{"id":632908,"date":"2026-04-26T23:02:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T23:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/632908\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T23:02:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T23:02:10","slug":"michael-scores-biggest-music-biopic-opening-ever-at-box-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/632908\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Michael’ Scores Biggest Music Biopic Opening Ever at Box Office"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tMichael is already shattering box office<\/a> records.<\/p>\n

\n\tLionsgate\u2019s Michael Jackson<\/a> biopic<\/a> debuted in theaters Friday (April 24), earning a record-breaking $97 million domestic opening and a global launch of $217.4 million, according to Sunday estimates, The Hollywood Reporter<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Antoine Fuqua-directed film delivered the biggest opening ever for a music biopic, surpassing Universal\u2019s Straight Outta Compton, which debuted to $60.1 million<\/a> in 2015. Fox\u2019s Bohemian Rhapsody opened to $51 million<\/a> in 2018, ranking as the second-biggest debut for a music biopic. <\/p>\n

\n\tThe Queen<\/a> biopic remains the highest-grossing music biopic<\/a> of all time, with $910 million worldwide, and earned Rami Malek a best actor Oscar<\/a> for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury.<\/p>\n

\n\tMichael now also holds the biggest domestic opening of all time for a biopic, surpassing Oppenheimer ($80 million), not adjusted for inflation, according to THR.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThis record-breaking performance is a testament to the incredible filmmaking team of producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, an amazing cast led by Jaafar Jackson\u2019s singular performance, our world-class partners at Universal, the cooperation and support of the Michael Jackson Estate, and our tireless and exceptionally talented Lionsgate team,\u201d Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAbove all, it reflects the tremendous outpouring of love and affection from moviegoers around the world, underscoring the strength and vitality of the theatrical box office. If you give audiences what they want, they will come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMichael grossed $38.5 million domestically on opening day Friday and was off to a strong start overseas, with an international launch in the $114 million range, THR reports.<\/p>\n

\n\tHeading into the weekend, the film had been tracking to open between $65 million and $70 million domestically. Nearly 40% of its gross is coming from IMAX and other premium large-format screens. The biopic\u2019s momentum was evident early, earning $12.6 million from Wednesday and Thursday preview screenings.<\/p>\n

\n\tMichael has drawn strong audience reception, with a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, PostTrak exit scores in the low 90s, and a definite recommend of 85%. It also earned an A- on CinemaScore. The movie is attracting a broad audience across demographics, led by Black and female movie-goers, according to THR.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe long-anticipated film stars the King of Pop\u2019s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role, charting his rise from fronting The Jackson 5<\/a> in the 1970s to launching a solo career that reached historic heights. The story culminates with the release of Thriller, the best-selling album in pop music history.<\/p>\n

\n\tMichael is the first installment of a planned two-part biopic.<\/p>\n


\"Billboard
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