On June 25, 2009, the world mourned the loss of a legend.

Magnavision, Wow Videoke and Robinsons Malls celebrate the life and music of the King of Pop through the re-promotion of the video release of Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT.

Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts at London’s O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June 2009, this film was produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. In raw and candid detail, the film captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his planned final London shows.

To commemorate the death anniversary of the late Michael Jackson, a series of weekend exhibits is implemented open to all who loved the legend. A music station playing Michael Jackson songs, video galleries that show behind the scenes, concerts and never before seen footage, and photo galleries containing photos and trivia about the pop icon are setup in key Robinsons Malls starting April.

A music challenge by Wow Videoke is also implemented open to fans, both young and old.  Each is given the chance to join the elimination round by performing a Michael Jackson song of their choice. The top two (2) performers with the best song performance get the chance to join the grand finals on June 25 at Robinsons Place Manila.

The special event is also sponsored by Philips, Sony Music, Levis, Philips Accessories, 103.5 Max FM, Jam 88.3 and 93.9 IFM.

Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT is available on Original VCD, DVD and Blu-ray in video stores nationwide.

CULVER CITY, Calif., November 12, 2009 – “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” has reached a box office gross of $200 million worldwide, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today.  The film has taken in $61 million domestically and more than $140 million internationally.

Commenting on the announcement, Jeff Blake, Chairman of Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution said, “Moviegoers and film critics everywhere have truly embraced this celebration of Michael Jackson and his music.  This special film documents Michael’s creative genius. We are seeing repeat business throughout the world because this movie is so rich with Michael performing his most renowned and recognized songs while offering such a unique, never-before-seen perspective on his artistry. Kenny Ortega and the filmmaking team did a brilliant job of capturing Michael creating a masterwork and it’s a genuine thrill to see audiences respond to the film as they have.”

Outside of North America, the film has performed best in such countries as Japan ($27.2 million), UK ($14.3 million), Germany ($12.1 million), France ($12.1 million) and Australia ($7.2 million).

“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” offers Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London’s O2 Arena.  Covering the months from March through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing numerous songs for the show.  Audiences are given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he has never been seen before.  In raw and candid detail, “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is the last documentation of Michael Jackson in action, capturing the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius, and great artist at work as he and his collaborators move toward their goals of London, the O2, and history.  Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson’s creative partner for the concert tour and the director of the stage show, directed the film, which was produced by Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. Executive producers are John Branca and John McClain.

(“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is still playing in Digital IMAX in SM North EDSA and regular cinemas across the Philippines.)

Advance sales for “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” look set to make the concert movie starring the late King of Pop into one of the hottest tickets of the year.

Barely ten days ahead of its opening, the singer’s concert film has generated more than 1,600 sold-out US showtimes and is the top seller this week at two major online ticket outlets.

That puts “This Is It” in the same territory as next month’s highly anticipated “Twilight” sequel “New Moon” and other films that have generated high pre-release sales.

“The pre-sales activity all over the world has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Steve Elzer, a spokesman for Sony Corp.-owned Columbia Pictures, the studio behind the film. But exhibitors have really met the demand by adding screens, and tickets are available for anyone who would want to see it, anytime.”

Offering Michael Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer, his career, and the stage spectacular that would have been, “This Is It” will provide moviegoers with an unforgettable front row experience compiled from extensive footage that shows Jackson ‘s meticulous preparation for his 2009 London shows.

Online ticket seller Fandango.com reported that it has sold out more than 1,000 showtimes in the United States for “This Is It” on its site alone. Competing outlet MovieTickets.com said it has generated more than 600 sold-out showtimes.

Both Fandango and MovieTickets, the two top US online ticket sellers, said “This Is It” is on-pace to become their top concert movie ever. For now, the 2008 film “Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour” is the biggest concert movie ever for the online ticket sellers. It made more than $70.6 million at worldwide box offices but played in fewer than 700 US theaters.

Sony Pictures is aiming to outpace the “Hannah Montana” movie, as “This Is It” is expected to play on about 3,500 screens in the US and Canada alone. Aside from that, Sony plans to ship more than 8,500 prints of the film to exhibitors in 75 countries (including the Philippines ), for a near simultaneous worldwide release of the film.

In the Philippines, the following theaters are now briskly selling advance tickets on site over the counter:  all SM Cinemas in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; all Ayala Cinemas including Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Greenbelt 1, Trinoma, Market  Market, Alabang Town Center, Marquee Pampanga and Ayala Cebu; selected  Robinsons Cinemas including Galleria, Manila, Metro East and Forum Pioneer; Shangri-La and Gateway cineplexes.

