After an infamously uneven run over the last couple of years, Lionsgate is ready to rebound. This weekend, the studio released its controversial Michael Jackson biopic, which exceeded already-bullish projections to deliver a record-breaking debut at the box office. Later this year, Lionsgate will also release The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the second prequel in the dystopian action franchise. Michael delivered the studio’s biggest debut since The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which was released three years ago. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael survived a highly dramatic production that reportedly saw a major creative overhaul to the third act and conflicts between the filmmakers and Jackson’s estate. The film’s release has also attracted renewed attention to the longstanding abuse allegations against the King of Pop. The movie has been criticized for omitting this aspect of Jackson’s life entirely.
However, it has clearly struck a chord with fans. Michael delivered the biggest-ever box-office debut for a biopic, overtaking not only Bohemian Rhapsody but also Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer. Starring Jaafar Jackson as his iconic pop star uncle, the movie holds a 38% critics’ score and a “Verified Hot” 97% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s consensus reads, “While Jaafar Jackson’s smooth moves bring the King of Pop to uncanny life, this musical biopic mostly plays like a ‘greatest hits’ album that could’ve benefited from including liner notes to give actual insight into the icon.”
Here’s How Much ‘Michael’ Grossed at the Box Office This Weekend
Produced on a massive reported budget of $200 million, Michael grossed just under $100 million domestically and more than $215 million worldwide in its opening weekend. A path to the $1 billion mark lies ahead, and, given near-unanimous audience praise, it seems highly achievable. Were the movie to hit this milestone, it would have overtaken both Bohemian Rhapsody and Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time. Also starring Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, and Nia Long, the movie could also spawn a sequel that tackles the second half of Jackson’s life and career. A significant portion of footage that was edited out of the first film could reportedly be used in a second installment. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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April 24, 2026
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Writers
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John Logan
- Producers
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Graham King, John Branca, John McClain

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