This Is It grosses P33.2-million in 6 days

MANILA, Philippines - The King of Pop moonwalked to the top of Philippine box-office as the music documentary Michael Jackson’s This Is It opened at No. 1 nationwide, with a six-day gross of an electrifying P33.25-M for the Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 frame. This, according to Victor Cabrera, managing director of the film’s local distributor, Columbia Pictures.

A backstage look at the late Michael Jackson (photo, left) during rehearsals for his supposed comeback concert tour that would have started last July in London, This Is It bowed in 147 screens across the country, the most ever for any film in its genre. The movie also established the record for all-time biggest opening for a concert or documentary feature.

The Top 20 cinemas that posted the highest receipts are SM North EDSA (P2.29-M), Trinoma (P2.18-M), Power Plant (P1.74-M), Alabang Town Center (P1.57-M), Greenbelt 3 (P1.59-M), SM Mall of Asia (P1.38-M), Shang Cineplex (P1.36-M), Eastwood (P1.33-M), Glorietta 4 (P1.17-M) and SM Megamall (P1.15-M).

Completing the list are Gateway (P834,143), Greenhills (P832,120), Ayala Cebu (P695,980), SM Cebu (P594,050), Robinsons Galleria (P556,360), Robinsons Ermita (P554,740), SM Fairview (P503,203), Festival (P489,068), SM San Lazaro (P479,885) and Sta. Lucia East (P388,340).

Worldwide, Michael Jackson’s This Is It pulled in $101-M in its first five days. The film was the No. 1 Halloween thriller in the US with a $32.5-M five-day opening weekend, while it pulled $10.4-M in Japan, $7.6-M in Great Britain, $6.3-M in Germany, $5.8-M in France and $3.2-M in China.

“This film is a unique celebration of Michael Jackson and his extraordinary music,” said Jeff Blake, chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment Worldwide Marketing & Distribution. “Kenny Ortega delivered a masterful tribute that shows the pure genius that Michael poured into his creative process and made him one of the best performers that ever graced a stage. In just five days, This Is It has become the highest grossing concert film of all time and we are elated by the response to this special film by fans, critics and moviegoers from all over the world.”

By a large margin, the film’s five-day box-office gross has surpassed the cost the studio incurred to acquire the footage.

Michael Jackson’s This Is It is still showing in theaters nationwide.