Other theatres like Eastwood, Powerplant, Greenhills, Festival and Sta. Lucia are also expected to start selling advance tickets before the movie’s Oct. 28 opening.

Tickets to Philippine screenings are sold only in cinema ticket counters and are not available for sale on the Internet.

“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to  see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

IMAX Corporation and Sony Pictures Releasing announced that the highly-anticipated motion picture “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” will be released for a special run in select Digital IMAX theaters worldwide (including the Philippines) during the film’s limited two-week engagement in thousands of theaters globally starting on October 28.  The film’s Manila run at Digital IMAX will be at SM North EDSA.

“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

“The combination of the never seen before rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson preparing for his sold-out London concerts, more than 25 world premieres and special IMAX engagements makes this a once-in-a-lifetime event for moviegoers, music lovers and Michael Jackson fans,” said Rory Bruer, President, Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing.

“The rollout of our new digital IMAX locations is expanding the range and frequency of IMAX content available to moviegoers worldwide,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “Our partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment is growing with our theatre network, and we’re looking forward to continued success with them as we open more theatres and release more films.”

“We’re very excited to participate in this special event, where IMAX audiences and fans of Michael Jackson will feel the energy of his talents,” added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “Sony Pictures Entertainment knows how to create an event on a global scale, and their use of our new digital IMAX locations internationally demonstrates how major studios can take advantage of our network in new and exciting ways.”

“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to  see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Local fans can now avail of their tickets to the eagerly anticipated film MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT, according to Columbia Pictures which distributes the movie.

The following theaters are now briskly selling advance tickets on site over the counter:  all SM Cinemas in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; all Ayala Cinemas including Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Greenbelt 1, Trinoma, Market  Market, Alabang Town Center, Marquee Pampanga and Ayala Cebu; selected  Robinsons Cinemas including Galleria, Manila, Metro East and Forum Pioneer; and Shangri-La Cineplex.

Other theatres like Gateway, Eastwood, Powerplant, Greenhills, Festival and Sta. Lucia are also expected to start selling advance tickets before the movie’s Oct. 28 opening.

Tickets to Philippine screenings are sold only in cinema ticket counters and are not available for sale on the Internet.

MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT will open across the Philippines starting 12 noon of Wednesday, Oct. 28, playing simultaneously in more than 150 cinema screens.  The film will play in theatres only for a limited two-week run.

Offering Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer, his career, and the stage spectacular that would have been, the film will provide moviegoers with an unforgettable front row experience compiled from extensive footage that shows Jackson ‘s meticulous preparation for his 2009 London shows.

MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT is produced with the full support of The Estate of Michael Jackson and is drawn from hundreds of hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage, captured in high definition with state-of-the-art digital sound as the late singer was preparing for his concert series in London .

The majority of the film’s footage was shot in June, 2009 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles , California , and The Forum in Inglewood , California , as Jackson prepared for “This Is It,” the series of fifty concerts Jackson planned to present at the O2 Arena in London .

MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to  see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Fans worldwide will have the opportunity to celebrate the global launch of Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT when Sony Pictures Entertainment hosts over 25 global premieres, with more than 15 of those coordinated simultaneously around the world on October 27th.  Three hours after the red carpet events begin, audiences will be able to see the highly anticipated film for the first time as the studio has added special advance screenings that evening throughout the world.

“Michael Jackson has an army of fans everywhere around the world.  By rolling out this film with simultaneous premieres and special advance screenings on October 27th, we are giving audiences an incredible opportunity to join together in celebration of Michael Jackson’s incredible career,” said Jeff Blake, chairman, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution for Sony Pictures.

Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT will be available worldwide for a limited two-week engagement beginning October 28.

The film’s world gala will be in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on Tuesday, October 27.  That event, which begins at 6pm PDT, kicks off a series of more than 25 premieres around the globe.  More than 15 cities, including New York, Rio De Janeiro, London, Berlin, Johannesburg, and Seoul will host event simultaneously, with red carpet arrivals and activities from the Los Angeles event broadcast by satellite to those cities.  Other cities, including Moscow, Tokyo, Sydney, Paris, and many others will host their own, non-simultaneous premiere activities.

Three hours after the worldwide celebration of the motion picture, the first public screenings of the film will begin.  For example, the first audiences in Los Angeles will see the film at 9pm; in New York, audiences will have the opportunity to see the film at midnight; in London, the advance screenings will be at 4am UK time.

In the Philippines, cinemas will open at 12 noon of October 28.  For advance ticket sales, Filipino fans are advised to check for announcements in their favorite cinemas.

Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London’s O2 Arena.  Chronicling the months from March through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show.  Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he has never been seen before.

