Jackson docu wins domestic, foreign markets

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

Auds around the world helped Sony's "This Is It" open to a mammoth
$68.5 million at the international B.O. -- the fifth biggest foreign
bow of the year -- but the Michael Jackson pic's domestic debut was
more modest at $32.5 million in its first five days.

Worldwide opening haul of $101 million for five days, topped by
Japan's $10.4 million, led Sony to announce it is extending the film's
two-week run by three weeks in North America. Overseas, the decision
to extend will be made on a territory-by-territory basis.

"This Is It" bowed Tuesday night. Domestic total included $21.3
million in weekend ticket sales from 3,481 theaters, enough to win the
sesh over Paramount's sleeper hit "Paranormal Activity," according to
Rentrak.

"Paranormal" nevertheless continued to draw moviegoers, declining just
22% and adding 459 runs for a total theater count of 2,404. Pic
grossed an estimated $16.5 million for a per-location average of
$6,880, the second best of the frame, and a cume of $84.8 million in
its sixth sesh.

In the U.S., Halloween can dampen moviegoing, and this year was no
different. The domestic B.O. has been running ahead of last year, but
ticket sales for the holiday weekend were essentially flat with last
year.

One of the few titles appealing to older females, Fox Searchlight's
"Amelia" improved its standing in its second sesh, moving into the top
10.

Adding 250 runs, the Amelia Earhart biopic dipped 23% to an estimated
$3 million from 1,070 runs to tie with Summit Entertainment's "Astro
Boy" for No. 8. "Amelia" finished the frame with a cume of $8.3
million.

"Astro Boy" fell 55% in its second frame to an estimated $3 million
from 3,020 runs; cume is $10.9 million. Toon was fully financed by
Imagi Entertainment.

Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures' "Saw VI," hurt by "Paranormal,"
likewise fell steeply in its second frame. Horror pic fell to No. 5,
declining 61% to an estimated $5.6 million from 3,306 theaters for a
cume of $22.8 million. Pic will likely be the lowest grossing in the
blockbuster horror franchise.

Holdovers "Law Abiding Citizen" and "Couples Retreat" continued to
place in the top five.

"Citizen," Overture's biggest commercial success to date, dipped 41%
to an estimated $7.3 million from 2,764 runs for a cume of $51.4
million in its third frame. Pic came in No. 3 for the weekend.

Taking the No. 4 spot, "Couples Retreat" fell 43% to an estimated $6.1
million for a cume of $86.7 million in its fourth frame.

Nabbing the highest location average of any film was Sony Pictures
Classics holdover "An Education." Film grossed an estimated $504,831
from 48 runs for an average of $10,517 and cume of $1.6 million in its
fourth frame.

Among specialty openers, Searchlight's "Gentlemen Broncos" opened to
an estimated $10,006 from two runs for a so-so per location average of
$5,003.

Troy Duffy's sequel "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day" fared
better, grossing an estimated $461,614 from 68 theaters in its debut
for a location average of $6,788. Apparition is distrib.

Apparition co-topper Bob Berney said the film's perf reflects Duffy's
ongoing fanbase. Original film was released eight years ago.

On a much grander scale, Jackson fans turned the critically acclaimed
"This Is It" into an immediate winner for Sony, which paid concert
promoter AEG Entertainment $60 million for the rights to distribute
the film.

"The numbers are incredible, and we got some of the highest exit polls
we've ever seen," Sony worldwide prexy of distribution Rory Bruer
said. "It goes far beyond being a concert movie. Kenny Ortega created
a film that is compelling and exciting and an incredible tribute to
the King of Pop."

Sony had expected the film to open at $30 million-$40 million in the
U.S.

Domestically, "This Is It" barely beat Disney's 3D concert film
"Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour,"
which posted an opening weekend take of $31.1 million. Like "This Is
It," that film's run was extended after opening weekend.

While "Hannah Montana" was a tween sensation, "This Is It" appealed to
a decidedly older demo in the U.S. Of the aud, 62% were over age 25.
Pic skewed slightly female at 52%.

Livelier overseas business wasn't surprising since Jackson's music has
racked up far more sales abroad than in the U.S. in recent years.
"This Is It" bowed in more than 100 territories, with a worldwide
print count of 15,000.

Pic's international bow finished just behind 20th Century Fox's "X-Men
Origins: Wolverine," which debuted to $73.1 million in early May 2009.

Jackson pic was the first concert film to have a day-and-date release
around the globe. Japan's $10.4 million from 332 playdates was
followed by the U.K.'s $7.6 million from 806, Germany's $6.3 million
from 930, France's $5.8 million from 484 and Australia's $3.6 million
from 284.

Elsewhere at the foreign B.O., Disney's "Up" came in No. 2, grossing
$12.8 million from 4,700 runs in 27 territories for a cume of $352.7
million and a boffo worldwide haul of $645.6 million.

Mouse House's "G-Force" stayed high up on the chart as well, grossing
$6.1 million from 2,735 playdates in 32 territories for a foreign cume
of $148 million and worldwide total of $267 million.

Disney also made headlines in Russia with local production "Book of
Masters," which topped the B.O. with $5.2 million from 750 locations.
It's the biggest opening ever for a family title in Russia, according
to the Mouse House.

In the U.K., Fox's "Fantastic Mr. Fox" grossed $2.4 million from 486
in its second sesh to place No. 3 behind "This Is It" and "Up,"
respectively. "Mr. Fox" ended the frame with a cume of $9 million.

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