Features
‘This Is It’ Not So ‘It’?
The premiere of the much-hyped Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It” has been deemed both a box office success and a disappointment, depending on who’s talking.
Sony Pictures, which paid $60 million just to release the film, reported the movie took in $32.5 million domestically and $68.5 million internationally in its first five days and was No. 1 at the box office ahead of “Paranormal Activity,” “Law Abiding Citizen,” “Couples Retreat” and “Saw VI” respectively, according to the New York Times.
It has also overtaken former concert film record-holder “Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert Tour,” which took in about $70.6 million total last year, the paper said.
However, “This Is It” domestic figures are reportedly considered disappointing by Hollywood standards despite the studio’s heavy promotion and announcement of a limited two-week engagement to build the buzz.
That time frame has since been changed, with the film now running in theatres through Thanksgiving in the U.S.
Extensions for Canada and overseas are to be announced shortly, the Times said.
Rory Bruer, Sony’s president for worldwide distribution, disagrees with the naysayers.
“We couldn’t be more pleased – a tremendous result,” Bruer told the Times, adding that the film performed within the studio’s projections. “This was always a worldwide play.”
The numbers should also please AEG, which reportedly has reached its breakeven point after investing millions into the show that never was.
And, of course, those numbers don’t include home entertainment sales yet.
The “This Is It” documentary won’t be released on DVD until late January or early February.