Michael Jackson's This is It

Michael Jackson's This Is It is a 2009 American documentary–concert film directed by Kenny Ortega that documents Michael Jackson's rehearsals and preparation for his concert series of the same name that was originally scheduled to start on 13 July 2009, but cancelled due to his death eighteen days prior on 25 June. The film consists of Jackson rehearsing musical numbers, directing his team, and additional behind-the-scenes footage including dancer auditions and costume design. The film's directorKenny Ortega confirmed that none of this footage was originally intended for release, but after Jackson's death it was agreed that the film be made. The footage was filmed in California at the Staples Center and The Forum, and features a clip from London's O2 Arena where Jackson publicly announced the concert series.

Despite originally being set for 30 October, the film's release date was rescheduled for 28 October 2009 due to a strong demand by Jackson's fans. The film was given a worldwide release and a limited two-week theatrical run from 28 October to 12 November 2009, but theatrical release was later extended. Tickets went on sale a month early (on 27 September) to satisfy a high anticipated demand;. to date, the film has broken numerous records via tickets both pre-sale and sales worldwide.

Since the film's confirmation, AEG Live has faced criticism; mostly consisting of claims that they had only made the film to make a profit. Multiple members of Jackson's family had confirmed that they did not support the film and some family members went as far as to try to stop the film agreement in August. The film has also been surrounded by allegations regarding the appearance of body doubles in place of Jackson; which Sony denied, and an outrage from some of Jackson fans; with some going as far as to start a protest against the film. In August 2009, a judge approved a deal between Jackson's estate, concert promoter AEG Live, and Sony Pictures (sister company to Jackson's record distributors of his album label). The agreement allowed Sony to edit the hundreds of hours of rehearsal footage needed to create the film. Sony subsequently paid $50 million for the film rights.[3]

The film received generally positive reviews from both critics and Jackson fans; the film's portrayal of Jackson and his performances were generally praised, while criticism mainly consisted of both critics and fans having felt that the film was made just to profit off Jackson's death and that Jackson would not have wanted the film released because he was a perfectionist. Despite some fans boycotting the film, and his family not endorsing the film, the ticket sales for This Is It broke international records a month before its release. Among the cities with the strongest sales were Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and New York. Records were also set in Japan, where more than $1 million in tickets were sold on the first day they were available. In London, fans bought more than 30,000 tickets on the first day. Record sales were also reported in the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Brazil and New Zealand.[4]  In the first opening weekend it grossed $101 million worldwide. The film sold $32.5 million over its first five days in the U.S. andCanada, and $68.5 million in 97 other countries—making the number one film at the box office[5]  and making it the fifth highest-grossing Halloween debut. On its theatrical run, the film's worldwide revenue gross was in total $261 million and become the highest-grossing concert film of all time.[2]



Contents
[hide]  *1 Concept  ==Concept[ edit] == The film begins with a short text introduction stating the purpose of the footage and its intent "For the fans...". After short dialogues from various dancers, Kenny Ortega is heard talking through the original concert opening sequence involving a body suit made from screens which display fast clips and images with bright intensity from which Jackson emerges on stage. Immediately after this, Jackson begins "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" first solo, which pauses half-way through and a small snippet of Jackson singing his song "Speechless" a cappella is shown. Jackson is then joined by dancers and completes the first number. A short clip showing rehearsals of the "toaster" mechanism is shown before rehearsal footage of "Jam" is played. This plays directly into the green screen adaptation of soldiers dancers for "Bad" which are also used for "They Don't Care About Us" which is shown next. From here, the film shows Michael directing Ortega and his band for his solo rehearsal performance of "Human Nature" which he performs a cappella, then acoustic and finally with full band. Green screen rehearsals for the video vignette for "Smooth Criminal" come next (with scenes from his film Moonwalker as well as the film Gildafeaturing Rita Hayworth as the title character singing "Put The Blame On Mame"), with dress rehearsals of the song following, including parts of the vignette intertwined with the dancing. Jackson is seen next directing his musical team for the cues in his song "The Way You Make Me Feel". Jackson then performs a rehearsal with dancers which he alters and changes as he goes. Jackson then rehearses a medley of The Jackson 5 songs: "I Want You Back", "The Love You Save", "I'll Be There" and "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)". After this, Jackson sings with Judith Hill, one of his back up singers, on his duet song "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" in which he sings at full strength, directing his partner as he goes. The filming for the "Thriller" vignette is then shown with Jackson and Ortega watching with 3D glasses. Jackson is then seen rehearsing "Thriller" with the vignette intertwined like that in "Smooth Criminal." Footage of the show's aerialists rehearsing to the instrumental of "Who Is It" is shown next.
