Countdown for Michael’s film
It seems the film This Is It has tested everyone’s patience. A countdown to the film’s worldwide release has begun a few days ago. It’s expected that during its theatrical run, starting this Wednesday, October 28, Michael’s film will introduce the world to a fresh phenomenon.
Sony’s production chief, Doug Belgrad, says that when they bought the film’s distribution rights for $60 million, they felt that its release would be a cultural event—even though they hadn’t seen any footage of Michael’s rehearsals at the time the contract was signed.
Last month, Sony announced that an unprecedented number of showings in the United States had sold out completely, and similar situations had been established in other cities around the world, including London, Sydney, Bangkok, and Tokyo.
Box office analyst Jeff Bock says the film could be “bigger than Elvis.”
He believes that TII is more than just a film—it’s a tribute. And he says even sales of $70 to $100 million in the first few days would be considered a phenomenon in this type of film.
“People buy tickets in groups. That means they want to experience this film with their acquaintances. Maybe we’re already talking about the occurrence of a phenomenon.”
He also believes that if the film sells well, its theatrical run will be extended.
It’s estimated that during its two-week run worldwide, the film will generate more than $600 million in revenue. Fans of Michael are thirsty to see his final performances on stage. The film’s makers say Michael in TII looks like the same super star of the 1980s.
Considering the costs of making this film, TII needs to generate more than $100 million during its worldwide run in order to be profitable.
On Wednesday, the film will be shown in more than 3,400 theaters in the United States and Canada, and the lowest estimate for it is $40 million in revenue during its first five days in these two countries. But one of Sony’s executive managers, whose name has not been disclosed, says Sony expects sales of $260 million domestically and $400 million internationally during the film’s two-week run—bringing the total worldwide sales of TII to $660 million, which would be a huge success for Sony.
Columbia Pictures is proud of its speed regarding this film. After Michael’s death, everything was done very quickly, and the preparations for making this film were ready at full speed. Columbia says that if the film is well received, its theatrical run will be extended and the film’s DVD, with additional scenes, will be released in early 2010.
Fandango sold all tickets for more than a thousand showings of this film in the United States by itself. Over the past week, this site conducted online polling among two thousand ticket buyers for TII, and the results are below:
13% of these people will watch TII during its first showing, 15% will see it on Wednesday, and 57% will watch it during other showings in the first week. 15% will also see the film in the second week.
45% plan to watch the film in theaters more than once.
76% have never seen Michael perform live on stage.
82% said their main goal in watching the film was to honor Michael alongside other fans.
91% have Michael’s albums, and 66% of that group have more than three of his albums.
41% of ticket buyers are aged 35 to 49, and 24% are aged 25 to 34.
84% of the people participating in this poll are women.
70% of the participants have at least once tried to dance to Thriller.
But alongside the TII phenomenon, some people who call themselves the King of Pop’s devotees have tried to reduce public enthusiasm for this film. They have launched a website called This-Is-Not-It, claiming that the concert preparation team worked Michael to death and, for their own profit motives, killed him—according to these people—because he was physically weak.
In response to these kinds of claims, everyone involved in the London concert group—from dancers to the director and the rest of the crew—has emphasized Michael’s health and strength, especially during the final days of his life. Earlier, one of AEG officials (the company organizing the concerts) said that the screening of the film TII clears the company’s name of the accusations made against it.
According to the official report of the medical examiner and the Los Angeles Police Department, at the time of his death, Michael was a healthy and strong 50-year-old man. The King of Pop suffered cardiac arrest on the morning of Thursday, June 25, after his doctor injected him with a number of sleeping pills and anesthetic drugs, including propofol, and he died.
Source: eMJey / RPRN / LA Times / AP