‘Michael’ Scores Biggest Music Biopic Opening Ever With $97M Debut

Michael is already shattering box office records.

Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic debuted in theaters Friday (April 24), earning a record-breaking $97 million domestic opening and a global launch of $217.4 million, according to Sunday estimates, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

The Antoine Fuqua-directed film delivered the biggest opening ever for a music biopic, surpassing Universal’s Straight Outta Compton, which debuted to $60.1 million in 2015. Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody opened to $51 million in 2018, ranking as the second-biggest debut for a music biopic.

The Queen biopic remains the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, with $910 million worldwide, and earned Rami Malek a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury.

Michael now also holds the biggest domestic opening of all time for a biopic, surpassing Oppenheimer ($80 million), not adjusted for inflation, according to THR.

“This record-breaking performance is a testament to the incredible filmmaking team of producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, an amazing cast led by Jaafar Jackson’s singular performance, our world-class partners at Universal, the cooperation and support of the Michael Jackson Estate, and our tireless and exceptionally talented Lionsgate team,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said in a statement.

“Above all, it reflects the tremendous outpouring of love and affection from moviegoers around the world, underscoring the strength and vitality of the theatrical box office. If you give audiences what they want, they will come.”

Michael grossed $38.5 million domestically on opening day Friday and was off to a strong start overseas, with an international launch in the $114 million range, THR reports.

Heading into the weekend, the film had been tracking to open between $65 million and $70 million domestically. Nearly 40% of its gross is coming from IMAX and other premium large-format screens. The biopic’s momentum was evident early, earning $12.6 million from Wednesday and Thursday preview screenings.

Michael has drawn strong audience reception, with a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, PostTrak exit scores in the low 90s, and a definite recommend of 85%. It also earned an A- on CinemaScore. The movie is attracting a broad audience across demographics, led by Black and female movie-goers, according to THR.

The long-anticipated film stars the King of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role, charting his rise from fronting The Jackson 5 in the 1970s to launching a solo career that reached historic heights. The story culminates with the release of Thriller, the best-selling album in pop music history.

Michael is the first installment of a planned two-part biopic.