The Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” opened April 24 to sold-out theaters and a global box office surge topping $200 million, as audiences across the country and overseas transformed screenings into full-throated celebrations of the King of Pop.
Lionsgate confirmed the film’s worldwide total based on early ticket sales and projections through opening weekend, a figure that places the film among the strongest debuts for a non-sequel in recent years.
“If you give audiences what they want, they will come,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said in crediting audiences for the turnout.
From New York to Los Angeles and across international markets, theaters were filled with fans wearing fedoras, sequined jackets, and single gloves. Michael Jackson look-alikes posed for photos in lobbies while crowds inside auditoriums sang along, danced in aisles, and shouted at the screen. What unfolded inside theaters matched reports from industry observers who described screenings as closer to live events than traditional moviegoing.
The numbers followed the energy. The film generated about $40 million domestically on opening day and is projected to finish the weekend between $90 million and $100 million in the United States and Canada. Overseas markets added more than $111 million, pushing the global total beyond $200 million and delivering the biggest opening of the year for a live-action film.
Audience response has been decisive. Moviegoers handed the film an A-minus CinemaScore grade, while audience ratings climbed into the mid-to-high 90% range on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics moved in the opposite direction, with reviews falling below 40% positive.
That divide did little to slow ticket sales. Analysts noted that criticism of the film’s narrative choices—particularly its decision to end before the allegations that later surrounded Jackson—drew added attention from fans and casual moviegoers alike.
The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson in his first major role, brings together a cast that includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and Miles Teller. Domingo’s portrayal of Joseph Jackson sparked strong reactions inside theaters, with audiences loudly responding to his character’s treatment of a young Michael. Jaafar Jackson’s performance drew cheers throughout, with viewers applauding signature dance moves and musical recreations.
Backed by a production budget near $200 million and an extensive marketing campaign that exceeded $50 million in North America alone, the film was designed to tap into nostalgia tied to Jackson’s music and global reach. Promotional efforts included outreach to historically Black colleges and universities and a focus on younger audiences discovering Jackson’s story for the first time.
Early data shows that strategy is paying off. Black moviegoers led opening weekend attendance at 38%, followed by Latino and Hispanic audiences at 26% and white audiences at 24%, with women making up a majority of ticket buyers.
The film has already triggered renewed interest in Jackson’s music catalog, with streaming numbers rising and ticket sales increasing for the Broadway production “MJ,” which continues to tour nationally.
“MJ has a lot of fans, of course the movie does well in the box office,” social media user Liverpool Fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The movie is a celebration of MJ’s early years and his talent, I see nothing wrong with that. If you want a documentary, there’s already plenty out there.”
