Michael Biopic Smashes Records With $97M Opening Weekend

The King of Pop is having one more moment in the spotlight, and Hollywood didn’t see it coming. Antoine Fuqua’s long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic, simply titled Michael, has shattered box office records in its opening weekend, leaving studio executives stunned and critics scratching their heads at the disconnect between professional reviews and audience reactions.

If you thought music biopics had peaked with Bohemian Rhapsody or Elvis, this one just rewrote the rulebook entirely.

A History-Making Opening Weekend

Let’s start with the numbers because they’re genuinely jaw-dropping. Michael opened in U.S. theatres on April 24, 2026, and immediately took the industry by storm. The film made $39.5 million on its first day, surpassing Oppenheimer for the biggest opening day ever for a biographical film, and the highest opening day of any film in 2026.

By the end of its opening weekend, the film had pulled in $97 million domestically, the best ever for a biographical and musical film.

For context, the previous record holder was Universal’s Straight Outta Compton, which opened at $60.1 million, followed by Fox’s Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody at $55 million. Michael blew past both with room to spare.

As of April 27, the film has grossed $97 million in the United States and Canada, and $122 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $219 million. That’s an incredible result for a film that wasn’t part of any superhero franchise or animated kids’ universe.

The Trailer That Broke the Internet

The signs were there from the start. When Lionsgate released the teaser trailer back in November 2025, nobody was prepared for what happened next. The 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 at 96.1 million views.

That’s not a marketing campaign. That’s a cultural moment. People wanted to see Michael Jackson on screen again, and they wanted it badly.

Jaafar Jackson Is the Real Story

Here’s what’s making everyone talk. Michael Jackson is played by his real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in his film debut. The casting choice raised eyebrows when announced, but after seeing the film, even the harshest critics had to admit something: the kid can move.

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman, in his review, said Jaafar “nails the look, the voice, the electrostatic moves and the mix of delicacy and steel that made Michael who he was”. That’s high praise for someone whose only frame of reference is family memory and hours of archival footage.

The supporting cast is equally stacked. Colman Domingo plays the controversial family patriarch Joe Jackson. Nia Long takes on the role of matriarch Katherine Jackson. The film also features Mike Myers, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, and Larenz Tate as Motown founder Berry Gordy.

Critics Hate It, Audiences Love It

Here’s where it gets interesting, and honestly, a bit awkward for the critical establishment. Only 38% of 229 critics’ reviews are positive on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus calling the film a “greatest hits album” that lacks deeper insight.

BBC’s Nicholas Barber gave it one out of five stars, calling it “a bland and barely competent daytime TV movie”. Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com handed it one out of four.

But audiences? They’re showing up in droves and walking out happy. The film earned near-perfect exit scores from moviegoers, and word-of-mouth has been overwhelmingly positive.

Pete Hammond of Deadline maybe said it best: “You are bound to leave this one dancing. And what is wrong with that?”

That’s the whole story right there. Critics wanted a hard-hitting, warts-and-all examination of a complicated cultural figure. Audiences wanted to spend two hours dancing to Billie Jean and Beat It while watching someone moonwalk on screen. Both groups got exactly what they expected, and only one of them walked out satisfied.

The Controversy Hollywood Had to Navigate

You can’t talk about a Michael Jackson film without addressing the elephant in the room. The biopic has faced years of debate over how it would handle the abuse allegations against Jackson during his lifetime.

According to reports, the original version of the film addressed the 1993 case in which Jackson was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy, but required a massive overhaul after it was discovered that the approximately $25 million settlement that had been reached with his accuser and his family prevented the estate from making mention of the case in any type of film about Jackson. CNN

The reshoots reportedly cost between $10 and $15 million, with the Jackson estate footing the bill.

The Guardian compared the film to other recent biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis, and Back to Black, calling them “sanitized” portraits of beloved musicians, writing that “when it comes to objectivity, integrity and veracity, audiences will always prioritise the chance to have a singsong”. Wikipedia

That sums up the entire genre right now. People aren’t paying $15 to confront uncomfortable truths about their favourite artists. They’re paying for the songs.

What This Means for Hollywood

The success of Michael, combined with the ongoing dominance of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Project Hail Mary, signals something significant. Hollywood is back in a way we haven’t seen in years.

For Lionsgate specifically, this is a massive win. Michael is now the sixth-biggest opening in the history of Lionsgate behind the first four Hunger Games installments and Summit’s final Twilight movie. The Hollywood Reporter

For the biopic genre, the bar has been reset. Studios will be combing through estate-approved music catalogs for the next big swing, and the green-lights for similar projects are probably already being signed.

A Sequel May Already Be in the Works

Here’s one final piece of intrigue. The film ends with the title card “His story continues,” which has fans speculating about a possible sequel. Splitting Michael into two films was considered during production, but the production team decided to create one that could stand on its own. During post-production, the ending card “His story continues” was added, which could either acknowledge Jackson’s further career or reference a potential sequel.

Given the box office numbers, you can probably bet on the sequel happening.

Should You Watch It?

If you’re a Michael Jackson fan, this is essential viewing. The performances are strong, the music is everywhere, and Jaafar Jackson genuinely captures something of his uncle’s screen presence.

If you’re looking for a serious examination of one of pop culture’s most complicated figures, you’ll likely walk away frustrated. This isn’t that movie, and it was never going to be.

But if you want to spend two hours dancing in your seat and remembering why Michael Jackson became the biggest pop star on the planet, Michael delivers exactly what it promises.

Have you watched Michael yet? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let us know if you agree with the critics or the audiences on this one.