Michael Jackson film tops box office with $217m global opening
The new Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” has stormed the global box office, recording a spectacular opening weekend of $217 million (£160m) and becoming the highest-grossing debut ever for a biographical film.
The film, which stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, was released midweek but quickly gained momentum across international markets, propelling it past previous record holders in the genre.
According to the BBC on Monday, it has now overtaken 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which opened with $124 million (£91m), and also surpassed Oppenheimer, which made $180 million (£133m) during its opening weekend in 2024. The performance establishes “Michael” as the strongest worldwide biopic launch in cinema history.
Industry executives have credited the film’s broad appeal for its success.
The Chairman of US distributor Lionsgate, Adam Fogelson, said the numbers reflected strong turnout across diverse audiences.
“Audiences are clearly having a blast,” he noted.
Despite its box office dominance, the film has received a mixed critical response. While critics have raised concerns over its narrative choices and tone, audiences have reacted far more positively, with review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes showing a 38% critic score compared to a 97% audience rating.
The film continues Hollywood’s recent trend of successful musical biopics, joining a list of films about global icons such as Queen, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse, and Whitney Houston.
Backed by the late singer’s estate, “Michael” incorporates Jackson’s original vocals and focuses heavily on his musical legacy and rise to global fame. However, it has also drawn attention for its omission of the child sexual abuse allegations that surrounded the singer.
Filmmakers initially planned to include elements of that period of Jackson’s life, but the storyline was reportedly reworked after the discovery of a legal agreement linked to one of his accusers. As a result, the film concludes its narrative in 1988, before the allegations became public.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the production faced significant challenges, including costly reshoots that contributed to its reported $200 million (£148m) budget.
With its record-breaking debut, “Michael” is set to remain one of the most talked-about films of the year as it continues its global rollout.