 * 1.1 Songs performed in the film
 * 2 Background
 * 3 Music
 * 4 Production
 * 5 Release
 * 5.1 Marketing
 * 5.2 Obtaining tickets
 * 5.3 Ticket sales
 * 5.3.1 Record sales
 * 5.4 IMAX and release
 * 6 Controversies
 * 7 Reception
 * 7.1 Box office
 * 7.1.1 Box office result
 * 7.2 Critical response
 * 7.3 Home media
 * 8 References
 * 9 External links

During the dance sequence, puppets are suspended in the audience aisles while Jackson emerges from a robotic spider originally seen in the vignette. Jackson and Ortega rehearsing the cherry-picker is seen next, along with Jackson rehearsing "Beat It." Footage of Jackson and the band rehearsing "Black Or White" is shown next, in which he instructs his band to skip the second verse and later allows guitarist Orianthi Panagaris to take center stage to finish with a high guitar riff. The video sequence for "Earth Song" is shown next, featuring a little girl who wanders through a forest, falls asleep, and wakes up to find the forest destroyed by man. Jackson then performs the song, with his voice being heard at the end telling of the dangers of Global Warming and the lack of reversible time left. He then performs a quick version of his song "Billie Jean". Michael is then seen talking to all crew members and wishing everyone the best for the London performances. At a sound check, Michael performs "Man In The Mirror" with strong backing vocals. The credits are shown next, with a montage of rehearsal clips and "This Is It" being played in the background. After the show, a live recording of "Heal The World" was played. Then, the audio of "Human Nature" was played, with a clip of Michael rehearsing it in early June (the 3D Screen was not set up yet). Then, a clip of what could have been a Dome Project video of "Heal the World" was shown, in which the girl that appeared in the "Earth Song" video was shown holding the world and a signed message, by Michael, saying "I Love You." ===Songs performed in the film<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ==Background<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == See also: This Is It (concerts)The interior of The O2 Arena, where the concerts were set to have been held. Jackson was to perform from July 2009 to March 2010—which would have been the longest residency at the arena.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6" style="line-height:1;font-size:9.89632034301758px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On 5 March 2009 at the O2 Arena, Jackson announced that he was to perform 10 concerts as part of a comeback.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8]  Jackson suggested possible post-show retirement by stating: "I just wanted to say that these will be my final show performances in London. When I say this is it, it really means this is it, this will be the final curtain call."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  On 11 March, two days before pre-sale began, an extra 40 dates were added to meet high demand, bringing the number of shows to 50 — five of these dates were reserved in their entirety for the public sale.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10]  Jackson's 50 dates would make the concerts the longest residency at the arena. In May 2009, the show was originally set to have begun on 8 July 2009, and finished on 6 March 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-new_dates_11-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On 20 May 2009, it was announced that the first concert would be pushed back by eight days to 16 July, and three other July dates would be rescheduled for March 2010. AEG Live stated that the delay was necessary because more time was needed to prepare, mainly for dress rehearsals. The revised schedule called for 27 shows between 16 July, and 29 September 2009, followed by a three-month break, and resuming in 2010, with 23 more shows between 7 January, and 6 March 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-new_dates_11-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11]  The This Is It concerts would have been Jackson's first major performances and series of concerts since the HIStory World Tour that began in 1996 and finished in 1997. In preparation for the concerts, Jackson had been collaborating with multiple well known and high profile figures, such asKenny Ortega, who would have served as his choreographer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12]  On 29 June 2009, only days after Jackson's death, AEG Live, the concert's promoter, offered ticket holders a choice; to either get refunded all the money spent of their ticket(s) or to keep the ticket(s) as a souvenir and memento by receiving the printed ticket that Jackson had designed himself.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[13] ==Music<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Main article: Michael Jackson's This Is It (album)<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The album, titled This Is It was released on 26 October and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart with the sales of over 373,000 in its first week of release.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[14]  The two-disc album features music 'that inspired the movie'.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[15]  Sony said of the albums that: "Disc one will feature the original album masters of some of Michael's biggest hits arranged in the same sequence as they appear in the film" and stated that "the disc ends with two versions of the 'never-released' "This Is It". This song is featured in the film's closing sequence and includes backing vocals by Michael Jackson's brothers, The Jacksons."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-digitalspy_16-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[16]  Sony also stated that the second disc will feature "previously unreleased versions" from Jackson's 'catalogue of hits' and that It will also include a spoken word poem entitled "Planet Earth" (which originally appeared in the liner notes of the Dangerous (1991) album) and a 36-page commemorative booklet with "photos of Michael [Jackson] from his last rehearsal".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[17] ==Production<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The film's director and choreographer Ortega stated that the rehearsal footage and concept of making a film to document the preparation of the concerts had come about as "an accident".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[18] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-d2_19-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]  Ortega stated the film was pieced together from "private footage" shot by documentarians Sandrine Orabona and Tim Patterson of Jackson and the concerts crew rehearsing and that before Jackson's death, was never intended to be released to the public, or even in general.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-d2_19-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]  "The recordings were made so we could use them, then the tapes were destined for Michael [Jackson]'s private library. They have a real unguarded honesty to them."