Sony Pictures’ decision to extend the run of This Is It through Thanksgiving weekend was not about fooling audiences, Sony’s vice-chairman Jeff Blake tells EW. Rather, the part-concert film, part-documentary was initially receiving a two-week run for two reasons: one, it was being rolled out in similar fashion to the most recent concert films (Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour and Jonas Bros: The 3D Concert Experience were also set up initially for two-week engagements) and two, Blake was trying to get theaters to agree to a shorter window between theatrical and DVD (a negotiation that ultimately didn’t result in a shorter window.) “It was a process where suddenly we had a real movie with an A Cinemascore, great exit polls, good grosses and a normal DVD window,” says Blake. “There was really no reason to pull it off the screen after two weeks.”
Blake says the decision to prolong This Is It’s theatrical run came Wednesday night when exit polls revealed it wasn’t just Michael Jackson fanatics who were showing up to the theaters. “We got adults. We got people who don’t normally call themselves Michael Jackson fans,” says Blake. “Suddenly this movie was much more than a typical concert film. It was a real movie. Real movies don’t get pulled after two weeks.”
The studio was also predicting a surge in ticket sales on Halloween. But that didn’t happen. The film’s receipts fell only 10% that day and then rose a surprising 18% on Sunday. The $34.5 million it earned over the first five days domestically – coupled with the $68.5 million earned internationally – was the clincher that the movie should be extended. In a cruel twist of irony, Jackson’s London-based concert would have been seen by several hundred thousand people. Now that its been broadcast to theaters in over 108 territories worldwide, already 11 to 12 million people have seen the pop star’s final performance. “People saw Michael Jackson at his absolute best musically and got a real feel for the man,” says Blake. “While I don’t think we’ll ever be confused for doing social work, it did have a good feeling that so many people got to see it.”
Blah, blah, blah….the truth is, the movie didn’t make NEARLY the amount of money Sony thought…and now they’re extending it’s run, hoping to suck every dollar they can before the movie’s “luster” runs dry.
Even if it had made the amount of money Sony wanted, they would’ve extended the run.
Honestly, is there anyone out there who did NOT expect them to extend this run. It’s all about making $$$. And that’s fine, just don’t try to tell us otherwise.
UMMMMMM BECAUSE SONY WANTED TO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE OFF OF MICHAEL JACKSON’S DEAD CARCASS, THAT’S WHY!!!! IT’LL PROBABLY BE IN THEATERS THROUGH CHRISTMAS.
…….or Easter!!!!!
Sure, movies are made for profit, but that doesn’t mean they don’t also serve a purpose: in this case, deserving artists, musicians, dancers, backup singers, and all get the chance to shine that was denied them due to Jackson’s untimely death. And some of you are ignoring one basic fact: it’s simply a very good film on its own merits!
Sony isn’t stupid…they know a good deal when they see it. If it was me, I would extend the movie too, it is a cash cow, and then there will be money made from the DVD…much of that will go to MJ’s estate and eventually trickle down to his children. God bless them..
It’s also about continuing to shove Micheal Jackson in our faces until we are sick of him…too late!
I agree. I have had enough of this crap. They also want to keep making money so some of the hundreds of people MJ stiffed could maybe get what is owed them. While all (except Janet)the other Jacksons lick there chops for a free ride. Deadbeats!
I for one am GLAD they extended it now I can see him again and again. Its a good film, give props where props is due. We live in a society that thrives on making money so why should this be any different…please.
I think for those who truly could see MJ’s talent, we are glad to have the movie extended. His talent was not for everyone…he was very controversial in the media and many folks could not get past the bad press and the allegations of child abuse. Unfortunately, many people see the allegations as guilty. I am not sure why some people think that but it is definitely their loss.
but here’s what’s so silly about all of you who are sick of MJ…you continue clicking on news stories about him!! If you’re tired of him, keep it moving! y even acknowedge the article?
Thank you!!! I’m so sick of Jon & Kate. Do you think I read any of their media? Nope. I see a story about them and and cruise right by the link or screenshot. If I was sooooo sick of MJ I wouldn’t read an article about him, or worse, COMMENT!! LOL!
Jon and Kate…yes, I fly right past them…can’t stand the story. Their souls have been sold I am afraid.
Right! It’s like the people who comment “I hate this show” on the show’s recap. Then why are you reading the recap? It’s for the fans.
