobody tell u 2 go see his movie the movie dont need your sorry 12 @ 50 cents wow so keep your comments @ ur retarded opinions 2 ur self trash i luv u my king of pop u my angel @ the world inspiration rest in heaven with my other king god i luv u michael now @ always i will never 4get u te amo r.i.p angel of mine @ the worlds
Reply