Box Office Stunner: ‘Michael’ Rocketing to Other-Worldly $95M-$100M U.S. Debut, $200M Globally

In a history-making debut that defied all pre-release tracking, Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael is not just breaking records—it’s moonwalking all over them. The Lionsgate film is rocketing toward a staggering $95 million to $100 million domestic opening weekend, with a global launch expected to hit the $200 million mark .

Shattering Biopic Records

Heading into the weekend, industry trackers projected a strong debut in the $65 million to $70 million range, which would have already made it the biggest opening for a music biopic in history. However, audience demand has proven to be on an entirely different level .

The film grossed a massive $38.5 million to $39.5 million on its official opening day alone (Friday), easily securing the No. 1 spot on the box office charts . This single-day figure places it ahead of the opening weekends of most comparable films.

To put this performance in perspective, Michael is set to crush the previous record for a musical biopic opening—Universal’s Straight Outta Compton ($60.1 million). It also steamrolls past the debuts of Bohemian Rhapsody ($55 million) and Elvis .

An Undeniable Audience Verdict

The film’s success is a powerful testament to the drawing power of the King of Pop, effectively ignoring a stark divide between critical reviews and fan adoration. While the critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes initially hovered around the 30s (later rising to 40%), moviegoers gave the film near-perfect exit scores .

Michael boasts a coveted 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- on CinemaScore, signaling a nostalgia-fueled rush of infrequent moviegoers returning to multiplexes in droves for the first time since the pandemic . Audiences are clearly more focused on the music and the performance of lead actor Jaafar Jackson than on the controversial decision by producers to omit the child sexual abuse allegations against the singer .

Global Domination

Jackson’s appeal is proving to be an even bigger draw overseas, where Universal is handling international distribution. The film has already broken opening-day records for a musical biopic in major markets, including the U.K., France, Italy, and Australia .

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson acknowledged the unprecedented demand. “This record-breaking performance is a testament to the incredible filmmaking team… Above all, it reflects the tremendous outpouring of love and affection from moviegoers around the world, underscoring the strength and vitality of the theatrical box office,” Fogelson said. “If you give audiences what they want, they will come” .

With a production budget reportedly nearing $200 million after reshoots, Michael required a massive return on investment. Based on this stellar opening, it is well on its way to becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 2026 and the biggest non-franchise, non-tentpole hit in years