🕺 Michael Delivers Biggest Opening in Genre History
Antoine Fuqua’s biopic Michael performed a literal "moonwalk" across the global box office, defying skeptics and shattering multiple historical records. Despite a chilly reception from critics, overwhelming audience support has turned the premiere into a global triumph.
According to official weekend figures, the film earned $218.8 million worldwide. This total includes $97.2 million from the domestic market (US and Canada) and $121.6 million from international territories.
The Film’s Major Milestones
- The King of Biopics: In North America, Michael secured the best opening for any biographical film, surpassing Oppenheimer ($80 million).
- A Musical Triumph: The film outpaced Bohemian Rhapsody to claim the most successful global debut in the musical biopic category.
- Second-Best of the Year: Currently, it stands as the second-largest premiere of 2026, trailing only the animated hit The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
For Lionsgate, this marks the studio’s best debut since the pandemic and its sixth-highest opening of all time, rivaling the successes of the Hunger Games and Twilight franchises.
Audiences vs. Critics
Interestingly, the professional community greeted the film with little enthusiasm, resulting in a Rotten Tomatoes “freshness” rating of just 40%. However, audiences responded with a record-breaking 97% approval score—the highest ever for the genre.
Post-screening surveys revealed that 85% of viewers would “definitely recommend” the film. This success is attributed to producer Graham King’s decision to focus on a family-friendly format and a celebration of Jackson’s creative legacy, intentionally steering the final cut away from controversial themes.
Other Box Office Highlights
While Michael celebrates its victory, other contenders continue to post impressive numbers:
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie dropped to second place but has already amassed $871 million, positioning itself to become the year’s first billion-dollar hit.
- Project Hail Mary continues to show incredible endurance. In its sixth week, the film crossed the $600 million mark globally.
- The surprise hit The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, quietly surpassed $100 million in global earnings.
- In contrast, the Anne Hathaway vehicle Mother Mary stumbled at the start, earning only $1.1 million. However, analysts expect Hathaway to bounce back next week with the release of the The Devil Wears Prada sequel.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
