$20.1 million is it for 'This Is It'

Sony's unusual Wednesday launch for its Michael Jackson movie "This Is It" yielded decidedly mixed results.

The documentary sold $20.1-million worth of tickets around the world, with $7.4 million coming from the U.S. and Canada and $12.7 million from 97 foreign countries.

The United Kingdom was the biggest foreign market for "This Is It," bringing $1.9 million. France was next with $1.4 million, followed by Japan with $1.2 million, German with $1.1 million, and China with $730,000.

A small amount of the total came from night-time shows in the Western United States on Tuesday starting at 9 PM Pacific, but the vast majority is from screenings on Wednesday.

Opening movies worldwide on a Wednesday outside of summer of the holidays is extremely rare. On that basis, Sony can claim a solid launch when measured against any comparable films.

However, given the huge amounts of hype surrounding the movie and the $60 million Sony spent to make the movie, outside of its marketing costs, the opening is none too impressive.

Nighttime shows in the domestic market appear to have been particularly slow, as several studio executives had been expecting the movie to gross over $10 million domestically as of early evening Wednesday. Before the launch, executives at Sony and elsewhere said the movie could easily collect $20 million domestically on its opening day, which turned out to be the global total.

Sony is expecting relatively weak grosses today as well as Saturday, when moviegoers will likely be celebrating Halloween instead of going to theaters. Friday will be the critical day in determining the ultimate performance of "This Is It," because it will demonstrate whether word of mouth brings people who weren't rabid Michael Jackson fans to see the film.

While it's difficult to predict the ultimate worldwide performance of "This Is It" after one day, it appears that the domestic gross through Sunday will end up around $30 million, on the very low end of expectations before the picture launched.

Update (11:06 AM): Jackson fans who turned out loved the film. U.S. moviegoers gave "This Is It" an average grade of A, according to market research firm CinemaScore.

-- Ben Fritz

Photo: There were no lines for the first show of "This Is It" at The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Credit: Brian Vander Brug/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Kristal]

I can't wait to see this! It's doing so well, has all the celebrities behind it, and is getting great reviews from the critics too! You can check out all the reviews for it here: http://moviereviewintelligence.com/index.aspx?BID=27&RID=669&CID=0

[Fock]

If this movie wins a fucking Oscar I'll have lost my faith entirely in Hollywood..what a waste of celluloid

[jen]

This was an AWESOME movie! As for a waste of cellluloid, Fock...your comment is a waste.

[alexa]

I'm going to see the movie to see Michael Jackson's last harrah.
I'm not expecting to see an Oscar winnng performance.

This movie is for his true FANS and there are many out there.

RIP Michael Jackson

[Susanne]

I loved the movie and seen it twice already and plan on seeing it a third time this weekend. It's a wonderful tribute to one of the most talented entertainer ever.
Those of you who don't like Michael Jackson should not ruin it for those of us who loved and respected this man's amazing 40+ year career. Haters will always continue to put Michael down every chance they get. I give this movie a 5 star rating.

[S.L.Trout]

Gone too soon, that's all I can say. Watching this documentary was like being on stage right there with him. For all of his enormous talent and genius creativity, you couldn't help but also see that he was a humble, gracious human being. He treated his entourage of performers and staff like they were family. Although a perfectionist, he also was patient in allowing others to reach higher and give just a little bit more.

It's sad that so many people feel the need to denigrate Michael Jackson. I was a devoted fan from the beginning and will always be a fan. He wasn't just a brilliant musician and entertainer, he WAS music, AND magic! When I listen to his lyrics and melodies, my amazement at his talent rises to a whole new level.

Michael, thank you for your gifts. I pray that you have now found peace and true happiness.

[David Janklowicz]

$20M in one day is "unimpressive"?? I assure you there are lots of filmakers and actors who would be pleased to get that. I don't think the last movies that Bruce Willis or Nicole Kidman starred in got $20M TOTAL.

Besides, the real moolah here will be in DVD sales. Concert films usually don't do that well, but this will be the exception.

It is debatable whether Sony should have shelled out $60M because filming of these rehearsal scenes probably cost -- at the most -- $5M. (That's not including the cost of actually mounting the initial "This Is It" production) So MJ's estate and AEG stuck it to Sony but good. Still, Sony felt that they needed this, and so they shelled out. But there will be profit.

[yana]

I saw the movie last night and will see it again this Saturday. What a great way to celebrate music and this one-of-a-kind musical legend! Hate him or love him, you have to beckon to MJ's talents. His dedication to excellence and devotion to the arts, music, dance ... were just enormous and so genuine to me. There is nothing gloomy or ghoulish about the movie. I walked out of the theater last night, overwhelmed with such uplifted and celebrating feelings. Whether the movie would reach its box-office goal or not is irrelevant to "THIS IS IT" and has nothing to do with Michael Jackson. More importantly, the message embraced by this movie is far bigger than conquering the box office. To me, the movie already won its victory. After all, there are many great and TRUE artists out there who never won an Oscar; but they know, you know and we all know what class they belong to.

[Love MJ]

Micahel Jackson was the best and will always be the best. I love him so much and miss him more than I can say. I still cry over losing him. He was so awesome. I believe in my heart that there are more people that love him than not. And to S. L. Trout, you nailed it, you said it best!

Love for MJ Always!!!

[mark]

so the first 2 days (Tuesday, wed) the movie makes 22 million and some how you say that its not meeting expectations?
its 1/3 the 60 million they spent.

so you see, this movie can easily reach 120 million (which is double their money back), dont forget DVD sales... we shall wait and see.