There’s a new champion at the box office.
“Michael,” the biopic about the legendary Michael Jackson, is making waves. It raked in $97 million domestically and $217 million globally during its opening weekend. This is the biggest launch ever for a biopic, breaking the record previously held by “Straight Outta Compton,” which earned $60 million in its debut. For context, “Bohemian Rhapsody” launched at $51 million but later grossed an impressive $910 million.
Before its release, expectations were initially set at $50 to $60 million. However, buzz kept growing. Despite mixed reviews—only 38% positive on Rotten Tomatoes—viewers loved it, giving “Michael” an “A-” on CinemaScore.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film covers Jackson’s rise from the Jackson 5 to global superstardom. Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, plays him in his first acting role, alongside Colman Domingo and Nia Long as his parents. Critics noted that the film glosses over some darker aspects of Jackson’s life, particularly the allegations of child abuse. Originally, the script included a contentious lawsuit, but those scenes were cut due to legal restrictions surrounding the case.
With a budget nearing $200 million, “Michael” is among the most costly biopics ever. Its production expenses were shared between Lionsgate, Universal, and the Jackson estate. Despite the challenges, the film is expected to be a financial success.
This film marks a significant win for Lionsgate, their best since “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” in 2015. If global sales exceed $700 million, it will rank among their top films. Recent releases like “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t” and “The Long Walk” suggest that Lionsgate is rebounding after some less successful outings.
Music biopics have become quite popular recently, with films about stars like Amy Winehouse and Elvis gaining varied success. “Michael” stands out for its exhilarating concert scenes, featuring hits like “Billie Jean” and “Thriller.” This appeal helped it perform well in IMAX, accounting for approximately 14% of North American ticket sales.
David A. Gross, who tracks box office trends, notes that the film resonates with audiences seeking nostalgia, even as critics point out its avoidance of Jackson’s more complicated life events.
With no major competitions this weekend, “Michael” dominated North American theaters, pushing “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” to second place. That animated film earned $21.2 million, bringing its total to over $800 million globally.
In other releases, “Project Hail Mary,” now in its sixth week, earned $13.2 million. Meanwhile, A24’s “Mother Mary,” starring Anne Hathaway, collected $1.3 million as it expanded its theater count, and the documentary “Lorne,” about Lorne Michaels, struggled with just $70,000.
Movie theaters overall are experiencing a resurgence, with revenues 15% higher than last year, according to Comscore. That figure has slightly declined from a peak of 23%. Upcoming films like “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and “Mortal Kombat 2” could further boost box office sales.
“Michael” exemplifies the ongoing interest in captivating stories on the big screen, and enthusiasm from moviegoers continues to grow.
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