Sony Pictures Twitter account, @SonyPictures, was on fire Tuesday night with constant tweet updates about this celebrity or that celebrity showing up on the red carpet to go watch the premier of the late Michael Jackson in This Is It. Along with those celebrities, thousands of people across the nation were able to see the film for the first time as well.
According to CNN, This Is It brought in an estimated $2.2 million for Tuesday October 27th, and although the official numbers will take another day or so to be finalized, the final numbers shouldn’t be too much higher or lower than that. There are some conflicting numbers coming out though, and it may not be until later next week before we see anything concrete. While CNN is saying $2.2 million, Hollywood Insider is reporting $7.4 million domestic and $12.7 international. The LA Times seems to echo Hollywood Insider’s numbers with a global total of $20.1 million
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That is a pretty fair number for a limited Tuesday release, but leave it to the Spin Doctors in Hollywood to make it look better than it actually is. Senior Vice President for Media Relations (read: Spin Doctor) Steve Elzer, was first to point out the “record” This Is It has broken:
“[The box office numbers This Is It took in]…,is unprecedented for a Tuesday in October.”
And what quip did he have to offer regarding Wednesday’s estimates?
“Early matinee shows have been explosive! With Wednesday matinees already surpassing the $2.2 million generated last night.”
Man I want to be a Spin Doctor (and I’m not talking about the awesome band from the 90s); these guys can make you think that stepping in a pile of dog poop bare foot is a good thing. Granted, $7.4 million or even $2.2 million is a nice number and I have no doubt that Sony will easily recoup its investment of $60 million to buy the rights to the Jackson tour footage from concert promoter AEG, but let’s just put all this into perspective.
This Is It is going to be a very hard film to judge fairly on a level playing field since it is the only film to ever open on a world-wide basis on the same day. But for this comparison we will just use the domestic numbers. A quick trip to Box Office Mojo shows us the top 11 films since 1982 to open on a Tuesday and they are as follows (all numbers in millions):
07/03/07 – $27.8 – Transformers
06/06/06 – $12.6 – The Omen
12/25/01 – $10.2 – Ali
12/25/07 – $ 9.5 – Aliens vs. Predator – Requiem
12/25/90 – $ 6.3 – The Godfather III
12/25/07 – $ 3.6 – The Great Debaters
12/25/07 – $ 2.8 – Juno
12/25/01 – $ 2.5 – Kate and Leopold
12/25/07 – $ 2.3 – The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep
07/03/07 – $ 2.2 – License to Wed
07/03/07 – $ 0.7 – Sicko
So if you look closely, there are NO movies that open on a Tuesday in October, and each of the movies that have opened on a Tuesday on any date, have been on or near holidays (4th of July and Christmas). The only anomaly is The Omen which just wanted to capitalize on the 6/6/6 release date.
Continue reading for a breakdown of This Is It’s opening day numbers…
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28 Comments
Hmm, let me try my hand at spin doctoring…
“The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland” is the most expensive movie ever made to feature muppets.
Hmm, let me try my hand at spin doctoring…
“The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland” is the most expensive movie ever made to feature muppets.
My turn
“Snakes on a Plane” took in the most money of a movie that featured Sam Jackson on a plane with snakes.
I saw This Is It at the first Midnight showing!
I thought it was a very good movie and did Michael Jackson justice!
It’s a great flick. I’m waiting for the screenrant review.
@JM
I don’t know if we’ll be reviewing it or not. Frankly, I have no interest in seeing or reviewing it myself.
Vic
@Vic
Your lack of interest in seeing or reviewing this film
springs from a foundation for judgement that makes
the reviews you do decide to write exceptional reading.
@Robert Palmer
Hey man, thanks a lot. Although there are quite a few who would disagree with you.
Vic
Great, just what we need is more unwarranted praise for the pedophile that was Jackson. Amazing that people eat this crap up.
The MJ movie/docu was alright..I cant complain, thats why its called “This is it” right? Lol! Thats all there is to it period!
No desire to see this. And as far as my comments … this is it.
@ Andy S.
Okay. Here we go. This was inevitable. There was going to be at least one person who brings up the molestation charges. Michael Jackson did NOT molest any kids. And for people to think that is just plain ignorant. The reason those molestation charges even occurred was because he was rich. The money is what drove the “victims” to doing this. They thought that this was a good get-rich-quick scheme and it ultimately failed!
Michael Jackson had amazing talents in his dancing and singing. To me, those overpower the accusations. Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, I must say the same thing I said to everyone else that expressed their opinion in public ways. Keep it to yourself. It just stirs up problems among the people who read it.
Thanks,
Matt
I agree with Matt C, If Michael Jackson had molested any kids his ass would be in jail regardless. Being rich and famous lets you get away with murder and rape and all but no one, i mean exactly no one, gets away with molesting children. Its a very serious crime that isnt taken very lightly in our society
“Michael Jackson had amazing talents in his dancing and singing. To me, those overpower the accusations.”
