Michael Jackson Biopic Poised to Shatter Music Film Records

Record-Breaking Opening Weekend

The highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" is set to make box office history this weekend, with projections pointing to $65 million to $70 million from 3,900 North American theaters in its opening weekend. Some exhibitors are predicting the final number will be closer to $80 million as advance ticket sales, particularly in premium large formats like Imax, continue to rise . Even the lower end of projections would rank as the largest debut ever for a musical biopic, ahead of 2018's "Bohemian Rhapsody" ($51 million) and 2015's "Straight Outta Compton" ($60 million) .

The global picture looks even more impressive. At the international box office, where Universal is handling the rollout, "Michael" is expected to be even bigger. It's projected to earn $75 million to $80 million from 82 markets. Globally, the film should end up with a stellar $140 million to $150 million (or more) by Sunday . This performance would establish new benchmarks for music biopics worldwide.

Nobody can compete with Michael Jackson. "Thriller" is the highest-selling album of all time. He had 13 number-one hits on the Billboard charts. He's second only to The Beatles in terms of total albums sold . The film stars Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the title role, alongside Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and Miles Teller.

Costly Production Journey

The path to theaters has been anything but smooth for "Michael." The film is one of the most expensive music biopics of all time. The film originally cost $155 million, in part because of expensive music rights and extensive recreations of famous concert performances . Then the singer's estate had to pay tens of millions for additional photography after learning the third act of the film was unusable. The story had dealt with a 1993 lawsuit that accused Michael Jackson of child sexual abuse, which he denied. After the movie was shot, producers discovered a clause in the settlement with the young accuser that barred the depiction or mention of him in film or television .

Director Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day") retooled the movie so the dramatic tension is about the singer's relationship with his domineering father, Joe Jackson, who doesn't want his son's solo career to come at the expense of the Jackson 5, the Motown group that put the family on the map . Following reshoots, the budget reportedly grew to $200 million, with the new sequences adding a new ending costing roughly $50 million .

Despite these production challenges, early reactions suggest the investment may pay off. The Hollywood premiere last night was something spiritual, with rolling cheers and applause throughout the film's 127-minute running time at the Dolby Theatre .

Critical Reception and Fan Response

The film faces a familiar divide between critics and audiences that has long characterized Jackson's legacy. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 36% of 122 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "While Jaafar Jackson's smooth moves bring the King of Pop to uncanny life, this musical biopic mostly plays like a 'greatest hits' album that could've benefitted from including liner notes to give actual insight into the icon."

Early screenings have reportedly felt more like events than traditional moviegoing experiences, with fans leaning into the nostalgia, the music, and the emotional pull of seeing Jackson's story unfold on the big screen . The film notably steers away from the most controversial chapters of Jackson's life, focusing instead on his rise, his genius, and his cultural impact .

The film's teaser trailer was viewed 30 million times in its first six hours and 116.2 million times in 24 hours, more than the first 24 hours of any other Lionsgate film and more than any trailer for a musical biopic or concert film in history, surpassing Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023) at 96.1 million views .

Franchise Potential

Success could spawn an entire Jackson cinematic universe. Internally, Lionsgate hopes "Michael" will gross at least $700 million worldwide. Should the film reach those box office heights, Lionsgate is planning to make at least one more film about Jackson's life . Usable footage from the initial shoot, including concert footage from the Dangerous and Invincible tours, could constitute as much as a third of a potential second film, according to sources .

The film's opening weekend performance will likely determine whether Jackson's story continues on the big screen. With music biopics proving their commercial viability through hits like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Elvis," "Michael" represents both the culmination of this trend and potentially its new peak. The King of Pop's global fanbase appears ready to moon