Michael Jackson Biopic “Michael” Sets Record-Breaking Box-Office Opening

“Michael,” the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic of Michael Jackson, opened with $97 million in the United States and $120.4 million in foreign markets, for a worldwide debut of $217.4 million, according to Sunday estimates. The domestic total exceeds expectations by roughly $30 million and establishes the highest opening for any biopic in North America, surpassing the $80 million debut of *Oppenheimer*. Internationally, the film registers the largest opening for a music biopic, overtaking *Straight Outta Compton* ($60.1 million) and *Bohemian Rhapsody* ($55 million). The launch also marks the independent studio’s strongest post-pandemic debut and its sixth-biggest ever, ranking as the second-biggest opening of the year behind Universal and Illumination’s *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie*.

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The film is produced by Graham King for Lionsgate, with Universal handling overseas distribution except in Japan. The Jackson estate publicly endorsed the project. During production, Lionsgate allocated tens of millions of dollars to rework the third act, deliberately omitting references to the child-sexual-abuse allegations that surrounded Jackson before his 2009 death. The final production budget is reported at $200 million.

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After its opening weekend, the film’s domestic earnings fell 36 percent to $13 million, bringing the U.S. cumulative total to $305 million. Overseas, it added $12.2 million, raising the foreign cumulative total to $305 million and the worldwide gross to $613.3 million. PostTrak data show the audience composition was 38 percent Black, 26 percent Latino, and 26 percent white. The film earned a 97 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes—the highest ever for the genre—and posted low-90s exit scores on PostTrak with an 85 percent recommendation rate. CinemaScore assigned an A-grade.

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• The Jackson estate confirmed its endorsement of the biopic, emphasizing support for a respectful portrayal of the artist.

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• Lionsgate’s spokesperson explained the decision to rework the third act as a means to focus the narrative on Jackson’s artistic legacy while avoiding contentious legal matters.

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• Universal’s international distribution lead noted that the film’s global rollout covered virtually every market, with Japan excluded due to separate territorial arrangements.

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Critics gave the film a 40 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, describing the reviews as generally unfavorable. The disparity between critic scores and audience enthusiasm highlights a pronounced divide in reception.

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By surpassing *Oppenheimer*’s domestic opening, “Michael” establishes a new benchmark for biographical films in North America. Its $217.4 million worldwide debut also eclipses previous music-biopic records set by *Straight Outta Compton* and *Bohemian Rhapsody*. The performance demonstrates the commercial viability of high-budget biopics and underscores the broad cross-demographic appeal of Jackson’s legacy.

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The film’s strong hold and cumulative worldwide total of $613.3 million suggest continued momentum in subsequent weeks. Industry observers anticipate that the title may approach the billion-dollar threshold if current trends persist, positioning it among the year’s top-grossing releases.

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