Tuesday September 29, 2009
For immediate release
UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF SELL-OUTS REPORTED WORLDWIDE FOR
FIRST SHOWINGS OF “MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT”
Highly Anticipated Motion Picture Generates
Huge Demand Around the World
Sony Pictures Entertainment, in conjunction with Sony Music Entertainment, today
announced that the first 24-hours of pre-sales activity for Michael Jackson’s This Is It
has resulted in record-breaking sales throughout the world as fans secure the first
tickets to the two-week, limited engagement of the highly-anticipated motion picture.
With reports still coming in from nations around the world, it is believed no movie in
history has generated so many ticket sales so far in advance of its release.
In North America, online ticket sellers Fandango and MovieTickets.com report that
there is extraordinary demand for the film with hundreds of showtimes already sold
out after one day of pre-sales. Some 80% of all online ticketing service transactions
were for the film, which will debut in some markets with special advance showings
the evening of Tuesday, October 27 and will open worldwide on Wednesday,
October 28. The film is directed by long-time Jackson collaborator Kenny Ortega.
Across The United States, an unprecedented number of shows for the two-week
engagement have sold out in the first 24 hours of ticket availability in locations from
coast-to-coast, including such cities as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston,
Nashville and New York, among others. Internationally, exhibitors from London and
Sydney to Bangkok and Tokyo have experienced the same epic demand.
Commenting on
the extraordinary results, Rory Bruer, President of Worldwide
Theatrical Distribution for Sony Picture Releasing said, “Michael Jackson’s fans all
over the globe have enormous interest in this film and we can assure they will not be
disappointed. This film delivers on everything they hope and expect to see.
I think
the initial sales activity we are seeing in the United States and United Kingdom to
countries such as Australia and Thailand underscores the unique nature of this film,
which is a special celebration of Michael and his music.”
In Australia, staggering ticket sales have broken records, where tickets purchased
for Michael Jackson's This Is It exceeded the lifetime pre-sales of such block-busters
as Transformers, X-Men Origins and many more. Cinemas countrywide pushed the
on-sale button for tickets at 12.01am on Sunday and today reported sell out
sessions. Event Cinemas with their Gold Class cinemas are in huge demand, along
with fans wanting to experience the movie on a Hoyts Imax digital screen. Village
Cinemas in Melbourne kicked off huge sales offering a special ticket and
commemorative t-shirt deal. Readings Cinemas reported huge ticket sales that are
stronger than they had for HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE.
Moviegoers in Australia can get information about ticket sales by visiting
for participating cinema details, or by contacting one of
the 220 cinema locations participating in the release of MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS
IS IT.
The Australian Premiere of MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT, will kick off the
excitement at Event Cinemas on George St, Sydney on Wednesday, October 28 at
6.30pm, followed by public sessions Australia wide at 9pm that night.
Michael Jackson’s This Is It
will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a
rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and
rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this
summer in London’s O2 Arena.
Chronicling the months from March through June,
2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and
drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring
Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a
privileged and private look at Jackson as he has never been seen before. In raw and
candid detail, Michael Jackson’s This Is It
captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker,
architect, creative genius, and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his final
show. Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson's creative partner and the
director of the stage show, is also directing the film, which is being produced by
Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. Executive producers are John
Branca and John McClain. The film will be distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures
Releasing. For more information about the film please visit www.thisisit-movie.com.
Sony Music Entertainment's Columbia/Epic Label Group will release a two-disc
album "This Is It" featuring music inspired by the motion picture. The album will be
available internationally on October 26th and in North America on October 27th.
About Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a roster of
current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international
superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most
important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing
music from every genre, including American Recordings, Arista Nashville, Arista
Records, Aware, Battery Records, Beach Street Records, Black Seal, BNA Records,
Cinematic, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Epic Records, Essential Records,
Flicker Records, Fo-Yo Soul, GospoCentric, Hitz Committee Entertainment, J
Records, Jive Records, LaFace Records, Legacy Recordings, Masterworks, Polo
Grounds, RCA Records, RCA Nashville, RCA Red Seal, RCA Victor, Reunion
Records, Slightly Dangerous, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time
International, Verity Records, and Volcano Entertainment. Sony Music Entertainment
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. For more information,
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America
(SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations
encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and
distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments;
home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities;
development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and
distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 130 countries.
Sony Pictures
Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com.
For More Information:
Anna Young
National Publicity and Digital Marketing
Sony Pictures Releasing Australia
Phone: 02 9272 2910
Email: Anna_Young@spe.sony.com
Danielle McEwan
Director, National Publicity & Artist Development
Sony Music Australia
Phone: 02 9383 6435
Email: Danielle.McEwan@sonymusic.com
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