The biggest concert film of all time: 'This' is it with $101M

written by Scott Bowles,

story by USA TODAY

Michael Jackson's This Is It, the backstage documentary filmed before the star's death in June, became the highest-grossing concert film worldwide with $21.3 million for the weekend, lifting its five-day total to $32.5 million in the USA and $68.5 million internationally, according to studio estimates from Nielsen EDI.

The $101 million total eclipses the record set by Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour, which earned $70.6 million worldwide last year.

Sony Pictures, which released the film and initially said the movie would play for two weeks, announced Sunday that it would play through the Thanksgiving weekend. Sony's "$60 million to acquire rights was money well spent," says Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com.

Unlike Cyrus' movie, which made just $5.4 million overseas, This Is It stands to be a juggernaut there, where Jackson's star never came under the glare it did in the USA.

And considering the film was a concert movie without the concert, This Is It earned strong reviews from critics, who praised its personal glimpse into the reclusive singer's world.

The picture earned recommendations from 80% of reviewers, according to RottenTomatoes.com.

"This is a rare glimpse into a genius's work," says Sony's Rory Bruer.