The new Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” has taken the global box office by storm, delivering a massive opening weekend of $217 million (£160m) and setting a new record as the highest-grossing debut ever for a biographical film.
The film, starring Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, premiered midweek but rapidly built strong momentum across international markets, pushing it ahead of previous record holders in the genre.
According to BBC on Monday, it has now surpassed 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which opened with $124 million (£91m), and also overtaken Oppenheimer, which earned $180 million (£133m) during its opening weekend in 2024. This milestone cements “Michael” as the biggest worldwide biopic debut in cinema history.
Industry executives have pointed to the film’s wide appeal as a major factor behind its impressive performance.
The Chairman of US distributor Lionsgate, Adam Fogelson, said the figures reflect strong turnout from a broad range of audiences.
“Audiences are clearly having a blast,” he noted.
Despite dominating the box office, the film has received mixed reviews from critics. While some have questioned its storytelling approach and tone, audiences have responded far more positively, with Rotten Tomatoes showing a 38% critic score compared to a 97% audience rating.
The film continues Hollywood’s recent wave of successful musical biopics, joining stories based on global icons such as Queen, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse, and Whitney Houston.
Backed by the estate of Michael Jackson, “Michael” features the late star’s original vocals and places strong emphasis on his musical legacy and rise to worldwide fame. However, it has also sparked discussion for leaving out the child sexual abuse allegations that surrounded the singer.
Filmmakers had initially intended to include parts of that chapter of Jackson’s life, but the storyline was reportedly adjusted after the discovery of a legal agreement connected to one of his accusers. As a result, the film wraps up its narrative in 1988, before the allegations became public.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the production encountered major hurdles, including expensive reshoots that added to its reported $200 million (£148m) budget.
Following its record-breaking debut, “Michael” is expected to remain one of the most talked-about films of the year as it continues its rollout across global cinemas.
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