The Michael Jackson biopic, simply titled Michael, has delivered a historic performance at the global box office, grossing a staggering $218.8 million in its opening weekend. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film debuted to $97.2 million in North America, shattering the record for the biggest domestic opening ever for a biographical film, which was previously held by Oppenheimer. The movie's international launch was equally dominant, pulling in $121.6 million across 82 territories.

Starring Jaafar Jackson in a breakout role as his uncle, the film has become an instant sensation, even outperforming massive 2026 hits like Project Hail Mary. Despite some initial critical mixed reviews, audiences have swarmed theaters, particularly Gen Z viewers who helped drive a "viral" surge in ticket sales. The film’s Sunday performance repped a remarkably strong hold, indicating that positive word of mouth is likely to keep the "King of Pop's" story at the top of the charts for weeks to come.

Produced by Graham King and the Jackson estate, Michael is currently the second biggest debut of the year, trailing only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. With a reported budget of over $155 million, the film is already well on its way to profitability. It is scheduled to launch in Japan this June, where a huge fanbase is expected to further boost its worldwide total as it aims to cross the billion-dollar mark.