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-d2_19-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]  Ortega stated that he had gotten the idea to use the rehearsal footage from Jackson's fans after his death: "At first I got so many messages from fans around the world asking to see the shows, asking to see the footage and eventually I realized the journey wasn't over and we had to do this", and Ortega also stated that the film was made only for the Jackson fans: "[The film] is for the fans and the film will show the development and intentions of the show, and the concert as it moved closer to London."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-d2_19-3" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On 10 August, a Superior Court Judge officially approved the deal between Columbia Pictures (film distributor) and AEG Live (the concerts' promoter) for Columbia to be able to purchase and distribute rehearsal footage of Jackson and the rehearsal crew for the film.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-deal6_20-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[20] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[21]  The deal also included a merchandising agreement with Bravado International Group—the company is a division of Universal Music Group that is owned by Vivendi—so that they can distribute and sell "Jackson-themed products".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-deal4_22-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[22]  Columbia had reportedly paid $60 million (£35 million) for rights to the rehearsal footage in court documents that were filed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-filmdeal_23-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23]  The papers filed had also reportedly stated that Jackson's estate will get 90% of the profits and that AEG will get the remaining 10% from the film's revenue. In the agreement, Columbia and AEG Live both agreed in the deal that the final version of the film should be no longer than 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes), and that the film must attain a PG rating.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-deal4_22-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[22]  The contract also stated that the film is not allowed to show footage of Jackson that shows him in a negative way, stating that: "Footage that paints Jackson in a bad light will not be permitted and "Under the terms of the proposed contract, the film will have to be screened for Jackson's estate and cannot include any footage that puts the superstar in a bad light."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-filmdeal_23-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23]  The court papers stated that in order for the film to be released to the public the final version of the film must be screened to representatives of Jackson's Estate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[24] ==Release<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Marketing<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On 9 September 2009, the film's official theatrical movie poster was released. On 10 September 2009, it was reported that MTV's Video Music Awards, which at the time had already announced that they would honor Jackson at the show would premiere the film's first, and only known, trailer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[25]  Along with Janet Jackson's tribute to Michael, the trailer of the film premiered at the 2009 MTV Video Music Award which was watched by a total of 9 million people.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[26]  On 13 September 2009, it was reported that a "secret Michael Jackson [promotional music] single is being produced" to promote the film, at which the film would have, at the time, been released the following month.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[27]  It was reported that Jackson had recorded the song for release with his planned summer tour but after his death it was shelved until producers in Los Angeles remixed the vocals with an orchestral accompaniment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-song9_28-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[28]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On 23 September 2009, it was reported that the film's new song "This Is It" would be released on 12 October 2009, sixteen days before the film's release.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-song9_28-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[28] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[29] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[30]  On 9 October, it was confirmed that the song would debut online the following Monday at midnight, receiving its world premiere on MichaelJackson.com.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[31]  On 21 September 2009, Sony released a 45-second clip of Jackson rehearsing his performance for "Human Nature" and also released stills from the video clip.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[32]  As part of a print marketing campaign for the film, Entertainment Weekly magazine did a cover story of the film for the magazine's 16 October 2009 issue, to coincide with the film's release for that same month.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[33] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[34]  Also as part of promotion for the film, Entertainment Weekly released 8 "never before seen" movie stills from the film.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[35]  On 21 October, a clip of Jackson rehearsing "The Way You Make Me Feel" was released.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[36]  On 21 October, a 2-minute featurette of the film was released.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[37]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In September 2009, Sony launched "This-Is-It-Fans.com", which allowed fans to sign up for an 'alert' so that they can be able to take part in 'Michael Jackson's This Is It mosaic', in which fans could upload photos to the website, beginning 21 September and running to 30 September, and the completed mosaic would be posted online on 22 October, six days before the film's release.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[38]  On 24 September 2009, MTV announced, after the success the project proved with New Moon, that they will allow MTV registered users, to "watch and comment on any scene in the film's already released trailer". MTV described the project as "essentially [being] an in-video graphical overlay that allows users to comment on the video as it plays and review comments from other users.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtvpromo_39-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[39] ===Obtaining tickets<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On 25 September 2009, lines opened at the courtyard outside the Nokia Theatre's L.A. Live complex in downtown Los Angeles. Hundreds of people were waiting in line to purchase tickets on the day the tickets were out on the box office.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ooo_40-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[40]  The L.A. Live complex; allowed people waiting in line the opportunity to bring chairs, one per person, and umbrellas due to the long wait ahead of them.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ooo_40-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[40]  It was reported that the "first 500 fans in line have been promised commemorative lenticular tickets designed by Jackson for the London concerts at the O2 Arena", the only other way to obtain those specialized tickets was to trade in your concert tickets to the now canceled tour.