Michael Jackson Biopic Shatters Box Office Records With $217 Million Global Opening Weekend

The Michael Jackson biopic has arrived at the box office with blockbuster numbers, claiming the crown as the highest-grossing opening weekend for any biographical film to date.

Distributed by Lionsgate and Universal, the film earned $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide during its opening weekend, according to reports. That haul surpasses the previous biopic record held by Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which opened to $82.4 million domestically and $174 million globally in 2023.

The film also outpaced other music biopics, including 2015's Straight Outta Compton, which opened to $60 million, and 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody, which debuted with $51 million. Within 2026's release calendar, the Michael Jackson film ranks as the second largest opening behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which opened to $131 million.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the biopic premiered in theaters on April 24 and features a cast including Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.

The film chronicles Jackson's extraordinary trajectory from his early years as the lead of the Jackson Five through his evolution into one of the world's most influential entertainers. It explores both his personal life and standout performances from his solo career, offering viewers an intimate look at the King of Pop's journey.

The project is on track to become Lionsgate's highest-grossing release since the main Hunger Games franchise concluded in 2015.

Despite its commercial success, the biopic has received mixed critical reception, with professional reviewers offering largely negative assessments while audiences have responded more favorably.