The new musical biopic Michael, centred on the life of Michael Jackson, has delivered a record-breaking global box office debut, earning $217 million (£160 million) in its opening weekend.
Starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, the film opened on Wednesday and has already set the highest worldwide opening ever for a biographical film.
It has surpassed previous records held by Bohemian Rhapsody, the Queen biopic starring Rami Malek, which opened with $124 million in 2018, as well as overtaking Oppenheimer, which previously held a broader biopic opening record with $180 million.
Lionsgate chairman Adam Fogelson said the strong debut reflects broad audience appeal across demographics, adding that viewers are “clearly having a blast.”
While audiences have responded enthusiastically, critical reception has been far more divided. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes shows a stark contrast, with a 38% critic score compared to a 97% audience rating.
The film is backed by Jackson’s estate and features his original vocals, focusing heavily on his music career and stage performances.
However, Michael has also sparked debate for omitting references to child sexual abuse allegations made against Jackson. He consistently denied the accusations and was acquitted in 2005.
Reports suggest early versions of the script included coverage of these allegations, but changes were made after legal complications involving a historic non-disclosure agreement tied to one of the accusers. As a result, the final cut ends in 1988, before the allegations emerged.
Director Antoine Fuqua said the production faced “a tough period” due to the changes, requiring significant rewrites and reshoots, which contributed to a reported $200 million production cost.
The film focuses heavily on recreated performances and Jackson’s relationship with his father, Joseph Jackson, played by Colman Domingo.
Michael is part of a continuing trend of high-grossing musical biopics in Hollywood, joining recent films about artists such as Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, and Whitney Houston.
The film is still awaiting release in Japan, where it is scheduled to open in June.