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ooo_40-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[40] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-other3_41-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[41]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">MTV stated that, "Fans in line are also eligible to receive commemorative 'Michael Jackson's This Is It' T-shirts and posters [...] They're also being invited to sign the memorial wall set up outside the theater, which is open for anyone who wants to leave a message or memory" for Jackson<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-other3_41-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[41]  A reported total of 3,000 movie tickets will be available for the early screening of the film on 27 October 2009, at the L.A. Live's new Regal Cinemas Stadium 14, marking it the movie theater's grand opening. It is the only screening location offering the advance shows and commemorative tickets.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[42]  Jeff Labrecque of En commented, "Three months after Michael Jackson's death, I'm still surprised by the passion of his fans."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[43]  Bridget Daly of Hollyscoop commented on the waiting time for tickets that, she could "expect nothing less" from Jackson's fans.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[44] ===Ticket sales<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On 27 September 2009, the first day of ticket sales, all 3,000 tickets to the advance screenings of the film had "sold out within two hours [on] early Sunday [September 27, 2009]." Fans had reportedly waited in line for days.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[45] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[46]  CinemaBlend.com reported that over 160 showings had sold out.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[47]  Reuters.com, stated that "hundreds of screenings in North America have already sold out, a month before the film's October 28 opening."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[48]  According to MovieTickets.com, sales of tickets to the film have "accounted for more than 82 percent of all the tickets sold at the site today [Monday, September 28, 2009]." CinemaBlend.com described the sale of tickets on MovieTickets.com as being "fairly significant"—but remarked that "this is after all, just a concert documentary." It was reported that over 80 percent of tickets sold on Fandango.com were for this film.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[49]  It was also reported that the film had "accounted for some 80% of all online ticketing in the U.S. within its first 24 hours of sales, dominating presales compared with such upcoming titles as Avatarand The Twilight Saga: New Moon.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[50]  Sony, confirmed that over 30,000 tickets were sold in the first 24 hours that tickets went of sale.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[51] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-alltickets_52-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[52]  Sony also stated that the film had moved over 1 million dollars in tickets sales in Japan.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-alltickets_52-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[52]  Sony announced in a press release that in the "last 24 hours [since 27 September]", that over 80% of all Fandango.com and Movietickets.com sales for the film, had already sold out in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Nashville and New York, among others and: "Internationally, exhibitors from London and Sydney to Bangkok and Tokyo have experienced the same epic demand."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-useuse_53-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[53]  Sony stated in a statement of the film's good ticket sale's that: "Staggering advance sales were reported in Australia, where tickets for Michael Jackson's This Is It purchased through Village Cinemas exceeded the lifetime pre-sales of such blockbusters as Transformers and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-useuse_53-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[53]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On Thursday, 1 October 2009, Fandango.com stated the film was the 'top ticket seller' on the site.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-hmf_54-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[54]  Both Fandango.com and Movietickets.com are reported that more than 1,600 screenings had already been sold out, via online pre-sales, by 15 October.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[55]  In United Kingdom, Vue Cinemas stated that they'd sold 64,000 tickets in the two-and-a-half weeks since ticket purchasing was made available, while Odeon Cinema stated that they'd had the sales of over 60,000 tickets by 15 October.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[56]  E! Online said of the film, based on its current record ticket selling, out-selling and making more revenue than Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert that: "Last year, Disney billed Miley Cyrus' Best of Both Worlds show as a one-week-only event. Then the film scored a $31 million opening weekend, and one week turned into 15. Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus became the top-grossing concert movie of all time. So far. While it's still early, This Is It is on track to top Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus. During its first three days of sales, Fandango said, Jackson's film outpaced Cyrus' first three days by a wide three-to-one margin."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-hmf_54-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[54]  Joel Cohen, the executive vice president of MovieTickets.com, said of the ticket sales: "Michael Jackson is such an iconic figure, with a fan base that transcends even some of the most bankable stars in Hollywood [...] We expected there to be a large demand for tickets for an 'event' film like this one, but MovieTickets.com has never seen such a high volume of sellouts this far in advance for any movie."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[57] ====Record sales<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==== <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">It was reported that fans had lined up at the box office ticket counters throughout the city of Bangkok, Thailand, and that by the end of the first day "all tickets for the first showings across Bangkok were sold out."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-alltickets_52-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[52]  It was also reported that there were "sell-outs at theaters in France" and that "thousands of fans lined up at The Grand Rex in Paris and quickly bought out the film's first screening there [...] Record-setting sales also were recorded in Germany [...] hundreds of fans lined up outside one theater in Munich at midnight to await the opening of the box office." A German exhibitor said of crowds of people lining up for tickets to the film, that: "Something like this [has] never happened before in Germany." Among other countries, "record sales" and "sell-outs" were also reported in the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and New Zealand.