PATTAYA, Thailand – The biographical film Michael has defied negative reviews and behind-the-scenes challenges to deliver a record-breaking global debut, earning $217 million worldwide and setting a new benchmark for biopics.
The film, based on the life of Michael Jackson, opened with $97 million in North America and an additional $120.4 million internationally. The total surpasses previous biopic opening records held by Oppenheimer ($180.4 million) and Bohemian Rhapsody ($124 million).
Produced with the approval of Jackson’s estate, the film stars his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. It has yet to open in Japan, one of Jackson’s strongest fan markets, where it is scheduled for release in June.
Despite criticism from reviewers for avoiding sensitive aspects of Jackson’s life, audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a critics’ score of just 38%, but a striking 97% audience rating—far exceeding initial box office projections of $50–70 million.
Adam Fogelson, chairman of Lionsgate, said early audience reactions indicated the film had strong commercial potential across multiple demographics.
However, the film has also reignited debate over Jackson’s legacy, which remains controversial due to past allegations of child abuse. Jackson and his estate have consistently denied the claims, and he was acquitted in a 2005 criminal trial. Some family members, including Janet Jackson, were not involved in the project, while Paris Jackson publicly criticized the film as a “fantasy version” of events.
Production was also marked by significant hurdles. Large portions of the film’s final act were removed after references to Jordan Chandler were found to conflict with legal agreements from 1994. This led to costly reshoots estimated at $50 million. Director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan ultimately revised the narrative to conclude in 1988, before any allegations surfaced.
With a production budget nearing $200 million, the film represents a major financial gamble. To reduce risk, Lionsgate sold international distribution rights to Universal Pictures. Following its strong debut, plans are already underway for a sequel, with the possibility of a third installment.
While Bohemian Rhapsody remains the highest-grossing music biopic of all time with $910 million globally, and Oppenheimer leads overall biographical films with $975 million, Michael has now set a new industry standard for opening weekend performance.
