Story perspectives

‘Michael’ Sets Biopic Opening Record, Sequel Looms

4/28/2026

Summary

Michael Breaks Records

The film “Michael” opened worldwide on Wednesday, earning $217 million, the biggest opening weekend for any biopic.
It made $97 million domestically and $120.4 million internationally, director Antoine Fuqua reported.
Lionsgate spent about $200 million on production, including reshoots after a rediscovered non-disclosure agreement forced a third-act rewrite.
Lionsgate motion picture chair Adam Fogelson said the studio holds roughly 30% of footage for a potential sequel, with a decision expected within weeks.

Summary

Michael Underperforms

The Michael Jackson biopic scored below 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, unusually low for a blockbuster.
Analysts say musician biopics now act as cross-studio franchises that reliably drive box-office revenue.
The genre draws older adult viewers back to multiplexes, a hard-to-reach demographic.
In 2024, “Bob Marley: One Love” and a Colleen Hoover adaptation were the only dramas to outgross the Michael Jackson film, matching “Transformers” movies’ box-office stamina despite poor reviews.

Summary

Michael Revives Concerts

Legal blunders forced the biopic to end with the 1987 Bad album and promise a sequel once cleared.
Analysts say the film will lift Jackson’s catalog sales now that he can no longer tour.
The IMAX simulation recreates concerts with production values, giving fans a second chance to see him live.
Jaafar Jackson dances while the film syncs Michael’s original vocals, creating a “reverse karaoke” effect.

Summary

Jaafar Promotes Thriller

Jaafar Jackson posted a meme-style promo on X wearing the red-and-black Thriller jacket while eating popcorn.
The clip appeared as the film secured a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a “Verified Hot” rating.
Critics, however, gave the movie a 38% Rotten Tomatoes score, highlighting a sharp audience-critic divide.
Analysts suggest the viral push could help the biopic exceed the $60 million opening record and trigger a sequel.

History

Historical Context

Bohemian Rhapsody’s 2018 release, produced by 20th Century Fox and directed by Bryan Singer, earned roughly $910 million worldwide on a $52 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing musical biopic. Its record-breaking performance showed studios that high-budget music biographies could dominate box offices, a pattern that underpins the 2024 Michael Jackson biopic’s multi-hundred-million expectations and worldwide promotional campaigns.

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Michael Breaks Records

The film “Michael” opened worldwide on Wednesday, earning $217 million, the biggest opening weekend for any biopic.
It made $97 million domestically and $120.4 million internationally, director Antoine Fuqua reported.
Lionsgate spent about $200 million on production, including reshoots after a rediscovered non-disclosure agreement forced a third-act rewrite.
Lionsgate motion picture chair Adam Fogelson said the studio holds roughly 30% of footage for a potential sequel, with a decision expected within weeks.

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