Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Michael’ Dominates Box Office, Sparks Debate on Authenticity and AI Influence

The Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” opened to a strong domestic start of $39.5 million, positioning it to potentially break records for the highest opening weekend for a music performer biopic, according to Variety.

This debut exceeds the openings of both 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton” ($60.2 million worldwide) and 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($51 million domestically), though the film’s global projection remains higher. Lionsgate and Universal anticipate a worldwide opening of approximately $150 million, as reported by Deadline, which would mark one of the strongest global launches for a music biopic in history.

The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, features Jaafar Jackson in the lead role as his uncle, the King of Pop. It also stars Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, and Nia Long, with Graham King producing through his GK Films banner. King previously produced “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which went on to gross over $900 million worldwide and win multiple Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Rami Malek.

Despite mixed critical reception, early audience response has been favorable. According to Collider, the film earned an A- grade on CinemaScore and a “Verified Hot” 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating strong viewer engagement despite critical reservations about its portrayal of Jackson’s early life.

The production faced numerous challenges, including reshoots, rewrites of the third act after principal photography, and delays due to studio hesitations and family consultations, as detailed in The New York Times. These issues contributed to a reported $200 million production budget, with Lionsgate mitigating risk through pre-sold international distribution rights, handled by Universal outside of Japan, where local distributor Kino holds the rights.

Hollywood premiere reactions were described as emotionally resonant, with rolling cheers and applause throughout the 127-minute film at the Dolby Theatre. The event featured appearances by Jackson family members, including Prince Jackson, who attended alongside Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, and other cast, and crew.

While the film’s domestic opening of $39.5 million falls short of the $150 million global projection, it reflects strong initial traction in North American markets. The final global tally will depend on international performance in the coming days, particularly in key territories where the biopic is expected to resonate strongly given Jackson’s enduring global fanbase.