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-alltickets_52-3" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[52]  On 7 October 2009, three weeks prior to the film's release, MovieTickets.com stated that the film had entered their "Top-25 Advance Ticket Sellers of All-Time", bumping The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring from the Number 25 slot.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sales25_58-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[58]  By 27 October, Kinekor cinemas sold over 24,000 pre-sale tickets in South Africa, tripling the previous pre-sale record.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[59] ===IMAX and release<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Despite the fact that IMAX screenings are usually planned and booked months in advance by the film's movie distributors, Regal Entertainment Group, America's largest cinema chain, stated on 30 September, that they would screen IMAX versions of the film at their cinemas.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-imax99_60-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[60]  Regal stated that they are planning on making 25 of their IMAX locations available for the screening of the film when it opened to the public on 28 October.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-imax99_60-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[60]  Dick Westerling, head of marketing and advertising for Regal, stated that the film was selected due to its strong ticket sales.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-imax99_60-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[60]  IMAX Corporation and Sony stated that the film will open in digital IMAX theatres. and that the limited IMAX release will be played domestically during "evening show times" in 96 IMAX digital theaters, and additionally the movie will be played in 27 of the company's international digital locations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-imax87_61-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[61]  A key part of the IMAX DMR process includes re-mastering the soundtrack to take advantage of IMAX's 14,000 watt digital audio system.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-imax87_61-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[61]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On 11 August, it was widely announced, and later confirmed, that the film would be released to theatres in October 2009, though at the time no specific date was released or confirmed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[62]  When confirmed it was reported that the film was set be released worldwide on 30 October 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[63]  Later in August it was announced that the film's release date was rescheduled two days early for 28 October.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtvoctober28_64-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[64]  Sony stated that the film's release date was moved up by two days due to an 'overwhelming demand' for the film."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtvoctober28_64-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[64]  On 6 October, it was reported and confirmed by a Sony executive, that the film had been chosen to be one of the last of China's "20 annual foreign movie import slots".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[65] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[66] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chinarelease_67-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[67]  China only allows 20 major foreign films to be released in the country every year on a revenue-sharing basis.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chinarelease_67-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[67]  Chinese censors had reportedly approved the film before the countries weeklong holiday that started on 1 October, clearing it in time for the global release date of 28 October.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chinarelease_67-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[67] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[68]  Li Chow, manager of Sony Pictures Releasing International's stated that Sony will give the movie as wide a release as possible because of Jackson's popularity in China.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chinarelease_67-3" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[67] ==Controversies<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In September 2009, AEG stated, that based on the positive enthusiasm by fans for waiting in lines for days for tickets to the film, that they had hoped it was a sign that the public had not felt that they were exploiting Jackson after his death.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ti_69-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[69]  AEG president Tim Leiweke stated he hoped that the film would give fans some peace of mind that as a company, Jackson's 'legacy' and well being was always a priority and the fact that people had thought otherwise had really "hurt" people at AEG.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ti_69-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[69]  Leiweke stated, <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">"Some of the things that people have said about us, which are so untrue, this movie's going to restore his legacy, and prove that we, in fact, gave Michael a second chance here. And an opportunity to make the kind of comeback he was dreaming of. And that we created an environment for him that was probably the best environment that the guy had the last 10 or 15 years of his life. And I'm very proud of the way we treated Michael, and very proud of the partnership that we had with him. And this movie is an opportunity to celebrate that, and we could get past all of the gossip and all of the innuendo."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ti_69-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[69] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Multiple members of Jackson's family had opposed the film from the start in August 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tmzlive_70-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[70]  Jackson's nephews tried to go to court to try to stop negotiations between AEG Live and Sony.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tmzlive_70-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[70]  Jackson's older sister La Toya stated that she felt that Michael would not have wanted the film to have been released because he was not giving his all into his performances.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-71" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[71]  In October 2009, Jackson's father, Joe, stated and had strongly insisted that the film "is mostly body doubles" and that "the media is going to tear this movie apart" because of it.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tmzlive_70-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[70]  TMZ stated that members of the Jackson family had felt that footage of "Jackson" in the film was not him but rather body double(s).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-no3_72-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[72]  However, Sony released a statement denying rumors that the film had rehearsal footage of Jackson body doubles, describing the story as "pure garbage".