‘Michael’ Is Making Box Office History Worldwide

The ‘Michael’ Jackson biopic is not just a hit; it has evolved into a genuine global sensation. Recent data from Russia, Brazil, and Japan indicates that it still has considerable momentum ahead.

Currently, the film is on track to become the first official Hollywood release of the year to surpass $20 million in Russia, leading Brazil’s yearly box office, and experiencing only a ten percent drop during its debut weekend in Japan. The momentum behind Antoine Fuqua’s biographical epic shows no signs of slowing down.

Having already surpassed ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, ‘Michael’ has grossed $911.9 million globally, with $358.6 million from domestic earnings and $553.3 million internationally. The film has set multiple records, including the largest global opening weekend for a music biopic, the highest-grossing domestic biopic ever, and the most successful biopic in French history, surpassing ‘La Vie en Rose.’

Japan was the last major market to open when the film surpassed the total of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ and analysts believe it could be the territory that pushes ‘Michael’ past the billion-dollar mark, making it only the second film this year to achieve that milestone, following ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.’

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the film stars Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson, alongside Colman Domingo as Joseph Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Scruse-Jackson, Miles Teller as John Branca, and Mike Myers as record executive Walter Yetnikoff.

While critics have been largely critical of the film, giving it a 39 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes—primarily due to the omission of references to the abuse allegations against Jackson—audiences have responded positively. The film only dropped 44 percent in its second weekend, a retention rate considered exceptional for any release.

The path to release was fraught with challenges. Lionsgate had to undertake $50 million in reshoots after the Jackson estate raised concerns about a key plot point involving one of Jackson’s accusers, who was never meant to be dramatized in the film. The final cut concludes with Michael at the onset of the Bad World Tour, prior to the first allegations surfacing.

What makes the film’s global performance truly remarkable is the widespread enthusiasm it has generated. From France to Brazil and now Japan, audiences have turned out in impressive numbers, indicating that Jackson’s legacy resonates across borders, controversies, and critical opinions alike.

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