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[Sharon007]

'Michael Jackson's: This Is It' Passes $200 Million Worldwide
Documentary is slated to be in theaters through early December.

The worldwide thirst for all things Michael Jackson continues unabated. So far, the "This Is It" documentary chronicling the late pop star's final rehearsals for a comeback tour that never was has raked in more than $200 million across the globe.

Reuters reports that the film has crossed the $200 million threshold after just two weeks in theaters, with overseas grosses vastly outstripping U.S. totals. Sony Pictures Entertainment said the movie had brought in $61 million in North America so far and more than $140 million internationally, with Japan among those leading the way at $27.2 million, followed by the U.K. — where Jackson was preparing to launch the "This Is It" 50-show run at London's O2 Arena — at $14.3 million.

The totals make "This Is It" the 22nd biggest-grossing movie worldwide of 2009. Jackson, an artist consumed with record-setting during his lifetime, would surely be pleased with the fact that $200 million is almost three times more than the grosses of the former record-holder for the highest-grossing concert movie, 2008's "Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour," which grossed more than $65 million during its limited run.

"This Is It" opened on October 28 and was initially slated to run for two weeks, but has been extended through early December.

Source: MTV

[MJackson News]

Jackson's "This Is It" passes $200 million worldwide

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's concert movie "This Is It" has taken more than $200 million at box offices worldwide in the first two weeks of release, the studio behind the movie said on Thursday.

Sony Pictures Entertainment said the movie had grossed $61 million in North America and more than $140 million internationally. Japan ($27.2 million) and the UK ($14.3 million) were particularly strong markets.

The movie is now the 22nd biggest grossing movie worldwide of 2009, according to industry tracker boxofficemojo.com

"This Is It", distributed by Sony Corp-owned Columbia Pictures, was compiled from footage of Jackson rehearsing for a series of planned comeback concerts before his sudden death in June.

Sony paid concert promoters AEG and Jackson's estate about $60 million for the right to make and distribute the movie.

The $200 million plus gross is almost three times more than 2008's "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour" -- a movie some box office watchers had used as a benchmark for "This Is It."

The Jackson film opened on October 28 for a planned two week run but has since been extended until early December.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by bob Tourtellotte)



Source: Reuters