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[73] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[74]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">At the time of Jackson's death, and in the aftermath of it, multiple reports surfaced that AEG Live purposely tried to hide Jackson's health concerns during preparations for his would-have-been concerts. Concerns included Jackson's frail appearance due to lack of eating that had reportedly caused Jackson to be unable to perform from lack of strength<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[75]  and that AEG had used body doubles in rehearsals to stand in for Jackson.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tmzlive_70-3" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[70]  After Jackson's death, AEG stated that there was no truth to any of the rumors and that Jackson was thin but in good enough condition to perform.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-76" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[76]  On 23 October 2009, days before the film's release, fans of Jackson launched a protest campaign against the film entitled "This Is not It".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[77] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pro3_78-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[78]  The campaign's focus was to convince people that Jackson's health was neglected by AEG, among others, and that AEG was partly responsible for Jackson's death and now the company is making a profit off Jackson's death.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tisni_79-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[79]  The group started a website and created their own 'trailer' for the movie to showcase their point-of-view on the documentary.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tisni_79-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[79]  The protestors also inaccurately claimed that Jackson was 108 pounds (49 kg) at his death, contradicting Jackson's autopsy, which had stated that Jackson weighed 136 pounds (61 kg).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aprep_80-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[80]  Shortly after the protest became news, The Guardian conducted a poll on their website asking users "What do you think of Michael Jackson's posthumous film Is This It?", 51.4% agreed with one of the two options: "I agree with the fans who are boycotting it — it's shameless profiteering".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-81" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[81] ==Reception<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Box office<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The film upon its debut grossed more internationally than in North America.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-boxofficemojo_2-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[2]  As of 1 March 2011, the film's total worldwide gross was over $261 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-boxofficemojo_2-3" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[2]  The Hollywood Reporter said "This Is It" is going to take first place in the weekend box office chart with $23,234,394 at 3,481 theaters—with a per-theater average of $6,675 over the period of five days.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-boxofficemojo_2-4" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[2]  This return had "underperformed" to both Sony and film analysts' expectations—Sony's had originally expected the film to make an estimated 50 million,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-82" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[82]  but after the film's "disappointing" three-day gross, due to some fans, mostly in North America, boycotting the movie and issuing boycott propaganda in social networks and media, Sony lowered their expectations to $35 million,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-83" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[83]  while analysts expected an estimated 30 million for the weekend.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-notlimited_84-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[84]  In the film's second weekend of wide release, it declined to 43.4%,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-85" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[85]  making $13,157,944, placing it at second at the box office, behind A Christmas Carol—which had grossed more than twice what This Is It made.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-86" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[86]  The film completed its theatrical run in North America on 3 December 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-notlimited_84-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[84]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">This Is It made its international debut in 110 territories on 28–30 October 2009. The film's revenue mainly consisted of international sales—72.4%.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-boxofficemojo_2-5" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[2]  Throughout the film's international release, it performed strongly at the box office, despite some criticism from other fans in North America. On 7 November, the film surpassed the $100 million mark at the foreign box office, reaching block-buster status.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-boxofficemojo_2-6" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[2] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-87" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[87]  This Is It, at the Australian box office grossed $8,734,295<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-boxofficemojo.com_88-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[88] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-89" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[89]  and $1,878,725<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ausbo2_90-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[90]  (in Australian currency).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ausbo2_90-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[90]  This Is Itdebuted at first place at the United Kingdom box office, with the revenue of £4,877,255.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-91" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[91]  In the film's second weekend of release, with the gross revenue of the previous week being down 52%,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-92" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[92]  with £1,355,855, it placed at second at the United Kingdom—having been outgrossed by A Christmas Carol, which, similar to its second week at the North American box office, had been knocked to second place by the film.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-93" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[93]  The film's international revenue was significantly contributed to within Japan—with $58,4 million, followed by the United Kingdom—with $16 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-94" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[94] ====Box office result<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==== ===Critical response<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The film received mostly positive reviews from film critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 80% of 162 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7.1 out of 10. The site's general consensus is that "While it may not be the definitive concert film (or the insightful backstage look) some will hope for, Michael Jackson's This Is It packs more than enough entertainment value to live up to its ambitious title."