In its opening week as a musical biopic, Michael is on pace to break box office records.
According to Lionsgate, the film’s distributor, the Michael Jackson biopic is on track to garnering $90,000,000.00 to $100,000,000.00 during its first week of release in the United States.
Even if Michael hits the low end of the estimate, the movie will easily surpass NWA’s Straight Outta Compton for the highest-grossing opening weekend for a musical biopic.
In a statement about it’s early success, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson said “This record-breaking performance is a testament to the incredible filmmaking team of producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, an amazing cast led by Jaafar Jackson’s singular performance, our world-class partners at Universal, the cooperation and support of the Michael Jackson Estate, and our tireless and exceptionally talented Lionsgate team.” “Above all, it reflects the tremendous outpouring of love and affection from moviegoers around the world, underscoring the strength and vitality of the theatrical box office. If you give audiences what they want, they will come.”
The film’s early success comes despite initial poor critic reviews, and the controversy surrounding the release of the film, that failed to address the singer’s sexual abuse accusations.
In its opening weekend, Worldwide, Michael is on track to make approximately $200,000,000.00 at the global box office, and according to Billboard, that amount would move the project into the Top 5 of the highest-grossing musical biography picture of all time.
As the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, Michael is unlikely to beat Bohemian Rhapsody about Queen that raked in $910,000,000.00 worldwide during its run, and having earned its star, Rami Malek, a Best Actor Oscar.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: PlanetLighter