Michael Jackson's This Is It is a 2009 American musical documentary film about Michael Jackson's preparation for This Is It, a planned concert residency that was cancelled due to his death in 2009. Released four months after Jackson's death, the film features behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals and related preparations for the concerts. The film was directed by Kenny Ortega, the show director of the cancelled concerts, who confirmed that none of the footage was originally intended for release, however after Jackson's death, an agreement was made between This Is It concert promoter AEG Live and the Michael Jackson Estate to produce the film. The footage was filmed in Los Angeles, primarily at the Staples Center and The Forum.
The film was given a worldwide release and a limited two-week theatrical run from October 28 to November 12, 2009, but the theatrical release was later extended for an additional three weeks in domestic theaters and one to three weeks in overseas markets. Tickets went on sale a month early on September 27 to satisfy a high anticipated demand; the film broke numerous pre-sale and box office records.
The release of the film attracted controversy, much of which centered on claims that it exploited Jackson's death, and that AEG Live released the film primarily to recoup losses from the cancelled concerts. Multiple members of the Jackson family spoke out against the film, with some attempting to prevent its release. The film was also the subject of allegations that body doubles had been used in place of Jackson, claims that Sony denied. Additionally, it faced backlash from some of Jackson's fans, some of whom organized protests against the film. In August 2009, a judge approved a deal among Michael Jackson Estate executors John Branca and John McClain, AEG Live, and Sony Pictures, allowing Sony to edit hundreds of hours of rehearsal footage to create the film; Sony subsequently paid $60 million for the film rights.
The film received generally positive reviews from critics; the portrayal of Jackson and his performances were generally praised. Despite the controversy, the ticket sales for This Is It broke international records a month before its release. It made $267.9 million worldwide, and it is listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing documentary film at the global box office. By the end of 2010, the DVD sales for This Is It stood at 2.8 million units, with gross earnings of $45 million in the US alone. In Japan, This Is It earned $18 million in sales on the title's first day of release with 358,000 combined DVD sales.
