The Michael Jackson biopic Michael has taken the world by storm. The film broke the all-time opening weekend record for biopics with a launch of $97 million domestic and $217 million worldwide.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film charts Jackson’s early days in the Jackson 5 through his rise as one of the biggest entertainers on the planet. Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s real-life nephew, portrays Michael Jackson in his acting debut, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long as parents Joe and Katherine.
The film beat expectations in North America by nearly $30 million, boasting the biggest domestic opening of all time for any biopic, surpassing Oppenheimer’s $80 million debut.
While some critics dismissed the film as “sanitized,” giving it only a 38% score on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences loved it and rewarded it with a 97% rating.
It is now a lock to become the first Lionsgate release outside of the Hunger Games or Twilight franchises to gross more than $200 million domestically.
The film’s social media campaign generated over 564 million views across platforms, proving that Michael Jackson’s legacy continues to captivate fans around the world decades after his greatest hits were first released.
