Michael" Biopic Shatters Records with $217M Global Opening

The biopic “Michael” delivered a record-setting start at the global box office on April 27, 2026, posting an opening weekend gross of $217 million. The film brought in $97 million in North America and $120.4 million internationally, according to the figures provided in the source material. Its worldwide launch established a new benchmark for the biggest opening weekend ever recorded for a biopic.

The performance moved “Michael” ahead of prior high-water marks for the genre, surpassing “Oppenheimer,” which opened to $180.4 million worldwide in 2023, and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which debuted with $124 million worldwide in 2018. The scale of the opening was notable given that early expectations for North America were lower: initial projections were around $50 million, later revised to $70 million, before the film ultimately exceeded those estimates with a $97 million domestic start.

“Michael” was co-produced by the Jackson estate and stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew. The film’s reception split sharply between critics and audiences. It registered a 38% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, while the audience score was reported at 97%, indicating substantially stronger viewer response than critical reviews.

The production was described as costly and complex. The budget was reported at $200 million, and the project underwent reshoots costing up to $50 million to adjust the narrative. The final cut ends in 1988, before later allegations against Michael Jackson, as stated in the source material.

On the business side, Lionsgate distributed the film and sold international rights to Universal as a step aimed at mitigating costs. The opening weekend results place renewed attention on how major studios and rights holders structure financing and distribution for large-budget, globally marketed releases, particularly when production expenses and revisions are significant.

Looking ahead, a sequel is currently in development. While the opening weekend numbers set a record for biopics, the longer-term trajectory remains uncertain based on the information provided, including how the film’s mixed critical reception and strong audience response translate into sustained attendance in different markets.