Summary:
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The King of Pop reigns supreme with “Michael” biopic breaking records at $217.4 million worldwide in opening weekend.
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Starring Jaafar Jackson, the film surpasses expectations with $97 million domestically and $120.4 million internationally, setting new standards.
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Despite mixed critical reviews, “Michael” secures a 97 percent audience score and IMAX’s biggest music biopic opening at $24.4 million.
The King of Pop is back on top.
“Michael,” the long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic from director Antoine Fuqua, opened to $217.4 million worldwide this weekend, setting a new all-time record for a biopic at the global box office, according to studio estimates reported by Deadline and Variety.
The Lionsgate film pulled in $97 million domestically and $120.4 million from 82 international markets, where Universal handled distribution. The domestic figure tops the previous biopic record set by Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which opened to $80 million in 2023, while the global haul edges out 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” as the biggest music biopic debut ever, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Starring Jaafar Jackson, the late singer’s real-life nephew, in the title role, the film blew past industry projections that had it pegged in the $65 million to $75 million range.
It now ranks as the second-biggest debut of 2026, trailing only “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”
“Michael” sits at 38 percent on Rotten Tomatoes from critics but earned a 97 percent audience score and an A- CinemaScore, according to Variety.
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IMAX screenings alone generated $24.4 million globally, the format’s biggest opening ever for a music biopic, Deadline reported.
