Michael Jackson’s biopic moonwalked past the critics and straight into a massive opening weekend at the box office.
“Michael,” the new film centered on the rise of the King of Pop, stunned theaters with a $97 million domestic debut and $217 million worldwide in its first weekend. The PG-13 release now holds the biggest opening ever for a musical biopic, beating the previous record set by 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton.” It also marks Lionsgate’s strongest launch since “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.”
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, in his acting debut. The film follows Jackson’s path from his early Jackson 5 days to global superstardom. Even with mixed reviews and reports of costly production setbacks, audiences clearly showed up.
“The power of Michael Jackson’s reach into culture is undeniable,” says Lionsgate’s motion picture chair Adam Fogelson. “And people are having a blast in theaters.”
One major reason for the turnout appears to be nostalgia. Rather than diving deep into controversy, the movie focuses heavily on Jackson’s music, stage presence, and signature performances. Re-creations of “Billie Jean,” “Thriller,” and “Beat It” gave audiences the concert-style energy many fans wanted.
Critics argued the film offers a softened portrait because it ends before Jackson faced child molestation accusations. (Jackson, who died in 2009, denied all allegations.) Moviegoers were less concerned, giving the project an “A-” CinemaScore, a sign of strong word-of-mouth potential.
“Reviews are weak,” notes David A. Gross, who publishes the box office newsletter FranchiseRe. But “the movie is playing as a feel good, nostalgic appreciation. Audiences [are] on their feet, singing and dancing.”
The success is also a major win for Lionsgate, which struggled at the box office in recent years before rebounding with newer hits. Now, “Michael” may be the studio’s biggest comeback statement yet.
The ending also hints this story is far from over. The film closes with the words “His story continues,” signaling at least one sequel could already be in motion.
For now, controversy didn’t stop the crowd. The fans bought tickets, filled theaters, and turned “Michael” into a certified blockbuster.
