Michael has kicked off with a bang, raking in a massive $12.6 million in North American previews; the biggest of the year so far.
The Michael Jackson biopic has outpaced Project Hail Mary ($12M) and Scream 7 ($7.8M), with $3.8 million coming from early Wednesday screenings alone.
Despite mixed reviews and production hurdles, the film’s momentum is only growing.
Initial projections of $60 million have now jumped to a $65–75 million opening weekend, with some expecting it to touch $80 million.
If that happens, Michael could set a new record for musical biopics, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody and Straight Outta Compton.
The film is also expected to perform big overseas, targeting $75–80 million from international markets. With a strong start already, the global opening weekend could hit $140–150 million.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film traces the journey of the King of Pop from his Jackson 5 days to global superstardom, with Jaafar Jackson stepping into the iconic role.
Made on a hefty $170 million budget; inflated further by major reshoots; Michael is among the costliest biopics ever.
With such a roaring start, the makers are already eyeing a sequel, banking on the film’s box office firepower.