In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius, and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his final show. Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson’s creative partner and the director of the stage show, is also directing the film, which is being produced by Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. Executive producers are John Branca and John McClain.

Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to  see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Capturing the vibrant energy of Michael Jackson himself, the poster shows the legendary singer’s full-figured silhouette in victory pose.   Inside the silhouette are various images from the film, and emblazoned below the title is the phrase, “Like You’ve Never Seen Him Before.”

To be shown exclusively for a special, limited, two-week engagement worldwide (including the Philippines) starting October 28th, “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is produced with the full support of The Estate of Michael Jackson and is drawn from hundreds of hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage, captured in high definition with state-of-the-art digital sound as the late singer was preparing for his concert series in London.

The film will provide a unique career retrospective and feature interviews with some of Jackson’s closest friends and creative collaborators.

The majority of the film’s footage was shot in June, 2009 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California, and The Forum in Inglewood, California, as Jackson prepared for “This Is It,” the series of fifty concerts Jackson planned to present at the O2 Arena in London.

“This Is It” will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer, his career, and the stage spectacular that would have been. The film will provide moviegoers with an unforgettable front row experience compiled from extensive footage that shows Jackson’s meticulous preparation for his 2009 London shows.

“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to  see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Intimate portrait of Michael Jackson as you’ve never seen him before to hit theaters worldwide October 28

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment announced that “Michael Jackson THIS IS IT” will be released exclusively for a special, limited, two-week engagement worldwide (including the Philippines), with the studio pushing up the debut of the film by two days, to Wednesday, October 28th.

Separately, the producers of “Michael Jackson THIS IS IT” announced that Kenny Ortega has been set to direct the motion picture.  The film is being produced with the full support of The Estate of Michael Jackson.

Commenting on the announcement, Ortega, director of and Jackson ’s creative partner on the “THIS IS IT” concert, said, “This film is a gift to Michael’s fans. As we began assembling the footage for the motion picture we realized we captured something extraordinary, unique and very special. It’s a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius’s world. For the first time ever, fans will see Michael as they have never seen him before – this great artist at work. It is raw, emotional, moving and powerful footage that captures his interactions with the `THIS IS IT’ collaborators that he had personally assembled for this once in a lifetime project.

“This film shows a consummate performer working with and guiding singers, dancers, band members, choreographers, special effects creators and countless other creative members of the team as we all assemble this historic concert,” continues Ortega.  “I can think of many words to describe Michael as he rehearses for and creates `THIS IS IT’ – inspirational, dynamic, generous, dedicated, loving and the guiding force — you see him as the true architect and driving force of this project – a true master of his craft, the Entertainer of Entertainers.  I’m proud of the many years of friendship and creative association I shared with Michael and I’m happy that people will get a chance to see his spirit and drive in action. `THIS IS IT’ may go down as the greatest concert that no one got a chance to see, but with this film, we get a rare portrait of Michael as he prepares for his final curtain call and what I believe was going to be his master work.”

“Michael Jackson THIS IS IT” will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London ’s O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, and genius as he creates and perfects his final show.

“I have never been partners with a more creative, innovative or groundbreaking entertainer than Michael Jackson ,” said Randy Phillips, President & CEO, AEG LIVE and producer of “Michael Jackson THIS IS IT.”  “While the concerts would have been the greatest shows in the history of music, our film will provide a historic event for Michael’s fans to see for themselves the genius that he was and the creativity, talent and imagination that the entire cast devoted to create the ‘greatest concert that never happened’.”

In the coming weeks, additional information about the film will be available at http://www.michaeljackson.com.

Dubbed the Billion Dollar Maestro by Daily Variety, Kenny Ortega has conquered feature films, television, stage, concerts and massive live events such as The Olympics with equal excellence. As Michael Jackson’s director and creative partner on “THIS IS IT” as well as the previous Jackson concert tours “Dangerous” and “History,” Mr. Ortega has been a friend, trusted colleague and collaborator of Michael Jackson’s for over 20 years.

Kenny will segue from directing the film version of “THIS IS IT” to directing the Paramount feature film “Footloose” this fall.  The multiple Emmy Award winner famously directed and visualized Disney’s billion-dollar “High School Musical” franchise of films both for Television and as a Feature Film.  Kenny directed the fastest selling concert tour in history, the Hannah Montana / Mile Cyrus “Best of Both Worlds Tour” featuring The Jonas Bros.  This tour broke numerous records and extended its sell out tour by more than 20 shows.  He also directed to tremendous praise the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City , Utah

“Michael Jackson THIS IS IT” is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to  see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.