Jackson's 'This Is It' draws $20.1m worldwide

Saturday, November 21, 2009 11:33 AM

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Monday, November 02, 2009

LOS ANGELES, USA (AP) - Michael Jackson's This Is It has landed on top of the US box office with $7.4 million in its first day and $12.7 million overseas.

That gives the film documenting Jackson's rehearsals for his planned concert tour a worldwide total of $20.1 million.

Distributor Sony said the $7.4 million domestic haul is the best ever for a movie on a Wednesday in October. This Is It was easily the No 1 film domestically, coming in ahead of the $1.5 million gross for Paranormal Activity, last weekend's top box-office earner.

Jackson died June 25, just before he was to begin a marathon run of comeback concerts in London. This Is It was built around more than 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage shot between March and June as Jackson and his backup performers developed the numbers intended for his elaborate stage shows.

Attended worldwide by many celebrities, This Is It climbed into the ranks of top-grossing music documentarues in a single day. It placed just behind the $8.6-million domestic haul of U2: Rattle and Hum.

It was predicted that over the weekend, This Is It would likely shoot past such films as Madonna: Truth or Dare ($15 million) and Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience ($19.2 million) to become the No 2 draw all-time on the music-documentary chart.

The No 1 music documentary is Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert, which had a $31.1 million opening weekend last year and took in $65.3-million over its entire theatrical run.

Among the totals from other countries, This Is It brought in $1.9 million in Great Britain, $1.4 million in France, $1.2 million in Japan and $1.1 million in Germany.

The film debuted in 99 countries Wednesday and expands to 10 more Thursday.

The film features Jackson doing all his biggest hits, including Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, Human Nature and Smooth Criminal.