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The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' launched to a record-breaking $217 million worldwide opening weekend, including $97 million in North America, making it the biggest debut for a biopic in box office history.
Antoine Fuqua directed the film, which Lionsgate distributed. Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's real-life nephew, stars in his first acting role, alongside Colman Domingo and Nia Long as his parents, Joe and Katherine.
The film's global debut beats the previous biopic record set by Oppenheimer, which opened with $180.4 million worldwide in 2023, and is well above Bohemian Rhapsody's $124 million debut in 2018.
Although critics gave the film a 38% score on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences rated it an "A-" on CinemaScore exit polls.
According to PostTrak, 61% of ticket buyers were female, and 66% were 25 or older. Analysts had expected a North American opening of $50 to $60 million, but the film more than doubled those predictions.
"You don't deliver this number unless you're seeing huge numbers across every conceivable demographic," said Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate's motion picture chair.
Many critics say the film presents a sanitized version of Jackson's life, leaving out the child sexual abuse allegations made against him later in his career.
Jackson, who died in 2009 at age 50, was acquitted in his only criminal trial in 2005. He and his estate always maintained his innocence.
The path to theaters was not straightforward. After principal photography was completed, producers discovered a clause in a 1994 legal settlement barring any depiction of the plaintiff in film or television.
A significant portion of the third act was cut, and reshoots costing up to $50 million were conducted at the estate's expense.
The film was reworked to conclude in 1988, before any accusations were made against Jackson.
The total production cost was nearly $200 million, with Lionsgate, Universal (which has international distribution rights), and the Jackson estate sharing expenses.
A sequel is already in development, and Fuqua has said he is interested in directing again.
IMAX screenings accounted for $13.8 million, or about 14%, of North American ticket sales, and $24.5 million worldwide.
This is the biggest IMAX opening for a musical biopic. The film has opened in most major markets, including Japan, where Jackson has many fans.
At the North American box office, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie held second place with $21.2 million in its fourth weekend, pushing its global total past $800 million.
Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, took third with $13.2 million in its sixth weekend, bringing its worldwide haul to $613 million.
Bohemian Rhapsody is still the highest-grossing music biopic ever, with $910 million worldwide. Oppenheimer holds the overall biopic record at $975 million, a number Michael will try to beat in the coming weeks.
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