The Michael Jackson biopic Michael has shattered box office records this weekend, grossing $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide, despite receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. The film, which portrays the King of Pop through the lens of his nephew Jaafar Jackson, now stands as the highest-grossing biopic opening weekend of all time.
Critics have panned Michael for its sanitized portrayal of Jackson’s life, omitting controversial aspects such as the sex abuse allegations that were initially included but later removed due to a legal oversight. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score reflects this divide: 33% from critics compared to a 97% audience score.
The stark contrast between critic and audience reception has reignited longstanding debates about the role of film criticism in the digital era. Vulture critic Bilge Ebiri highlighted the growing hostility toward critics, stating:
“Most of the people who get angry at critics for not liking any big movie these days aren’t even engaging with criticism. They’re upset about Rotten Tomatoes scores and crap like that. This isn’t art for them. It’s sports.”
The divide between critics and fans is not new, but the intensity of online backlash—particularly on platforms like X and Reddit—has turned film criticism into a battleground. While some argue that critics should prioritize their role regardless of a film’s prestige or commercial appeal, others contend that audiences are simply seeking entertainment.
Notably, not all recent biopics have faced such criticism. Films like Project Hail Mary and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis achieved widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences. However, the polarized reception of Michael underscores broader challenges facing film criticism, including the erosion of digital media literacy and the commercial pressures on entertainment journalism.
For Lionsgate, the film’s success is a financial windfall. Michael is poised to become the first Lionsgate release outside the Hunger Games or Twilight franchises to surpass $200 million domestically. It will also rank among the studio’s top five highest-grossing films of all time before adjusting for inflation, with a domestic multiple of over 3x expected to push its total past $283 million, the gross of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.
The film’s record-breaking debut signals a strong summer at the box office and cements its place as a cultural phenomenon—one that continues to spark debate long after the credits roll.
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