Michael Jackson fans hit the cinemas of Beijing at midnight on Wednesday to celebrate the release of the posthumous documentary on the singer, This Is It.

The final work of the "King of Pop", made from more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage for his planned London concerts, shows an enthusiastic Jackson crafting his moves and performing some of his most beloved hits. Director Kenny Ortega calls it "a story of a master of his craft".

Jackson's sudden death on June 25 saw an outpouring of grief across the world. Fans performed Jackson hits such as Dangerous and Beat It, on stage and in the aisles, at the film's premiere. Extra late-night screenings of This Is It at 14 cities are being held to satisfy fans who cannot wait to see the 112-minute film. Its distributor Sony is doing a limited, two-week release in other countries, but this does not apply to China.