Lionsgate’s highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic Michael has exploded into cinemas with a stunning $97 million domestic opening weekend, rewriting box office history and proving audiences still crave major music stories on the big screen.
The film delivered the strongest opening for a music biopic ever, crushing the previous record held by Straight Outta Compton, which launched with $60 million. Even more impressively, Michael also became the biggest biopic opening of all time, overtaking Oppenheimer’s $82.45 million debut.
Across 3,955 screens, the film posted a powerful per-screen average of $24,526. Premium formats also boosted results, with IMAX alone contributing $13.8 million from 427 locations. That strong premium turnout shows fans wanted the full cinematic experience for one of pop culture’s most iconic names.
Worldwide, the momentum grew even stronger. With Universal handling international rollout, Michael earned $120.36 million overseas across 82 markets. That pushed the global total to a massive $217.36 million after only one weekend.
The United Kingdom led international markets with $15.6 million, followed by France at $10.2 million and Mexico at $9.8 million. Those numbers confirm Michael Jackson’s global influence remains unmatched years after his passing.
Audience reaction also fueled the explosive debut. While critics delivered mixed reviews, cinema-goers embraced the movie. It earned a 97% audience score and a strong A- CinemaScore, signaling excellent word-of-mouth potential in the coming weeks.
Industry tracking showed women made up 61% of opening weekend viewers, while 66% of ticket buyers were aged 25 and above. That broad demographic reach gives the film a strong foundation for sustained success.
The opening weekend numbers broke down sharply. Friday led with $39.9 million, followed by $32.5 million on Saturday and $25 million on Sunday. In addition, Thursday previews generated $12.6 million before the weekend officially began.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson praised the response, saying the performance reflected audience love for Michael Jackson and belief in theatrical releases when studios deliver films people truly want to see.
Meanwhile, theaters also benefited from holdover titles. Amazon/MGM’s Project Hail Mary earned $13.2 million in its fifth weekend, crossing $305.4 million domestically and $613.3 million worldwide.
Hollywood now turns attention to next weekend, when The Devil Wears Prada 2 enters cinemas with early forecasts near $60 million. Still, after this weekend’s performance, the industry conversation belongs to one title alone.
Michael has officially moonwalked into the record books.
