Michael: The King of Pop Biopic Breaks Box Office Records
A new biopic about the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has taken the box office by storm. Titled "Michael," the film had an impressive opening weekend, raking in $97 million domestically and $217 million globally. This makes it the highest-grossing biopic debut of all time, surpassing the previous record set by "Straight Outta Compton." Despite mixed reviews, audiences have given "Michael" an "A-" grade on CinemaScore exit polls.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, "Michael" follows Michael Jackson's journey from his early days in the Jackson 5 to his rise as a global superstar. The film stars Jaafar Jackson, the singer's real-life nephew, in his acting debut as Michael Jackson. Critics have noted that the film takes a sanitized approach to Jackson's life, omitting the child sexual abuse allegations that plagued the singer later in his career.
Originally, the screenplay for "Michael" included dramatizations of a 1993 child molestation lawsuit against Jackson. However, these sequences had to be removed due to a clause in the settlement that prohibited their depiction. Despite its high production costs, "Michael" has proven to be a massive success for Lionsgate, becoming their biggest hit in over a decade.
With expectations of surpassing $700 million worldwide, "Michael" is poised to join the ranks of Lionsgate's top-grossing films. The studio's recent box office successes have helped boost their fortunes after a rough patch in 2024. As the only major release this weekend, "Michael" dominated the North American box office, overshadowing other films like "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and "Project Hail Mary."
As "Michael" continues to draw audiences to theaters, its success is a testament to the enduring popularity of Michael Jackson's legacy. With Lionsgate already planning at least one more film about Jackson's life, the King of Pop's influence in the entertainment industry remains as strong as ever.