US Edition‘Michael’ Moonwalks to $97 Million Opening, Shattering Record for Music Biopics
The film drew strong audience scores and is on pace for more than $200 million worldwide, despite mostly negative reviews, Lionsgate said.
- On Sunday, the Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' launched with $97 million domestically and $217 million globally in its opening weekend, shattering records for music biopics.
- Following a rocky production, Lionsgate spent up to $50 million on reshoots after discovering a legal settlement barred depicting 1993 child molestation accusations. Director Antoine Fuqua reworked the story to conclude in 1988.
- Critics awarded the film only 38% positive on Rotten Tomatoes, yet audiences strongly disagreed, giving it an A- CinemaScore and 97% positive rating on Saturday.
- The studio's advertising campaign tapped into nostalgia for Jackson's talent, while ticket sales for the Broadway stage musical 'MJ' have also increased. Projections suggest the $200 million production could exceed $700 million worldwide.
- This success marks a significant turnaround for Lionsgate after 2024 flops including 'Borderlands' and 'White Bird,' with the studio expected to greenlight a sequel.
55 Articles
55 Articles
’Michael’ moonwalks to $97 million opening, shattering record for music biopics
NEW YORK — "Michael," the big-budget Michael Jackson spectacle, shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with $97 million in U.S. and Canada theatres, according to studio estimates Sunday, shattering a record debut for music biopics.
Michael Has Record Opening Despite Reviews
Michael , the big-budget Michael Jackson spectacle, shrugged off seriously bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with $97 million in US and Canada theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday, shattering a record debut for music biopics. A highly authorized portrayal of the King of Pop, co-produced by the Jackson...
‘Michael’ Box Office Explosion Shocks Hollywood as Biopic Moonwalks Toward $200 Million Opening
Michael is seeing an explosive box office opening that Hollywood’s gatekeepers weren’t expecting. After a swell of mixed-to-negative critic reactions, Lionsgate’s Michael has surged into full-blown blockbuster territory, with opening weekend projections now landing between $95 million and $100 million domestically and over $200 million globally. And it raises a familiar question: who actually understands the audience anymore? A Massive Opening T…
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