Sony Pictures paid $60 million for film rights to Michael Jackson's final rehearsal footage - an amount I originally thought was ridiculous. Their goal was to create a film that honored him, showcased his last few moments, and generate $100 million dollars in ticket sales. Shockingly, it worked - and they'll likely be able to quadruple that.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge Michael Jackson fan, and I fully understand that he's an international icon. I just couldn't imagine a documentary-style movie about a dead entertainer making that much money. Well, I was dead wrong. In it's first five days, the film pulled in $101 million worldwide. $68 million was from overseas alone - including $10.4 million in Japan, $6.3 million in Germany, $5.8 million in France, and $3.2 million in China.
Of course, now Sony is extending the farewell performance film beyond its planned two-week run. It's even being rumored that this film may gross more than the tour ever would have. Sounds like the big Michael Jackson payday has arrived.
