Story perspectives

Michael Jackson Biopic “Michael” Opens $217 M Worldwide, Sets Record

4/28/2026

Summary

Michael Biopic Soars

The Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” opened with $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide, the biggest biopic opening.
The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s nephew, as Michael.
The opening beat the $60 million Straight Outta Compton debut and the $180 million Oppenheimer opening.
The $200 million budget, inflated by a non-disclosure agreement, is shared by Lionsgate, Universal and the Jackson estate, which project earnings above $700 million.

Summary

Jackson Biopic Falters

The Jackson estate’s tight creative control made the film feel like a catalog infomercial.
John Logan’s script strings together Michael Jackson’s hits without a clear narrative, prompting critics to fault Jaafar Jackson’s overdone CGI face-augmentation.
The movie omits any mention of the long-standing sexual abuse allegations and leaves out iconic eras, making the story feel incomplete.
A post-credits card announcing “MICHAEL JACKSON’S STORY WILL CONTINUE” confirms a sequel is planned.

History

Historical Context

Universal’s 2015 rap biopic Straight Outta Compton opened in 2,757 theaters with a $60.2 million weekend, becoming the highest-grossing musical biopic at the time. Its record-setting performance proved that estate-backed, high-budget music films could dominate the box office, prompting studios such as Lionsgate and Universal to greenlight Antoine Fuqua’s Michael, starring Jaafar Jackson, with a $97 million domestic debut.

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Michael Biopic Soars

The Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” opened with $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide, the biggest biopic opening.
The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s nephew, as Michael.
The opening beat the $60 million Straight Outta Compton debut and the $180 million Oppenheimer opening.
The $200 million budget, inflated by a non-disclosure agreement, is shared by Lionsgate, Universal and the Jackson estate, which project earnings above $700 million.

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