MUMBAI: As fans around the globe thronged theatres showing Michael Jackson‘s film This Is It, the film earned $20.1 million at the box-offices all around on its first day in theatres.
The film, which shows the late pop star rehearsing for a series of comeback concerts before his death in June this year made $7.4 million in the United States and Canada and another $12.7 million internationally.

Says Columbia Pictures spokesman Steve Elzer said in a statement, "The studio believes that the worldwide launch, with very strong performance across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia, represents an amazing beginning for the film and a reaffirmation of the global appeal of Michael Jackson." 

This Is It premiered on Tuesday night and then began playing around the world on Wednesday, which is unusual for a movie that is not based on a major franchise like the Harry Potter or Pirates of the Caribbean.

In the United Kingdom, box-offices raked in under $2 million, while French sales totaled about $1.4 million and Germany just over $1 million. Japanese fans spent roughly $1.2 million and in China the film fetched $730,000.

The question now for Columbia is how well the movie will perform during the upcoming, first weekend. Jackson‘s fans were expected to turn out in droves early, but whether they will be repeat customers remains to be seen.

Columbia has said the movie will be extended beyond its planned two-week run if ticket demand is high. The studio plans a DVD release in 2010.