Michael Thrills Box Office With Record-Setting Debut Above Expectations

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Legendary’s Michael Jackson biopic is aiming for big box office numbers and isn’t slowing down. Despite some criticism, the film is proving to be a major success.

I’m absolutely blown away by how well Michael is doing! It’s already made $97 million here in the US and an incredible $217 million worldwide. What’s even more amazing is that it’s broken records – it’s the biggest opening weekend ever for a biopic, easily beating the previous record held by Straight Outta Compton since 2015, which opened with $60 million. It’s fantastic to see such a celebration of his life and music!

Michael’s film also surpassed the box office success of the 2018 Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. That film debuted with $51 million in the US and ultimately earned a massive $910 million worldwide.

The movie had a fantastic opening weekend, earning $97 million domestically – the second-highest debut of the year, behind only . It exceeded expectations, as initial predictions estimated around $50 to $60 million. The film’s success, surpassing the $80.5 million opening of , proves it was a major hit.

Michael Is a Resounding Success

Despite the controversy surrounding the new biopic, its success shows that Michael Jackson’s impact remains strong, even with past accusations. Reports show that screenings have become lively events, with fans singing, dancing, and sharing his music with a new generation.

I was really surprised by the reaction to the Michael movie. Critics weren’t impressed, giving it a really low 38% rating based on over 200 reviews. They specifically called out the film for not fully addressing the allegations against Jackson and the family’s role in making it. But honestly, audiences seemed to ignore all that! They absolutely loved it, giving it a near-perfect 97% audience score. It was wild to see such a difference in opinion!

Reviewers acknowledged that Jaafar Jackson impressively embodies Michael Jackson’s dance style, but the biopic feels more like a collection of familiar songs than a deep exploration of his life – it needed more background and context.

Despite some initial concerns, viewers greatly enjoyed Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of Michael Jackson. Many described the film as feeling like a live concert, and praised its excellent rhythm, skillful direction, and ability to showcase the highlights of Michael Jackson’s career.

Michael Had Been Long in the Works

I’ve been hearing about this Michael Jackson biopic for ages – it’s been in development since late 2019 when Graham King first got the rights. Antoine Fuqua is directing, and it’s really exciting to see Jaafar Jackson – Michael’s nephew – stepping into the lead role for his very first acting gig. It’s a huge undertaking, and I’m definitely curious to see how he embodies the King of Pop.

The film’s cast features Colman Domingo and Nia Long playing Michael Jackson’s parents, Joe and Katherine. Miles Teller portrays Jackson’s lawyer, John Branca, while Jamal R. Henderson plays Jermaine Jackson. Tre Horton, Rhyan Hill, Joseph David-Jones, and Jessica Sula will portray Marlon, Tito, Jackie, and La Toya Jackson, respectively.

The release of Michael was initially planned for April 18, 2025, but the date was moved several times – first to October 3, 2025, and then again to April 24, 2026.

Michael is currently playing in theaters. .

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2026-04-26 20:11