Leave it to Michael Jackson to out-perform the competition.Amid enormous buzz and record ticket presales, the much-anticipated movie featuring footage of Jackson's last days rehearsing for his comeback concert tour could greatly exceed expectations at the global box office.
Indeed, 'This Is It' which opens wide on Oct. 28 for a two-week run, is leading ticket sales on Fandango, overtaking this week's movie releases and putting up numbers that rival recent blockbuster presales for 'Star Trek' and 'Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince.' And here's a doozy: Nikki Finke reports that executives at AEG, the concert promoter that was to present Jackson's series of 50 shows in London, are predicting the movie could deliver $250 million within five days of its international premiere. According to Finke, Sony Pictures has already recouped the $60 million it paid for the rights to the film thanks to sizzling presales.
Now, let's digest AEG's astonishing prediction: $250 million!! In FIVE days!! Given MJ's enduring appeal -- and posthumous profitability -- is that such an impossible figure to throw out? Come on: If Miley Cyrus can topple box-office records for her 2008 3-D concert film, extending a limited run to satisfy gangbusters ticket sales, then imagine what the King of Pop might accomplish on the big screen several months after his death. While Sony and AEG execs maintain they intend to keep the film in theaters just two weeks, Finke's AEG sources say 'This Is It' could return for an encore.
Sure Jackson had a supernatural dancing prowess, but can he compete in the same cinematic league as Harry Potter and other box-office superheroes? It's too soon to tell, but in a couple weeks, the peerless pop legend will likely claim one title: the record for the highest-grossing concert film in history.
'This Is It' showtimes and tickets
'This Is It' trailer in HD
Reader Comments (181)
truth4mj at 11:36PM on Oct 15th 2009
This-Is-Not-It dot com This was murder!
Beverly at 6:21AM on Oct 16th 2009
I so agree with you truth4mj, this is not right. Someone needs bringing to justice.
Ed at 6:00PM on Oct 19th 2009
It was already ruled a homicide. I don't see it as being deliberate though, it was medically careless. Leave it at that. It's sad enough he's gone.
Tina M.M at 8:06AM on Oct 22nd 2009
We all know he was murdered and let's not forget that Michael "WILL NEVER" be forgotten..Such a talented man with GREAT BIG HEART..
lisa at 6:34PM on Oct 18th 2009
really murdered; and by whom? these comments crack me up
terrie at 8:00PM on Oct 18th 2009
he was murdered~period~doctors have a oath and a standards~the doctors in michaels life had zero of both~sad~to think people seem he did this to himself~hello mcfly's without those doctors he wouldnt have had gotten any of the drugs that killed him~period~the drug that killed him proprol?
elsienyla at 8:38PM on Oct 18th 2009
he was not murdered idiots. Read ur medical journals before making uneducated comments. All those medications he was taken was eventually going to stop his heart. He had it coming
Tasia at 4:25PM on Oct 18th 2009
I love you Michael.....and I will always love you from the bottom of my heart! I grew up with you - we are the same age.... You have no idea how much you meant to me all my life as I watched you grow... I wanted so badly to reach out to you when I felt you were hurting - but I felt I probably would not have been taken seriously or geniune...so I never attempted........and I am sorry I didnt extend myself to you now......xoxo Tasia from Long Island.
Britlite3 at 4:40PM on Oct 18th 2009
May you rest in peace MJ - you were always a kindred soul and so much talent. No one will ever be able to replace you. What a great loss. Your love for people and children was an honest love - it saddens me more people could not follow in your footsteps. I NEVER believed for a second you were the monster the news claimed. You just love deeply and with God in your heart. RIP - your children were very lucky to have such a loving daddy. May God bless them :)
Keri at 7:08PM on Oct 18th 2009
Very touching and true,i feel a void..Thanx!
Wendy Gesell at 4:39PM on Oct 18th 2009
Why was that doctor not brought to justice? There's something wrong with the justice system if he can get away with cold-blooded murder!! Is the Jackson family going to do anything about it?? MJ was taken away from them and his fans far too soon because of that idiot!!
