'This Is It' continues to transfix auds

Michael Jackson concert doc raises B.O. to $19.1 million

By ANTHONY D'ALESSANDRO

Concert doc "Michael Jackson’s This Is It" from Sony Pictures continued to dominate the box office in its third day ringing up $7.9 million at 3,481 venues for a running cume of $19.1 million.

For Sony, "This Is It" looks to mark the studio’s seventh No. 1 opener this year at the box office after the release of "Zombieland" earlier this month. While the $7.4 million opening day of "This Is It" on Wednesday charted under the $8.6 million first Friday of Disney’s "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour," the Michael Jackson pic has outperformed the opening days of other music docs including Disney’s "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" ($5 million) and Paramount’s "Tupac: Resurrection" ($2.2 million).

Halloween weekend moviegoers were picky about their horror choices yesterday, embracing Paramount’s "Paranormal Activity" which notched second with $6 million and retreating from Lionsgate’s "Saw VI’ which took sixth with $1.9 million.

Par’s further expansion of "Paranormal" from 1,945 to 2,404 enabled the indie pic to maintain a decent hold with only a 20% dip from a week ago. Since its bow on Sept. 25, "Paranormal" has racked up an estimated $74.2 million.

The sharp 73% decline for "Saw VI" on 3,036 isn’t uncommon for the franchise as its previous two chapters have seen second Friday declines lower than 70%. To date, the pic has grossed $19.2 million.

Overture Films’ "Law Abiding Citizen" ranked third with $2.42 million off 2,764, a 39% decline and a current B.O. of $46.5 million.

Universal’s "Couples Retreat" remains buoyant in the top five in its fourth Friday, making $2.38 million off 3,026 in fourth, repping a 35% decline from a week ago. The Vince Vaughn comedy has accumulated $83 million at the domestic B.O.

Warner Bros.’ "Where the Wild Things Are" owned fifth with $1.95 million off 3,645, down 55% for a $58.7 million domestic B.O. at the onset of its third sesh.

A year ago, another type of musical pic, Disney’s "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" took the top spot at the Halloween weekend frame with $15.3 million. "Saw V" won the Friday of that weekend in its second sesh with $3.2 million beating "High School’s" $1.7 million. However, weekend matinees wound up fueling the final figures for the G-rated Disney pic.