The new musical film about Michael Jackson has achieved extraordinary success in cinemas worldwide, setting a record for the most successful opening weekend for a biographical film.
The production, in which the lead role is played by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, has grossed $217 million globally since its release on Wednesday, surpassing previous records in the genre.
Until now, the top spot was held by Bohemian Rhapsody, inspired by the life of Freddie Mercury, which debuted with $124 million in 2018. Meanwhile, Michael has also surpassed the success of Oppenheimer, becoming the biggest global opening for any biographical film.
Lionsgate studio head Adam Fogelson stated that the high figures reflect widespread interest from audiences of all age groups, emphasizing that the film is being received with great enthusiasm.
However, critics’ reactions have been more reserved. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film has received only a 38% rating from critics, while audiences have rated it at 97%, showing a significant gap in perception.
The film mainly focuses on Jackson’s musical career, using his original vocals and spectacular recreations of his concerts. At the same time, it avoids mentioning the allegations of child sexual abuse that have followed the artist over the years. Jackson consistently denied these accusations and was found not guilty in 2005.
Initially, the project planned to include some of these allegations, including the case of Jordan Chandler, but the scenes were removed after the discovery of a confidential agreement that prohibited mentioning him in film projects.
As a result, the film was rewritten and partially reshot, ending the narrative in 1988, before the controversies erupted. Director Antoine Fuqua described this process as a major challenge for the production team. With a budget of around $200 million, Michael is considered one of the most expensive biopics ever made. The film has been released in most international markets, while its release in Japan is expected in June.
This success comes at a favorable time for the film industry, which is experiencing a revival thanks to major projects such as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Project Hail Mary, while other important premieres like The Devil Wears Prada 2 are also expected.
Michael Jackson remains one of the most iconic figures in global music, with unforgettable hits such as Billie Jean, Beat It, Smooth Criminal, and Black or White, while the album Thriller continues to be the best-selling album in history.
