Michael Jackson Biopic “Michael” Shatters Box Office Records

The Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic “Michael” opened to a $97 million domestic debut and $120.4 million in 84 territories, delivering a $217.4 million worldwide total. This performance set the highest opening for any biopic in North America, surpassing “Oppenheimer” ($80 million) and eclipsing “Straight Outta Compton” as the top music-biopic launch. It also eclipsed *Bohemian Rhapsody* as the top worldwide opening for a music biopic. The $120.4 million foreign haul came from 84 territories; in 63 of those markets — including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, Australia, Spain, the Netherlands and South Asia — the film set a new benchmark; Japan was the only major market without a release.

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Producer Graham King and Lionsgate postponed the release to rework the third act, allocating tens of millions to remove references to the child-sexual-abuse allegations that surrounded Michael Jackson before his 2009 death. The final production budget reached $200 million, a figure the studio deemed justified by the opening results.

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The project is directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King. Distribution in North America is handled by Lionsgate, while Universal Pictures manages overseas territories except Japan. The Jackson estate endorsed the film, granting access to the artist’s catalog and legacy.

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Following its record opening, the film recorded a 97 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes—the highest ever for the genre—and a PostTrak recommendation rate of 85 percent. Demographically, Black moviegoers comprised 38 percent of the audience, Latinos 26 percent, and whites 26 percent. Age breakdown shows 45-50 percent of viewers were 18-34, while 44-48 percent were 35 and older; seniors (55 plus) accounted for roughly 15 percent, and teenagers contributed 6-7 percent.

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Critics assigned “Michael” a 40 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, describing the reviews as generally unfavorable. Despite the low critic score, audience reception remained strong, reflected in the 97 percent audience rating and an A- CinemaScore. The divergence highlights a pronounced split between critical appraisal and public enthusiasm.

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The opening also marks the film as a benchmark for biographical cinema, showing that a family-friendly narrative can attract a broad, multi-ethnic audience. Its performance underscores the commercial viability of music-focused biopics, positioning the genre alongside major franchise releases such as *Super Mario Galaxy*.

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Lionsgate and Graham King noted that early forecasts projected a $70 million domestic opening, far below the actual $97 million result. The studio emphasized the film’s appeal across age and ethnic groups and highlighted Universal’s role in international distribution, except in Japan where the film is not released.

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The article records a stark contrast between the 40 percent critic score and the 97 percent audience score, indicating a split in perception that remains unresolved by the available data.

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“Kino” and Lionsgate have scheduled a June theatrical release for “Michael,” positioning the film for the summer box-office window.

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