This Is It (2009)

Last updated:
February 13, 2026

This Is It is not a traditional concert film, nor a classic documentary. It is something far more intimate and historically loaded: a behind-the-scenes record of Michael Jackson’s final creative process as he prepared for the This Is It residency in London—shows that never happened.

Directed by Kenny Ortega, the film is assembled from over 100 hours of rehearsal footage shot in Los Angeles just weeks before Jackson’s death. What we watch is not nostalgia. It’s a master at work, refining every note, every step, every breath.

And knowing how it ends in real life gives the entire film an emotional weight that is impossible to ignore.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Auditions: The Best Dancers in the World Want One Thing

The film opens with young dancers auditioning for the tour. Many say the same thing: they grew up watching Michael Jackson. They are not just there for a job; they are there to dance for their hero.

This immediately establishes something powerful: Jackson’s cultural gravity. Before we even see him, we understand his impact.

First Rehearsals: Jackson the Perfectionist, Jackson the Gentleman

When Jackson appears, he is soft-spoken, calm, almost shy. But the moment rehearsal begins, a transformation happens.

He controls everything without ever raising his voice. He gently corrects musicians, asks for changes in lighting, sound, tempo, and emotion. He doesn’t command through fear; he commands through vision.

We see early work on songs like Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ and Jam. Even at 50 years old, his timing, musicality, and understanding of stagecraft are razor sharp.

Reimagining the Classics

A major focus of the rehearsals is reinventing older songs for a modern stadium spectacle.

They build cinematic segments for Thriller, Smooth Criminal, and They Don’t Care About Us. We see pre-visualization footage, 3D storyboards, and elaborate plans involving giant puppets, soldiers, and interactive screens.

Jackson is deeply involved in all of it. He isn’t just a performer. He is the creative director of his own mythology.

“The Earth Song” and the Environmental Message

One of the most powerful segments of the film is rehearsal for Earth Song. A full CGI video plays behind him showing forests burning, animals dying, and environmental destruction.

Jackson insists the message be clear. He wants this performance to be about healing the planet. This is where the film stops feeling like concert prep and starts feeling like a final statement.

Human Moments: Jokes, Warmth, and Precision

We see Jackson joke with the crew, hug backup singers, softly sing harmonies to guide vocalists. He constantly says, “for love,” reminding everyone that the show is about emotion, not ego.

These moments humanize him far more than any interview ever did.

“Thriller” and “Smooth Criminal” — Cinema on Stage

Rehearsals for Thriller include a new 3D film intro, turning the song into a short horror movie before transitioning into the dance number.

Smooth Criminal is staged with a full gangster film aesthetic, blending cinema and live performance in a way rarely attempted before.

Movie Ending

The film does not end with a concert. It ends with rehearsals for Man in the Mirror.

Jackson sings it slowly, emotionally, almost reflectively. The lights dim, the stage is empty except for him and the band. There is no applause. No crowd. No finished performance.

And that is what makes it devastating.

Because the audience knows what the performers in the room do not: this is the last time he will ever rehearse these songs.

The film fades out not with closure, but with absence. We never see the show completed. We never see the costumes, the crowds, or the final spectacle.

The ending leaves viewers with a haunting realization: This would have been one of the greatest live shows ever created. And it existed only in preparation.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. There are no post-credits scenes. The emotional closure of the film happens before the credits roll.

Type of Movie

This Is It is a concert rehearsal documentary that blends behind-the-scenes filmmaking, music performance, and intimate character study into a historical time capsule.

Cast

Michael Jackson as himself
Kenny Ortega as himself (director and show director)
Orianthi Panagaris (lead guitarist)
The This Is It dancers, vocalists, and band members

Film Music and Composer

The music consists entirely of Michael Jackson’s catalog, rehearsed live. No external score is used. Songs include Billie Jean, Thriller, Black or White, Earth Song, and Man in the Mirror.

Filming Locations

Rehearsals were filmed primarily at:

Staples Center — main stage rehearsals
The Forum — additional rehearsal space

These empty arenas are important because they visually contrast with the massive crowds that were expected for the London shows. The emptiness becomes symbolic.

Awards and Nominations

Nominated for several documentary and music film awards
Won awards for editing and archival presentation at smaller critics associations
Commercially, it became the highest-grossing concert documentary at the time

Behind the Scenes Insights

The footage was never intended to become a movie; it was for Jackson’s private review
Kenny Ortega assembled the film after Jackson’s death with the family’s approval
Many dancers learned of Jackson’s death while still expecting rehearsals to continue
Orianthi became globally famous after the film’s release
Jackson insisted on live vocals in most rehearsals despite physical exhaustion

Inspirations and References

The planned show drew visual inspiration from Jackson’s earlier tours and cinematic style, especially Thriller and Smooth Criminal short films.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Over 100 hours of footage exist. Much of it remains unreleased. Extended rehearsals and conversations were cut to keep the film emotionally focused and under two hours.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Not based on a book. However, several books about the tour planning and Jackson’s final days were published after the film’s release.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Jackson quietly correcting the band’s tempo with finger snaps
The massive puppet sequence rehearsal for They Don’t Care About Us
The emotional rehearsal of Earth Song with environmental visuals
The final Man in the Mirror rehearsal

Iconic Quotes

“Let’s do it with love.”
“This is why I love music.”
“I want them to feel it.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Many stage visuals reference Jackson’s past tours
Choreography includes subtle callbacks to original music video movements
The film subtly shows how physically thin Jackson had become without commenting on it

Trivia

Shot in just the last two months of Jackson’s life
Originally planned for a limited two-week theatrical release
Became a global box office success due to emotional impact

Why Watch?

Because it shows the artist, not the myth. You see the discipline, the kindness, the obsession with detail, and the passion that defined Michael Jackson’s work ethic. It feels like watching history unfold in real time.