Antoine Fuqua’s ‘Michael’ Biopic Concludes Theatrical Run With Record-Breaking Box Office
Box office milestones often arrive gradually, but ‘Michael’ has spent the past several months rewriting the record books at an unprecedented pace. Each week seemed to bring news of the Michael Jackson biopic surpassing yet another benchmark, and its theatrical journey has now reached its conclusion.
This journey officially wrapped up this week as ‘Michael’ completed its United States theatrical run, adding a final modest $20,000 over its last one hundred sixty-five theaters during its thirteenth Thursday in release. This quiet finish caps off an extraordinary run that began in April, when the film opened to a record-breaking $97 million domestic debut.
The film concludes its domestic chapter with a total of $372.3 million after ninety-one days in theaters, solidifying its status as Lionsgate’s highest-grossing release ever and the highest-grossing biopic in film history. This domestic figure is just a portion of the film’s overall success, with international markets contributing significantly to its total worldwide earnings.
Globally, ‘Michael’ crossed the billion-dollar mark earlier this month, becoming the first biographical film in history to achieve that milestone. This accomplishment pushed the film past Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer,’ which previously held the record for highest-grossing biopic with approximately $976 million worldwide, and allowed ‘Michael’ to surpass ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as the highest-grossing musical biopic ever made.
Director Antoine Fuqua reflected on reaching that billion-dollar milestone in a statement, describing it as a deeply humbling moment that celebrates the tireless dedication of the film’s producers, cast, crew, and partners. He credited this achievement to everyone who came together with a shared vision to honor one of the greatest artists the world has ever known.
The film features Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s real-life nephew, in his acting debut as his famous uncle, alongside Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Jackson’s parents, Joe and Katherine. This personal family connection added a unique layer of authenticity to a production that faced its share of behind-the-scenes challenges before ultimately reaching theaters.
Those production difficulties included reported reshoots costing up to fifty million dollars, triggered after the Jackson estate flagged a legal issue related to a settlement clause that barred the production from depicting one of Jackson’s accusers. This situation forced the filmmakers to rework the entire third act, ultimately steering the story away from the child sexual abuse allegations that shadowed the later years of Jackson’s career, a choice that has drawn significant criticism from film critics, even as audiences continued to flock to theaters.
Despite the critical divide, the film’s commercial success has remained strong throughout its run, recently surpassing ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ to become the highest-grossing film of the year worldwide. International markets have driven much of that total, with countries like Japan contributing significantly due to their deep-rooted connection to Jackson’s legacy and fandom.
With its domestic run now officially concluded, attention has shifted to the film’s ongoing performance in the remaining international markets still screening it. Lionsgate has also expressed strong interest in developing at least one additional Michael Jackson film, with the studio’s film chief previously indicating enthusiasm about ongoing discussions regarding a potential sequel.
For a film that faced significant behind-the-scenes turmoil and mixed critical reception, concluding its domestic run as the highest-grossing biopic ever made represents a remarkable commercial outcome. What do you think made ‘Michael’ resonate so strongly with audiences throughout its historic theatrical run? Share your thoughts in the comments.