Michael, the high-profile biopic on Michael Jackson, has powered past production hurdles and mixed reviews to deliver a record-breaking box office debut.
The film opened with Sh12.54 billion ($97 million) in North America and Sh28.06 billion ($217 million) globally, marking the biggest opening ever for a biographical film and underlining the enduring global appeal of the “King of Pop.”
Backed by the Jackson estate and starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, the film pulled in Sh15.57 billion ($120.4 million) from international markets.
The combined total surpasses previous benchmarks set by films such as Oppenheimer and Bohemian Rhapsody, according to industry reports, and overtakes earlier North American biopic openings including Straight Outta Compton.
While audiences have responded strongly, critics have been less enthusiastic, pointing to the film’s avoidance of the more controversial aspects of Jackson’s later life.
Even so, a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A– CinemaScore suggest fans remain focused on his music and legacy. Lionsgate chairman Adam Fogelson stated,
“From the beginning, all of the signals were that something like this was possible. We were seeing massive engagement with every conceivable audience segment.”
The path to release was complex. After filming wrapped, producers determined that a significant portion of the story, particularly material linked to allegations involving Jordan Chandler, could not legally be included due to a non-depiction clause in a 1994 settlement.
This led to extensive cuts and costly reshoots amounting to Sh6.45 billion ($50 million). Director Antoine Fuqua and writer John Logan ultimately restructured the narrative to end in 1988 following the Bad tour, focusing on Jackson’s peak superstardom.
“I would take issue with the idea that we as a studio or as filmmakers were running around in a panic,” Fogelson said, describing the process instead as “a unique and challenging circumstance.”
The film arrives amid continued debate over Jackson’s legacy. While the estate-backed project has seen immense success, some family members, including Janet Jackson and Paris Jackson, notably distanced themselves from the production, with Paris criticizing what she viewed as an overly sanitized portrayal after her feedback on early scripts went unaddressed.
Despite the friction, Michael has emerged as a major commercial success.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, it now holds the record for the biggest domestic opening for any biopic and the strongest global debut for a music biopic.
With a production budget nearing Sh25.8 billion ($200 million), the film has quickly justified its scale, and its performance has pointed to Jackson’s lasting influence in global entertainment.