Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael delivered a record-breaking performance at the global box office, earning $97 million domestically and $120.4 million internationally for a worldwide total of $217.4 million, according to Sunday estimates.
The film exceeded expectations by nearly $30 million, marking the biggest domestic opening ever for a biopic, surpassing Oppenheimer ($80 million, unadjusted for inflation). It also set a new global benchmark for music biopics, overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody. Lionsgate released the film domestically, while Universal handled international distribution.
Heading into the weekend, projections were around $70 million, but strong audience turnout pushed the film close to $100 million in North America. Positive word-of-mouth and a family-friendly focus helped drive its success, despite mixed critical reviews.
Internationally, Michael also performed strongly, earning $120.4 million across 84 markets, setting new records in several regions. The film resonated across demographics, with strong turnout from multiple age groups and ethnicities.
Despite production challenges and a reported $200 million budget, the film’s strong global debut positions it as a major box office success, with exceptional audience scores far outweighing its critical reception.