This has to be one of the most ridiculous statements I’ve ever read. MJ may have been innocent but the last part of that sentence, at least to me, “overpowers” anything else you say in your post.
I agree with INK. I don’t believe he was guilty of that what he was accused of, but no matter how much talent a person has, it doesn’t absolve them of anything. It’s the same excuse people are currently giving to Roman Polanski. The guy was essentially on the run for years for having sex with a minor and people seem to think that just because he made some good films, he should be let off the hook. No, sorry, he committed a crime, he needs to pay for that.
To me his talents are above the FALSE accusations. Maybe I should have put the FALSE before accusations in my original post.
IF he was proven guilty in the court of law then I would still remember him for his talents, but part of me would be in disgust. But, he wasn’t. He was innocent and no matter what anyone says (even the court of law) people will still believe that he is guilty. But, apparently just because he was accused means he really did it to some people and there’s no if, ands or buts about it. That is ignorant.
And you can not tell me that the man was not talented.. A whole generation before those FALSE accusations thought so. T hat talent does not fade away just because of those FALSE accusations.
Let’s be fair. Compare apples to apples and not to cranberries! How many DOCUMENTARIES / Rehearsals on DVD were released on Tuesday or any day for that matter and made over $1 mil first day?
Even Hanna Montana’s musical concert which did outstanding business was a finished product like MJ’s Live @ Bucharest – it (HM’s musical concert) was not for private viewing product – which is what ThisIsIt was meant to be. So let’s be fair here!
That said, I do agree with spin doctors who love to add some spice to everything. Like this Penelope chick from Voice of America who reported the movie globally made $66 million on Wednesday. Ha?
Regardless, I personally plan to see this movie multiple times for MICHAEL!
Forever in my heart!!
Whether he was good or superficial – it has no meaning now that he is dead. One sad thing though is the way MJ died. May be this is the irony of being famous – you die alone….
Those who have relationships with millions are often alone. And what is left afterwards are their stories – written in books, made into movies…… I personally think ‘This is it’ is an irony of what we see and what we precieve. Sad end though.
MJ was a legend. Only his movies can bring in such a huge response that its producer, Sony, is looking for ‘This is also it’ – a sequel of the current movie.
Famous or not, everybody dies alone. What counts is how you live.
Oh for god’s sake!
all the “molestation apologists” need to get in touch with REAL LIFE.
If it had been a SINGLE molestation charge, then that would have been one thing.
But it wasn’t a single charge. It was multiple accusations. That the accusers were paid off makes no difference. Where there is smoke, there is fire.
MJ was a talented pop artist. Period. He wasn’t the next Mozart. Let’s not insult anyone’s intelligence.
He was also a PROFOUNDLY disturbed individual who had an abusive childhood and suffered from pretty overt Peter Pan syndrome.
He’s dead. He’s not a saint. His music had an effect on an entire generation… but then, so did ABBA’s. I’d bet than many of the M.J. apologists would trash ABBA in a heartbeat.
Let’s wait and see how well M.J.’s music stands up to time. Let’s give it another 30 years. Will it be remembered as a quaint relic of the 80’s and 90’s? Or will people still be remembering it with fondness?
Let’s wait and see.
chris rock said it best
ANOTHER KID!!!
got dam!
are you kidding me,ANOTHER KID
lol
“If Michael Jackson had molested any kids his ass would be in jail regardless.”
Not with our CORRUPT and FLAWED system. Anybody with enough money can get away with ANYTHING. Hell, look at Kobe and OJ. OJ murdered his wife and he was let go. Kobe is a rapist and he was let go.
Jackson is just a freak. Seriously, the dude had a freakin hit list, dangled his own freakin kid from a balcony, and was a drug addict.
I am tired of people talking about Michael Jackson like this. First of all, the man is dead.. What kind of person bashes on someone who is dead? Regardless of what he may or may not have done..
Leave him alone. Seriously. The jokes got old. And so did all of this molestation BS. The man is gone. Let him be..
It is total disrespect to be talking about him like people do.. He has a family, and I’m sure his family is sick of people talking about him.. How would you feel if you had a family member who had some issues and people were constantly saying bad stuff about them? I bet you would be pissed off and feel terrible.
“It is total disrespect to be talking about him like people do.. He has a family, and I’m sure his family is sick of people talking about him.. How would you feel if you had a family member who had some issues and people were constantly saying bad stuff about them? I bet you would be pissed off and feel terrible.”
So what if its disrespect? Hes a pedophile. I have NO respect for pedophiles, in fact I have no respect for any human life.
“The jokes got old.”
Heres a good one for you: Since he was 99% plastic, Michael Jackson should be melted down into lego blocks so little boys can play with him for change.
“So what if its disrespect? Hes a pedophile. I have NO respect for pedophiles, in fact I have no respect for any human life.”
Okay well that statement proves to me that you are a total idiot. You have no respect for any human life? I have to say that is the stupidest thing that I have ever heard anyone say.
Btw. That jokes old.
Me not caring about humans makes me an idiot?….typical human.
I’m shutting down this thread.
Vic