Bobbi at 8:27PM on Oct 18th 2009
Wendy, you are 100% correct. So called MD, Conrad Murray, who claims to have been Michael's physician, and "friend" as well, injected, through continuous IV drip, our dear Michael with a drug that is ONLY used by Anesthesiologists in surgical procedures wherein they NEVER leave the side of the person receiving the anesthesia, constantly monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, respirations, etc. This "doctor" actually left Michael alone in the room while he went and made personal phone calls, raided the fridge, and probably went to the bathroom, leaving Michael to die. I am reminded of the old saying, "When the cat's away, the mice will play." It is inexcusable regardless of whether Michael begged, asked for, requested, or demanded the profolol. He clearly didn't realize the dangers and he also clearly trusted Murray to only let him sleep the allotted amount of time, then wake him for breakfast. The man is a fraud, a quack and a criminal walking free. Clearly Michael expected to awaken as usual and go about his normal routine, lunch with his children, dinner with his children later on, followed by going to the Staples Center that night for the usual 6 to 8 hours of rehearsal. He did NOT want to die, did NOT have to die, and had no plans to die. I am certain of this. What I wouldn't give if I too could have found a way to reach out to Michael as I watched him go through so many horrible events in the past 15 years or so. Michael was in pretty good spirits considering all he had been through and he was trying to move on and work to support his family, including his Mother, who he well knew used the financial assistance he gave her to support Joe, along with many of his brothers and sisters. They ALL depended on him. If the State of California doesn't go after Conrad Murray just as harshly and directly as they did Michael during and before his trial, then they are putting themselves above their own laws.
Please God, give Katherine Jackson the strength and courage and support of her family, to go after Murray and law enforcement and DEMAND justice for Michael. He knew he really couldn't trust anybody anymore, and yet, he still held out hope, and gave his trust on rare occasions, and EVERY time he did it he was betrayed, whether it be by family, children he befriended and whose families always reaped the benefits of his love for the unfortunate children, and his final misguided trust and faith given to Conrad Murray who betrayed him to death.
California! We demand justice for Michael Jackson or there could end up being more than just "Blood on the Dance Floor" in my opinion. What is the state waiting for? It's time for charges and an arrest. We, the citizens of the USA DEMAND it! I love you Michael, and I am so sorry that I could not find some way to reach out, get to you, make you see, just help you anyway I could. More than anything in the world you needed a GOOD friend and you had that in people like Wendy and myself, but we could not get close to you to help you and your "inner circle" would have accused us of being stalkers or something because they wanted to isolate you and control you. Even Niko Brando was being pushed aside but I know you could have trusted him had you demanded he be more involved.You didn't realize the danger you were in. They took you, isolated you, used you, and your final show of friendship toward another, who was also on your payroll, by letting him be close to you, murdered you. You're ALWAYS in my heart and my prayers Michael and I hope that just maybe, you finally know that there are some of us, strangers to you, who care and love you deeply and would have never wanted anything in return. Our hearts bleed for you now as we suffer the guilt of not being able to save your life Michael. God bless your Mother and your beautiful children. We love them too.
Genie at 7:06PM on Oct 19th 2009
What I wnat to know is who was the guy who called 911? How come he nver appeared in any reports? No word on him to date? Why not? No one mentions him, maybe he is the culprit and they are making it look like it's the doctor. I don't think it was the doctor.
Poor Michael, RIP!
Lori K at 4:41PM on Oct 18th 2009
I'm kind of disappointed. From the commericals, and the fact he died, I figured this was some sort of bopic. That could have been interesting.
TooMuch! at 4:44PM on Oct 18th 2009
I was a Jackson fan, but enough already. I am so sick of hearing about him. And because of that I won't see his movie or buy any new music from him. He's dead. Get over it. His best days were behind him anyway.
MJFan at 9:42PM on Oct 18th 2009
If you're so tired of him.. why are you here?? why click on another MJ story if you're so tired of him?? Ohh, maybe so you can make stupid comments and stir up some arguments? Get a life.
frank at 5:04PM on Oct 18th 2009
Let's be honest this is exploitation one last time on his NAME and this movie should not be released nor should it be sent to dvd... This is horrible and I don't even like MJ. I wish our society was not so dam greedy and shallow. Murdered or not his death was a impact in hte world of entertainment if you liked him or not and this is just stealing from hte dead... I hope all who pushed this to get out his family included rot!!
Frank at 5:04PM on Oct 18th 2009
I bet right now, Michael Jackson is standing in front of Jesus grabbing his crotch with one hand and the back of his head with the other. Don't buy his tickets to his pic, instead go directly to the nearest Catholic Church and light a candle.
Corliss at 12:27PM on Oct 19th 2009
FRANK WHY ARE YOU SO JEALOUS ABOUT MICHEAL HOLDING HIS CROUCH. YOU COULD HAVE HELD YOURS TO, YOU PUSSY
shirley at 6:41PM on Oct 18th 2009
Why would you want to go to the Catholic church, thats where all the pedophiles are. Light a candle for all those horrible priests