MATRIX - JACKSON FILM IN LESS-THAN-THRILLER START

JACKSON FILM IN LESS-THAN-THRILLER START

The Michael Jackson concert documentary This Is It! brought in $2.2 million at the box office in late-night screenings Tuesday -- very good, but far from extraordinary. Industry forecasters said that it was likely to earn $10-12 million by the end of the day Wednesday. Today's (Thursday) Los Angeles Times observed that comparisons are difficult inasmuch as only two major films have ever been released on a Wednesday outside of summer or the holiday periods. And each of them, The Passion of the Christ and The Matrix Revolutions collected more than twice what This Is It! is expected to earn. The film also faces a tough weekend ahead, since Halloween, which falls on Saturday, is a night when the moviegoing crowd usually is occupied with other activities. The Times noted, however, that regardless of how well -- or poorly -- the movie performs domestically, it is likely to become a smash hit overseas, where Jackson's image and reputation were never undermined the way they were in the U.S.

29/10/2009