"This Is It" - tops the box office charts raking in millions

WOW the Michael Jackson movie is doing amazingly well on the charts as it sweeps to number one in box office all over the world and locally. In South Africa, Michael Jackson’s This Is It grossed R3,677,446 for the opening weekend and released at 81 cinemas around the country.

Its got one more week to go and it will be off the cinemas so people if you want to see the moving flick, tickets are still available at cinemas or online at www.thisisitmovie.co.za.

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Since Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT was released October 28 in theaters worldwide, the late performer’s fans everywhere have responded, already making it the highest-grossing concert film of all-time with a worldwide total of $101 million and counting, it was announced today by Jeff Blake, chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment Worldwide Marketing & Distribution. With an estimated gross of $32.5 million domestically and $68.5 internationally, the film’s worldwide take in just five days of release has surpassed the record previously established by Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds (which had a lifetime worldwide gross of $71.3 million). Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT is directed by Kenny Ortega.

In response to the tremendous interest and desire to see the film around the world, the studio has also announced that it is extending its limited engagement. In the United States, the film will play through Thanksgiving weekend. Canada and most international territories will be announcing extensions of various lengths soon.

Overseas Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT is the 5th biggest international opening of 2009, close to X-Men Origin’s $73.1m launch and well beyond Night at the Museum 2’s $49.0 international opening. Top grossing territories include: Japan $10.4 m (3rd biggest opening of the year in Japan), U.K. $7.6 m, Germany $6.3 m, France $5.8 m, Australia $3.6 m, China $3.2 m, Italy $2.9 m, and Spain $2.6 m, among others.

Playing in 3,481 domestic locations, Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT opened to #1 in North America with $21.3 million for the 3-day weekend, averaging an estimated $6,119 per screen.

The opening weekend audience was almost evenly split between 49 % males and 51% females with 62% of the audience over the age of 25.

The film received an “A” CinemaScore and is one of the best reviewed films of the year with an 80% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Commenting on the announcement, Blake said, “This film is a unique celebration of Michael Jackson and his extraordinary music. Kenny Ortega delivered a masterful tribute that shows the pure genius that Michael poured into his creative process and made him one of the best performers that ever graced a stage. In just 5 days, Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT has become the highest grossing concert film of all time and we are elated by the response to this special film by fans, critics and moviegoers from all over the world. With this kind of global response, it’s clear that the motion picture deserves an extended run and we are going to do everything we can to make the film available to everyone who wants to see Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT on the big screen.”

By a large margin, the film’s 5-day box office gross has already surpassed the cost the studio incurred to acquire the footage.

Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT offers Michael Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this past summer in London’s O2 Arena. Covering the months from March through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing numerous songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he has never been seen before. In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT is the last documentation of Michael Jackson in action, capturing the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius, and great artist at work as he and his collaborators move toward their goals of London, the O2, and history. Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson's creative partner and the director of the stage show, also directed the film, which was being produced by Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. Executive producers are John Branca and John McClain.