The Michael Jackson film This Is It led at the U.S. movie box office during its first weekend, but its total North American receipts of $32.5 million for its first five days were well below industry expectations, which had pegged the film to draw in the $40 million range. For the weekend it brought in an unexciting $21.3 million.

This Is It did well overseas, snagging $101 million in its first five days. The independent film Paranormal Activity finished second with $16.5 million in ticket sales, for a film that cost just a few thousand dollarst to make and which has been given a limited advertising budget by its studio.

–S. T. Karnick