Michael is making a huge splash at the box office, and it’s already breaking expectations.
Lionsgate, the film’s distributor, says the Michael Jackson biopic is on track to earn between $90 million and $100 million in the U.S. during its opening week. That’s about £59 million to £74 million.
Even on the lower end of that range, Michael will still pass Straight Outta Compton and claim the top spot for the biggest opening weekend ever for a musical biopic.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson praised the film’s success in a statement. He credited producer Graham King, director Antoine Fuqua, the cast led by Jaafar Jackson, and partners at Universal, along with support from the Michael Jackson Estate.
He also pointed to strong audience interest, saying moviegoers showed up because they wanted to see it. According to him, the success proves that people still love the theatrical movie experience when the story connects with them.
But the film’s release has not been without controversy. Critics have pointed out that it does not fully address the sexual abuse allegations linked to Michael Jackson, which has sparked debate ahead of and during its release.
Still, the numbers are hard to ignore. Globally, Michael is expected to reach around $200 million in its opening weekend, or about £148 million. That performance would already place it among the top five highest-grossing musical biopics of all time.
However, it is unlikely to overtake Bohemian Rhapsody, which remains the leader in the genre. The Queen biopic made about $910 million worldwide and also earned Rami Malek an Oscar for Best Actor.
With strong ticket sales and ongoing debate, Michael has clearly captured global attention. Will it continue this momentum and climb even higher at the box office?