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-95" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[95]  Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from film critics, has a rating score of 67 based on 32 reviews.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-96" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[96]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times described the film as being an "extraordinary documentary", and stated that the film was "nothing at all like what" he was expecting to see.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rereview_97-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[97]  Ebert dismissed reports that Jackson was in poor health and was underperforming, stating that the film didn't show a "sick and drugged man forcing himself through grueling rehearsals, but a spirit embodied by music" and referred to Jackson's rehearsal performance(s) as having been "something else".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rereview_97-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[97]  Kirt Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film for being "strange yet strangely beguiling" for capturing Jackson in "feverish grips of pure creativity" and stated that while the film presents that audience with a screen filled with everyone ranging from "performers, musicians, choreographers, crew members, craftsmen", she took notice that the film had primarily focused on Jackson.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kirkhc_98-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[98] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kirkhc1_99-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[99]  Honeycutt perceived based on what he'd seen from the behind-the-scenes look of rehearsals that he understood what it takes to "attain such dizzying heights in entertainment" and that he understood why Jackson "chose to stay away" from performing "for a decade" and, based on what he saw from footage from rehearsals that it "looks like the world has missed one helluva concert".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kirkhc_98-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[98] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kirkhc1_99-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[99]  Honeycutt cited that the only thing that frustrated him more than knowing the "tragedy" that prevented the concert from happening was "not knowing what you're looking at" and commented that the film did not feel like a complete concert film because it had a grip on the audience, stating: "Where are Jackson and his conspirators at any given moment in the creative process? The film tries to be a concert film without having the actual footage. So when everything comes to a halt, audiences get thrown."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kirkhc_98-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[98] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kirkhc1_99-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[99]  Peter Travers, of Rolling Stone described watching Jackson's "struggle" as being "illuminating, unnerving and unforgettable" and felt that the film was a great "transcendent tribute" to Jackson because it didn't have, nor need, a "safety net".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rsreview_100-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[100] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">"More important, however, is that we rarely witness Jackson giving 100%: He frequently comments that he is saving his voice and body for the actual performances. Jackson certainly can't be faulted for this, but it's questionable whether he would really want his fans to see him thus. Don't get me wrong: 60% of Michael Jackson is still a pretty good thing [...] [Jackson] the noted perfectionist, at work, correcting others' dance moves without missing a beat himself and giving notes, sometimes revelatory and other times inscrutable, to his music director and others" -Marjorie Baumgarten of Austin Chronicle<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-acreview_101-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:9.85599994659424px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[101] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Joshua Rothkopf of Time Out New York referred to being a "must-see danceumentary".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jrtonyr_102-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[102]  Rothkopf described Jackson as "obviously" having been "shooting for the moon right before his death" based on what he could tell from the "stunning bits of concert spectacle" of "phalanxes of computer-generated dancers, tempo changes on a dime, a bombshell of a blond guitarist who plays Eddie Van Halen's "Beat It" solo flawlessly".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jrtonyr_102-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[102]  Rothkopf stated that: "But the true value of this raw rehearsal footage is its emphasis, less known, on MJ's laserlike attention to detail, as he works his band and troupe up to speed. A firm floor manager himself, he's often exposed—and probably wouldn't have approved of this film. (One on one, High School Musical‍ '​s Kenny Ortega, meanwhile, treats him with kid gloves: "I agree, Michael.") But to see him sweetly lose himself in "Human Nature" ("I like living this way...") is to feel a creature of the stage finally returned home, and possibly on the cusp of redemption."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jrtonyr_102-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[102]  Peter Paras, of E! Online felt that watching Jackson and his performances in a positive aspect is the "genius and the sadness of the entire film".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-parasreview_103-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[103]  He did note that Jackson's performance of "Earth Song", which consists of using Jackson's voiceover to emphasize his environmental concerns while a bulldozer threatens to eat him, was well-intentioned—because it brought attention to environmental concerns—but felt it was a little over the top.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-parasreview_103-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[103]  Paras felt the film showed an "exacting and refreshingly funny side of Jackson to be revealed" and "had Jackson lived, we never would have seen those moments" and felt the film was a proper way to "finally say goodbye" to Jackson.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-parasreview_103-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[103]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Marjorie Baumgarten of Austin Chronicle referred to the film as being "neither a true concert film nor a strict behind-the-scenes documentary, This Is It is, like Jackson himself, a real hybrid" and felt that while the film's "made up of lots of grainy footage, which Ortega has edited together seamlessly" it will also "provide a fitting farewell".