Michael, the much talked about big-budget biopic on the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has defied poor critics reviews and controversy to achieve the biggest opening weekend of all time.
Released on Friday, April 24, the biopic has already shattered multiple records and is on its way to break more. Check out how Michael's performed at the box office:
'Michael' opens to a record-breaking $217 million worldwide
Credit: Lionsgate Films, GK Films
Even after being criticised for being "too sanitised" or "staying on the surface", Michael, Michael Jackson's biopic, is telling a different story at the box office. Achieving the biggest opening weekend of all time for a musical biopic, Michael arrived in theatres $97 million box office collection in North America and whopping $217 million globally in its first weekend of release.
The Lionsgate biopic has beaten the ticket sales of 2015's Straight Outta Compton ($60 million). It has also surpassed 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody, which opened to $51 million, before ending its thunderous run with $910 million worldwide.
Michael has also notched the biggest opening weekend of 2026 for an original, non-franchise, non-superhero movie as well as the second-biggest debut of the year behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131 million).
Jaafar Jackson's film has recorded the biggest opening weekend of all time globally for any musical biopic. It is also the biggest IMAX debut ever for a musical biopic.
It has become Lionsgate's sixth-biggest opening of all time behind the first four Hunger Games films and Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II.
Michael has also achieved a spot on the top 10 films with the highest 3-day opening weekend collection in the US. It is behind heavyweights like Endgame (357.1M), Infinity War (257.7M), A Minecraft Movie (162.8M), Furious 7 (147.2M), The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (146.4M), The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (131.7M), The Jungle Book (103.3M), The Fate Of the Furious (98.8M).
Critics bashed 'Michael' while Michael Jackson fans rallied behind the biopic
Rotten Tomatoes
Michael sparked headlines after it received poor critics ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. As of April 27, the film is at 38% from 211 reviews while ratings from more than 5000 general viewers have helped it reach 97%.
Michael Jackson fans slammed the critics online, calling their reviews uneven and one-sided. Many believed that the critics were sharing biased reviews deliberately. Some also said that they purposely slammed the biopic as they believe that the allegations against Jackson were true.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the biopic features Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael, alongside Miles Teller as John Branca, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Kat Graham as Diana Ross, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe, and Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones.
Michael dramatises the awe-striking rise of the pop star from his early days as a musical prodigy performing with Jackson 5. The film delves into his musical achievements that led him to become a musical icon in the 80s and 90s.
Social and lead images credits: Lionsgate Films, GK Films