> Plenty of Michael Jackson fans turned out for "This Is It" on Wednesday,
> but Sony Pictures may have to wait until Friday to find out whether the
> movie is a "Thriller" or "Bad" at the box office.

> The documentary, a gamble for Sony that was assembled from more than 100
> hours of video footage and rushed to the big screen after the singer's
> death in June, sold $2.2 million worth of tickets domestically at
> late-night screenings Tuesday, the studio reported.

> According to industry executives who have been monitoring box-office
> returns, "This Is It" was on track as of Wednesday evening to collect
> $10 million to $12 million by the end of the day. A Sony spokesman
> declined to comment.

> Comparisons with other movies are difficult, given that only two major
> films have been released in recent history by studios on a Wednesday
> outside of summer or the holidays. "The Passion of the Christ," a
> phenomenon that benefited from group purchases by churches, grossed
> $26.6 million in February 2004, and "The Matrix Revolutions," the third
> movie in a blockbuster trilogy, collected $24.3 million on its opening
> Wednesday in November 2003.

> Thus far, it's unclear whether "This Is It" will be a blockbuster. The
> movie's big test will come Friday. Attendance today is expected to be
> light because most hard-core Jackson fans will have seen it opening day.
> Saturday will also be slow because it's Halloween, historically a dismal
> day at the box office.

> If word of mouth is strong and moviegoers beyond the most devoted
> Jackson fans are interested, that probably will be evident in healthy
> ticket sales Friday.

> Industry executives estimate, based on early data, that the movie could
> bring in anywhere from $30 million at the low end to $60 million at the
> high end through Sunday. The studio spent $60 million to acquire the
> rights and probably has spent tens of millions more on marketing.

> Ultimately, however, domestic ticket sales may not be that important.
> "This Is It" is expected to perform substantially better overseas, where
> it could be a major hit regardless of how it does in the U.S. and
> Canada.

> Box-office figures from the 97 foreign countries where "This Is It"
> opened simultaneously are not yet available.

> --
> Pissing good money after bad...