1D, Katy, Bieber, Miley or MJ: Whose Pop Doc Wins Opening Weekend?
Despite early reports predicting One Direction's This Is Us would gross $22 to $25 million in ticket sales this Labor Day weekend, the 3D documentary instead earned a still-impressive $18 mil.
While historical flick The Butler earned $20 million, besting 1D in box office rankings this weekend, the lads can say they earned more than Katy Perry did in her film's first weekend.
Released during Fourth of July weekend last year, the "Roar" singer's concert doc Katy Perry: Part of Me opened with $10.2 million in ticket sales (though Johnny Rotten probably didn't contribute to that). The flick ultimately earned a cool $25.3 million, according to Box Office Mojo.
Comparatively, though, both docs were squandered by Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Michael Jackson's respective concert films.
In 2011, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never grossed $29.5 million in its first weekend, earning a massive $73 million in the end. Michael Jackson's This Is It grossed $23.2 million opening weekend in 2009, ultimately snagging a mammoth $72 million. And the opening weekend for 2008's Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour raked in $31.1 million, taking in $65.2 million total.
So who wins the pop star movie battle? So far, Cyrus for opening weekend, but Bieber in overall revenue. Can the 1D boys pull ahead? According to fans we interviewed after the premiere, Directioners will be seeing it multiple times before it closes, so there's still a chance.
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