King of Pop Film Nears $100M Domestic, $200M Worldwide Amid Controversy

The Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” is on track for a record-breaking domestic opening of nearly $100 million, with global estimates surpassing $200 million, according to updated box office projections released ahead of its nationwide debut.

Lionsgate’s Antoine Fuqua-directed film, starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, grossed $38.5 million on its opening day Friday, April 25, 2026, positioning it for a $95 million to $100 million domestic debut over the weekend. Overseas, the film is reporting strong performance in 82 territories, with Universal reporting $111.4 million from international markets excluding Korea and Japan, bringing the worldwide total to $206.4 million as of Saturday morning.

The opening marks the best post-pandemic weekend for Lionsgate since 2015’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” and represents the studio’s strongest domestic opening day and weekend performance in that timeframe. It also surpasses the opening of “Straight Outta Compton” ($60.2 million), previously the highest-grossing debut for a music biopic.

For director Antoine Fuqua, “Michael” delivers his biggest opening to date, exceeding the $36 million debut of “Equalizer 2.” Producer Graham King also achieves his highest-opening film, surpassing both “World War Z” ($66.4 million) and “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($51 million). Screenwriter John Logan similarly bests his previous high with “Skyfall” ($88.3 million).

The film’s strong performance comes despite early controversy surrounding its subject matter and mixed initial reviews. Audience exit scores, however, have been described as “platinum,” with the movie drawing broad demographic appeal, particularly among Black and female moviegoers.

Internationally, Michael Jackson’s enduring global popularity is driving strong results, with the film on track for a worldwide launch north of $200 million. Japan remains a notable exception, where despite the artist’s massive fanbase — evidenced by the $57 million contribution from the 2011 documentary “What we have is It” — the biopic has not yet reported significant returns.

Lionsgate has adjusted its public expectations upward, now citing a wider domestic opening range of $90 million to $100 million, up from initial projections of $65 million to $70 million. The studio describes the result as a “super-sized victory” and its biggest opening in years.

As of Saturday, April 26, 2026, “Michael” is the best opening weekend YTD for a live-action MPA-released film, ahead of “Project Hail Mary” ($140.9 million). The film’s success represents a significant milestone for the musical biopic genre and underscores the continued commercial power of Michael Jackson’s legacy nearly two decades after his passing.