‘Michael’ Becomes One of the Biggest Music Biopics in Cinema History
The Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” has achieved a major milestone at the global box office by surpassing the earnings of the Elvis Presley film “Elvis.” The movie has now become the second highest-grossing music biopic ever released in cinemas.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film stars Jaafar Jackson, nephew of Michael Jackson, in the lead role. Since its worldwide release on April 24, the movie has generated an impressive 577 million dollars globally.
The film recently crossed the total earnings of “Elvis,” which earned approximately 288.7 million dollars worldwide after its release in 2022.
According to industry figures, “Michael” has collected around 240.4 million dollars in domestic earnings and nearly 336.9 million dollars internationally.
Only the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” remains ahead in the all-time music biopic rankings with global earnings exceeding 910 million dollars.
Cinema analysts say the performance of “Michael” reflects the enduring global popularity of Michael Jackson’s music, legacy, and cultural influence.
The film has attracted strong audience interest across multiple countries despite mixed critical reviews from professional critics.
Record-Breaking Opening Weekend Drives Global Success
The movie’s commercial success began immediately after release with a record-breaking opening weekend performance.
“Michael” earned 97 million dollars domestically during its first weekend in cinemas. Internationally, the film collected another 120.4 million dollars, bringing the global debut total to 217.4 million dollars.
Industry experts described the opening as historic for the biopic genre.
The movie achieved the biggest domestic opening weekend ever recorded for a biographical film, surpassing the 80 million dollar opening of “Oppenheimer” in 2023.
It also delivered the strongest worldwide opening for any music biopic in cinema history.
The film set opening weekend records in 63 countries, including major markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, Australia, and several South Asian regions.
France emerged as one of the strongest international markets for the film. During its third weekend, “Michael” remained at the top of the French box office while earning an additional 7.2 million dollars.
The film is also expected to open in Japan in June, which could further increase its worldwide earnings.
Entertainment analysts believe the strong international response demonstrates Michael Jackson’s continued global appeal decades after becoming one of the world’s most influential entertainers.
Controversy and Criticism Fail to Slow Audience Interest
Despite impressive commercial success, the film has faced controversy and criticism throughout production and release.
Reports indicate the production budget reached nearly 200 million dollars after major revisions were made to the film’s storyline.
Producers Graham King and Lionsgate reportedly removed references connected to abuse allegations associated with Michael Jackson’s later years. The changes required approximately 20 additional days of filming and added nearly 50 million dollars to production costs.
The controversy surrounding the project generated significant media attention before release.
Professional critics have generally responded negatively to the movie. The film currently holds a low rating on major review platforms including Rotten Tomatoes.
However, audience reactions appear very different from critical opinion.
Moviegoers across multiple countries have continued supporting the film through strong ticket sales and repeat viewings.
For Lionsgate, “Michael” represents the studio’s biggest debut since the pandemic period and one of the largest openings in company history.
The film has also become the second-largest opening release of the year so far, trailing only “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”
Entertainment industry experts say the success of “Michael” highlights the continued strength of music biopics in global cinema markets.
The film’s popularity also demonstrates how legendary music artists continue attracting massive audiences through storytelling centered on their lives and careers.
As worldwide earnings continue rising, analysts believe “Michael” may still challenge additional box office records in coming weeks.
