THIS IS IT grosses $7.4 million on first day

Sony's much-hyped Michael Jackson last released documentary THIS IS IT moonwalked to an upbeat $7.4 million in estimated first-day boxoffice on Wednesday.Pre-release forecasts had projected that the pic would open upward of $40 million through Sunday

"This Is It" bowed simultaneously in 97 foreign territories, which outperformed U.S. and Canadian grosses by ringing up $12.7 million on Wednesday. That made for a first-day worldwide boxoffice of $20.1 million.

"This Is It" at 9 p.m. PDT Tuesday, but the studio included those grosses -- totaling $2.2 million -- in its Wednesday tally. Sony acquired worldwide distribution rights to the pic for a reported $60 million.