Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Michael’ Approaches Billion Dollar Box Office Milestone

The long-anticipated biopic about the King of Pop has captivated audiences at the box office for months, and its theatrical run shows no signs of slowing down, even as the summer blockbuster season heats up. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and featuring Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the lead role, ‘Michael’ has emerged as one of the defining box office stories of the year.

The film chronicles Jackson’s journey from his childhood with the Jackson 5 to his evolution into the King of Pop, featuring thirteen of his most iconic songs. Its path to release was fraught with challenges, as Lionsgate had to undergo expensive reshoots after the Jackson estate raised concerns about a settlement clause that prohibited the depiction of one of the singer’s accusers, delaying the film’s debut by nearly a year.

Despite these hurdles, audience turnout has been remarkable. Since its debut on April 24, ‘Michael’ has grossed $977 million worldwide, officially surpassing Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ to become the highest-grossing biopic in film history. It is on track to become the first biographical film ever to cross the billion-dollar mark.

The numbers are impressive for a film centered around one artist’s life. ‘Michael’ opened with a record-breaking $217 million globally in its first weekend and has since earned $370 million domestically and approximately $607 million internationally, with particularly strong performances in Japan, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. This international appeal has been crucial for the film’s sustained success, as it continues to generate daily earnings long after most studio releases would have faded from theaters.

The film has already achieved several significant milestones on its way to a billion dollars. It surpassed ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to become the highest-grossing music biopic ever, a title that Freddie Mercury’s story held since 2018. Additionally, it has become Lionsgate’s highest-grossing release of all time, overtaking ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ in the process.

This box office success contrasts sharply with the film’s reception among critics, who have been more divided than the audience. ‘Michael’ holds a critics’ score in the high thirties on Rotten Tomatoes, largely due to its omission of the child sexual abuse allegations that have surrounded Jackson’s life. In contrast, it boasts an impressive 97 percent audience score on the same site, indicating a disconnect between critical reviews and audience reception.

This gap has not gone unnoticed by the film’s creators. Longtime Jackson estate attorney John Branca addressed the disparity, stating that the movie offers compelling storytelling and strong performances, even if it wasn’t the film critics expected. He emphasized that audiences have spoken through their box office support, as reported in remarks to the Hudson Valley Press.

Jaafar Jackson’s performance has become a focal point in discussions about the film’s success, marking his acting debut in a role that carries significant personal and cultural weight due to his family connection to the subject. Colman Domingo and Nia Long portray Jackson’s parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, with supporting roles from Miles Teller and Laura Harrier.

The film’s box office success has also led to a resurgence in Jackson’s music catalog, with streams of his songs nearly doubling following the film’s wide release. This crossover impact is significant for Sony Music, which acquired a substantial stake in Jackson’s catalog, valuing his rights at up to $1.5 billion. Thus, the film’s success is yielding benefits beyond just box office revenue.

With its theatrical run continuing in Japan and other international markets, ‘Michael’ is now close to becoming the first biopic in cinema history to surpass a billion dollars worldwide. Lionsgate is reportedly considering at least one more film to explore additional chapters of Jackson’s life, indicating that the studio views this box office success as the start of a much larger narrative rather than a standalone event.

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