Michael Jackson's This Is It is a feature-length film assembled from rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage shot during preparations for the singer's planned This Is It concert residency. Directed by Kenny Ortega, the film presents staged run-throughs, choreography sessions and production planning that were in progress before Jackson's untimely death in June 2009. It functions as both a concert film and a documentary, offering viewers an intimate look at the creative and technical work that went into the production.

Content and notable elements

The filmed material shows Michael Jackson working on musical arrangements, dance sequences and stage direction. The completed movie includes rehearsal performances of around twenty songs and features collaborative moments such as a duet rehearsal with singer Judith Hill. Costumes, lighting tests, choreography breakdowns and large-scale stage effects are visible, giving a sense of what the live shows were intended to be. The project is often described as a record of artistic process rather than a polished concert release.

Production and release

Producers edited many hours of footage into the theatrical cut released in late October 2009. The film opened in cinemas worldwide and was later issued on home video formats; a DVD and Blu-ray edition appeared in North America on 26 January 2010. Broadcasts and subsequent television airings introduced the material to wider audiences; for example, it was screened on UK television during the 2013 holiday season. The theatrical release was timed near Halloween and marketed as a limited event, emphasizing its one-time cinema experience.

Reception and significance

Critics and audiences generally responded positively to the film's intimate perspective on Jackson's work, and it performed strongly at the box office for a music-documentary release, grossing approximately $261,183,588 worldwide. Reviewers praised the choreography, musical performances and the chance to observe the scale of the planned concerts, while some commentary also discussed the ethics of releasing rehearsal material after an artist's death.

Legacy and distinctions

  • The film occupies a hybrid place between documentary and concert movie, emphasizing rehearsal over a finished live performance.
  • It brought attention to the scale of modern pop concert production and the collaborative nature of staging such events.
  • Links for further information and related resources: film details, seasonal context.

As a record of creative rehearsal, Michael Jackson's This Is It remains a frequently cited example of how documentary footage can document an artist's process and preserve a snapshot of a major production that was never completed as planned.