Michael Jackson Biopic Shatters Box Office Records With Record-Breaking Opening Weekend Projections

Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” shattered box office records with a $97 million domestic opening weekend, according to early estimates reported by Hollywood trade publications.

The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, grossed $97 million in North American theaters and an additional $120.4 million internationally for a global total of approximately $217 million.

This performance not only broke the record for the biggest opening weekend for a music biopic—previously held by N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton” at $60.2 million in 2015—but also surpassed the previous record for any biopic, which was held by Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” at $82.4 million in 2023.