Michael Jackson Biopic Sets Box Office Records with $217M Global Debut

Lionsgate/Universal’s biopic Michael has set a new benchmark for summer box office success, shattering the all-time opening weekend record for biographical films. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as the late pop icon, the movie debuted with $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide, surpassing the previous record held by Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which earned $82.4 million domestically and $174 million globally in 2023.

The film’s record-breaking performance confirms its status as one of the summer’s most anticipated releases. Theater owners had long anticipated Michael as a major tentpole, especially after confirming Jaafar Jackson—Michael Jackson’s nephew—as the lead.

Box Office Milestones Achieved by Michael

The biopic is on track to become the first Lionsgate release outside the Hunger Games or Twilight franchises to surpass $200 million domestically. It will also mark the studio’s highest-grossing film since the final installment of the Hunger Games series in 2015.

With a domestic multiplier expected to exceed 3x, Michael is projected to surpass $283 million, the gross of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2. This would place it among Lionsgate’s top five highest-grossing films of all time, adjusted for inflation.

Global Box Office Ambitions

On the international stage, Michael now sets its sights on the unadjusted all-time biopic record, currently held by Oppenheimer with $975 million. The film will also compete with the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed $906 million in 2018.

"Michael" is well on its way to becoming a historic box office phenomenon, proving the enduring appeal of Michael Jackson’s legacy.

The biopic’s record-breaking debut signals a strong summer for Lionsgate/Universal and reinforces the cultural impact of Michael Jackson’s life and music.