How much hype do we have to hear about this? The amount that it has made is well below what they predicted, especially in the US. If they can’t release the DVD early, they might as well leave it and make as much as they can in the theaters. I don’t see any non-fans running to see this.
I would say $101 million worldwide is not pittance. And I have seen plenty of people who are not necessarily ‘fans’ seeing the movie because they want to understand genius.
I love this failure! This whole ridiculous garbage should’ve been a straight to DVD venture. The smart people in this world know better than to waste their money on this washed-up pedophile.
Hahaha! GOOD!
Wow, grossing 101 million in 5 days is now a “failure”? I’d like to see your Venetian villa, Mr. Clooney. Oh wait, you’re just sitting at home typing and wiping crumbs off your chest. The film was phenomenal and word of mouth will keep people going as long as it’s playing.
Those were worldwide figures, idiot! Stateside was a bomb! Worldwide was big because the majority of the other countries don’t frown upon pedophiles.
Haha – So 35 million in the US over 5 days is a failure? Good thing you’re not in the movie business. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
So, if someone such as HAHA is accused of pedophilia then that makes it so? I think this is called ‘narrow mindedness’ with a tad of bigotry thrown in.
haha – you are an ignorant idiot!! Get a life loser..
I wish it would have gone straight to DVD so I could have not downloaded it from a pirate site.
Washed-up pedophile?Haha, the man was found INNOCENT on ALL occasions!Its ignorant ppl like u who go around accusing kind-hearted ppl like Michael Jackson that should be wiped off the face of this earth!
Haha!
He loved to sleep in the same bed with children and admitted it! You were probably one of those stupid parents who trusted him enough to leave your kids there at Neverland to “play” with him! Nice way to scar your kid, idiots!
Actually he was found not guilty which is not the same as innocent. It just means that the jury didn’t think the prosecutors had proved their case 100%.
Or do you also believe that OJ didn’t kill Ron & Nicole because the jury found him “innocent”.
Mj was guilty of naivete, not of child abuse…
He was also guilty of not being raised by parents, and by losing his childhood.
Jackie, should we start judging all celebrities who are vindicated in court of law through an OJ Simpson murder trial. Are you serious?
How is this movie a failure? Almost 40 million dollars in 5 days? I bet most films wish they could fail so wonderfully.
it was a nice success to many fans for sure
I’m missing something. How is this a failure? Now, there were some people who overestimated the grosses and if I were a President of a company putting out my product and one of my people did that, they were would be looking for a job. As far as the two week showing goes, when did marketing and selling become bad things? You have a product, you try to get as much as you can out of it. Isn’t that the American way? What this movie ends up making remains to be seen (you have to look at the totals of the movie, the dvd and cd) The commercials for the movies affect all these products and not one alone.
I knew it wasn’t going to be as huge as they thought it was. Sony just wants more money because the movie failed. Studios always lie about the two week limited release. Disney said the same thing about Toy Story 1 2 double feature, the movie is still in theaters. Who cares about MJ let the man rest in peace.
Clearly almost everyone in here don’t know what the hell is going on.
Sony purchased the film from AEG Live for 60 million plus 10 million for AEG Live to edit ‘em, and they recouped everything they spent in 4 DAYS. Failure? Clearly you morons don’t know how the industry works…
About how the industry works: There are a lot more expenses to getting a movie in theaters than just what was paid for the rights. That is why so few movies show a profit. And they are very nervous about DVD sales–that is why they wanted to get it on the shelf before Christmas.
If hitting the $103 million mark and becoming the biggest concert movie in history is a failure then o boy would i love a failure like that. Only MJ could attract such negative stupid comments from people. lol im sitting here laughing.
You should probably go outside more and worry less about pop culture and the internet.
To summarize…$$$$
Pridictions dont mean crap these days, there were rival studio people predicting this movie was going to generate $600 mill? How dumb of a prediction is that for what is essentially a rehearsal footage edited together to make a movie. Its made 103 mill in 5 days, and tickets sales were 18% up on sunday, meaning word of mouth is good for this movie.
look at how crazy and evil people are…seriously. this is a story that you voluntarily had to come click on, yet you all came here to spew venom? are you all clinically insane?
this movie is doing better than any other concert film of all time, yet in your minds – it’s a failure?