Michael Jackson’s Biopic “Michael” Breaks Record With $217m Global Opening

The new Michael biopic has delivered a massive debut at the global box office, raking in $217 million (£160m) in its opening weekend, the biggest ever for a biographical film.

Starring Jaafar Jackson as the late pop icon, the film opened midweek and quickly gathered momentum across international markets, surpassing previous records in the category.

According to the BBC on Monday, it has now outperformed Bohemian Rhapsody, which debuted with $124 million (£91m), and also exceeded Oppenheimer, which recorded $180 million (£133m) during its opening weekend. This places “Michael” as the strongest global debut for any biopic in cinema history.

Industry insiders attribute the film’s success to its wide appeal across diverse audiences.

The chairman of US distributor Lionsgate, Adam Fogelson, said the turnout reflects strong interest from diverse viewers.

“Audiences are clearly having a blast,” he noted.

Despite its commercial success, the film has drawn mixed reviews from critics. While some have questioned its storytelling approach and tone, audience reception has been far more favourable. The Rotten Tomatoes review platform currently shows a 38 per cent critic score, compared to a 97 per cent audience rating.

The film adds to a growing list of successful musical biopics in Hollywood, alongside projects centred on stars such as Queen, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston.

Supported by the estate of Michael Jackson, the film features his original recordings and emphasises his musical journey and rise to global stardom. However, it has also sparked debate for leaving out the child sexual abuse allegations that surrounded the singer.

Early plans reportedly included that period of his life, but the script was later adjusted after a legal agreement tied to one of his accusers was discovered. Consequently, the story ends in 1988, before the allegations became public.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film encountered several production hurdles, including expensive reshoots that pushed its budget to an estimated $200 million (£148m).

With its record-breaking opening, “Michael” is expected to remain a major talking point as it continues its rollout in cinemas worldwide.