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Michael Jackson biopic shatters box office records
A new musical film about Michael Jackson has achieved the highest opening weekend ever for a biopic, grossing $217 million (£160 million) globally since its Wednesday release. The film, titled Michael, stars the singer's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the lead role.
Breaking previous records
The previous record for a musical biopic was held by Bohemian Rhapsody, the 2018 Queen film starring Rami Malek, which opened with $124 million (£91 million). Michael also surpassed the $180 million (£133 million) debut of 2024's Oppenheimer, making it the biggest worldwide opening weekend for any biopic to date.
Adam Fogelson, chairman of Lionsgate, the film's US distributor, commented on the achievement:
"You don't deliver this figure unless you're seeing huge numbers across every conceivable demographic. [Audiences] are clearly having a blast."
Audience vs. critic reception
While Michael has resonated strongly with audiences, critics have been less enthusiastic. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes shows a stark divide, with critics awarding the film an average score of 38%, while audiences rated it at 97%. Many critics argued that the film presents a "sanitised" version of Jackson's career.
Controversies and creative challenges
The film, financially backed by Jackson's estate, uses his original vocals for its musical numbers. However, it omits any mention of the child sexual abuse accusations that were made against the singer during his lifetime. Jackson consistently denied the allegations and was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005.
Initially, filmmakers planned to include references to some of the allegations, but these scenes were scrapped after the rediscovery of a historic non-disclosure agreement (NDA) Jackson had signed with one of his accusers. The NDA prohibited Jackson's estate from mentioning the accuser in any film, leading to significant reworking of the film's third act, which was originally set to focus on accusations made by Jordan Chandler in the 1990s.
Director Antoine Fuqua described the period following the NDA's rediscovery as a "tough" phase, requiring the team to "rethink everything." He told Deadline:
"All movies have different challenges, but this one was unique. We got around the issue by refocusing on Jackson's musical career."
The final version of Michael concludes in 1988, before any accusations were made public, and heavily features recreated concert performances. It also explores Jackson's strained relationship with his father, Joseph, portrayed by Oscar nominee Colman Domingo.
High production costs and global release
The extensive reshoots contributed to the film's reported $200 million (£148 million) budget, making it one of the most expensive biopics ever produced. While Michael has launched simultaneously in most global markets, it is yet to debut in Japan, where a June release is scheduled.
The film's success is part of a broader resurgence for cinemas, following recent box office hits like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Project Hail Mary. This weekend also sees the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, adding to the industry's momentum.
Jackson's enduring legacy
Michael Jackson remains one of the most iconic figures in music history, known for global hits such as Billie Jean, Beat It, Smooth Criminal, and Black or White. His 1982 album Thriller holds the record as the best-selling album of all time.
