Michael Jackson’s This Is It is a 2009 American both documentary and concert film documenting Michael Jackson’s on-stage and behind-the-scenes rehearsals of the concert series of the same name scheduled to start on July 13, 2009, but canceled due to his death eighteen days prior on June 25. The film is now the highest grossing concert movie and documentary in the history of cinema. The film, dedicated to Jackson’s three children, consists of Jackson rehearsing musical numbers, Jackson directing and leading his team and behind the scenes work for the concerts. The film’s director Ortega confirmed that when Jackson had filmed footage of himself rehearsing that he never had the intention of releasing it to the public, but after Jackson’s death, it was agreed that the film be made and released for Jackson’s fans. The footage was filmed at the Staples Center arena in Los Angeles, California. Despite originally being set for October 30, the film’s release date was rescheduled for October 28, 2009 due to a strong demand by Jackson’s fans. The film was given a wide worldwide release and a limited two-week theatrical run from October 28, to November 12, 2009. Tickets went on sale a month early on September 27, 2009, to satisfy a high anticipated demand; to date, the film has broken numerous records via tickets both pre-sale and sales worldwide.
Since the film’s confirmation, AEG Live has faced criticism; mostly consisting of claims that they had only made the film to make a profit. Multiple members of Jackson’s family had confirmed that they didn’t support the film and some family members went as far as to try to stop the film agreement in August. The film has also been surrounded by multiple controversies, including allegations regarding the appearance of body doubles in place of Jackson; which Sony denied, and an outrage from Jackson fans; with some going as far as to start a protest against the film. On August 10, 2009, a judge approved a deal between Jackson’s estate, concert promoter AEG Live, and Sony Pictures. The agreement allowed Sony to edit the hundreds of hours of rehearsal footage needed to create the film. Sony subsequently paid $60 million for the film rights.
The trailer premiered during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards on September 13, 2009, along with the simultaneous launching of the film’s official website. The film was released to mainly positive reviews from both critics and Jackson fans; the film’s portrayal of Jackson and his performances were generally praised, while criticism mainly consisted of both critics and fans having felt that the film was made just to profit off Jackson’s death and that Jackson wouldn’t have wanted the film released because he was a “perfectionist”. In the film’s opening weekend it grossed over $23 million – in the United States alone – making the film number one at the box office and making it the fifth highest-grossing Halloween debut. The film’s current worldwide revenue gross of is over $240 million as of December 1st, 2009 according to Sony Pictures making it the highest grossing documentary of all time.