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-acreview_101-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[101]  Baumgarten noted that "the finished film is a fairly complete concert run-through with each song edited" and that while the film will easily show that it was made for a profit, that, the audience will see a "film to be a fitting elegy."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-acreview_101-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[101]  Joe Morgenstern, of The Wall Street Journal, felt the film was "expertly packaged—brilliantly packaged", and noted that the film "quite convincingly" had emphasized that Jackson had enough energy to perform, even with his "wraith-thin body".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-104" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[104]  Ann Powers, of Los Angeles Times said that while the film offers only a few such "insights into Jackson's artistic process, though enough surface to make this a useful document, as well as a beautiful one" that the film is "a piece with Jackson's body of work: dazzling and strange, blurring the line between fantasy and reality".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-powersreview_105-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[105] She described Ortega's editing to make the film feel like a real concert film as being "almost too good to believe".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-powersreview_105-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[105]  Powers praised the film for showing "intimate views" of Jackson, like his "vulnerable moments" during performances and felt the film was made "to honor not just the memory of Jackson but the hard work of a big cast and crew that never made it to opening night", which she felt mostly is a tribute to the "power of Jackson's body and voice".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-powersreview_105-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[105]  Powers stated she'd felt the film was such "a tragic teaser for the shows that might have been, 'This Is It' hurts. If Jackson had been able to perform as he frequently does during these scenes, he would have accomplished the comeback for which he was so hungry."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-powersreview_105-3" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[105]  She noted that Jackson's "total lack of engagement with the cameras adds to the unreal mood" because he was always performing—"but for the imagined masses, not for the filmgoer" and that the film doesn't "entirely acknowledge that reality, and that's a little odd".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-powersreview_105-4" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[105] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">"We see Jackson as a perfectionist, a generous boss, a tough taskmaster and a playful child. Off guard and probably unaware that it would ever be seen by the public, we find Jackson pushing his band and production team to the limit with demands to "let it sizzle" and "make the music simmer". Obsessive Jacko fans may be shocked by his Diva-ish behaviour as he complains about ear-pieces, but it's heartening to finally view the late singer as a rounded human with regular failings and imperfections. Similarly a scene featuring Jackson screaming "weeeee!" with childish glee as he moves around the stage on a giant cherry-picker, will surely bring a smile to even the most cynical viewer" -Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-digitalspy_16-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:9.85599994659424px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[16] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lou Lumenick, of the New York Post strongly criticized both the film and Jackson's performances. Lumenick's criticism of Jackson's performances was he felt Jackson moves "stiffly and lethargically" and that it was "clear" that Jackson waslip-synching while performing 'Thriller.'<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nypostreview_106-0" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[106]  He felt Jackson's performance of 'Smooth Criminal' looked "incongruous, to say the least" and that "the hokey environmental visuals accompanying 'Earth Song' are even worse," and cited Beat Itas being the movie's "only half-decent number."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nypostreview_106-1" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[106]  Lumenick said that he was certain that a "perfectionist" like Jackson wouldn't want to have been remembered by a "shoddy piece of exploitation."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nypostreview_106-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[106]  David Edwards, of Daily Mirror, stated that while he felt that the film is a "success" he overall disliked the film, having felt that "as an exercise in wringing every last penny from Jackson's legacy" the film "most certainly isn't it" a tribute.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-107" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[107]  Alex Fletcher, of Digital Spy described the film as having been an "essential viewing" and praised the film for showing "the real Michael Jackson"—which consisted of "difficult, odd, kind, obsessive and funny." He cited Jackson's best performances as "Thriller" and "Billie Jean" and the "worst material" as "Earth Song."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-digitalspy_16-2" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[16]  However, Fletcher did feel that, while based on the rehearsal footage, Jackson "falls short of his groundbreaking 'Dangerous' and 'Bad' world tours," he noted that Jackson's age and thinness was mostly likely a factor in his performances and described Jackson as having more "star quality and charisma than a million Simon Cowell factory-line production pop singers."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-digitalspy_16-3" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[16] ===Home media<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">This Is It was released on DVD and Blu-ray in North America on 26 January 2010. It sold over 1.5 million units in U.S., alone within its first week of release, setting a new record for the first week sales of a music DVD.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-108" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[108]  By March 2011, in USA alone DVD and Blu-ray sales stood at 3.2 million with gross earnings of $62 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-109" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[109]  The film was released on the same day in Japan, also breaking records, with $18 million in sales on the title's first day of release—$11.3 million in DVD and $6.7 million in Blu-ray—breaking Ponyo's record of $6.2 million.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-110" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[110]  In Ireland, the DVD became the joint-third best-selling music "record" in terms of units, going 5x Platinum by the end of 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-111" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.1999998092651px;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[111]