Michael Jackson's Biopic Shatters Records with $39.5 Million Opening Day!
Fans Flock to See 'Michael' – A Tribute to the King of Pop
Audiences are buzzing about Michael, the biopic that pays homage to the legendary Michael Jackson, featuring his nephew Jaafar Jackson. The film has made history in the United States, achieving the highest opening day earnings for a biopic with $39.5 million on April 24, surpassing the $33 million earned by Christopher Nolan's acclaimed film Oppenheimer. Analysts predict that this musical could potentially reach $100 million by the end of its opening weekend, outpacing the sci-fi hit Project Hail Mary, which also debuted strongly. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael marks Jaafar's debut in acting. Stay tuned for more updates on this weekend's box office battle.
Record-Breaking Opening Day for 'Michael'
According to reports from Variety, Michael raked in $39.5 million on its first day across 3,955 theaters in North America. The publication estimates that the film could earn between $90 million and $100 million in its first week, potentially setting a new record for musical biopics in the US. Earlier this year, the Ryan Gosling-starring Project Hail Mary also exceeded expectations with an $80.6 million opening. However, Michael seems set to surpass those figures during its debut weekend.
Trade analyst Luiz Fernando noted that Michael has achieved the largest opening of 2026, outpacing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. He anticipates that the film will easily surpass industry projections of $65 to $75 million for its opening weekend. Additionally, the film earned $12.6 million in previews on Thursday, April 23.
Produced by Lionsgate, this musical has a hefty production budget of $155 million, largely due to the costs associated with music rights and the elaborate concert sets that recreate some of Jackson's most iconic performances. The late singer's estate also faced significant expenses after reshooting the film's final act. Initially, the biopic included scenes addressing allegations from 1993, but these were removed due to a settlement clause that prohibited the portrayal of the accuser in film or television.
Global Reception of 'Michael'
The international box office performance of Michael is also expected to be strong. In China, ticketing platforms Maoyan and Taopiaopiao have awarded the film impressive ratings, with scores of 9.6 and 9.5 out of 10, respectively. These ratings are the highest for any foreign film released in the country this year.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts an audience score of 97 percent, although critics have raised concerns regarding its depth, resulting in a 'rotten' score of 38 percent.