Michael Jackson biopic smashes box office record

The new musical film “Michael,” featuring Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson, has achieved record-breaking success at the box office, earning $217 million globally since its Wednesday release.

It surpassed the previous record for musical biopics held by “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which opened with $124 million in 2018, and it also exceeded the $180 million of “Oppenheimer.”

Lionsgate’s Adam Fogelson noted the film’s appeal across diverse demographic groups, with audiences reportedly enjoying it much more than critics, as indicated by a stark contrast in ratings: 38% from critics versus 97% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film, backed by Jackson’s estate and featuring his original vocals, consciously avoids addressing allegations against Jackson, including child sexual abuse accusations.

Initially planned to include references to these allegations, the filmmakers changed direction after discovering a non-disclosure agreement that prevented any mention of past accuser Jordan Chandler.

Consequently, the film was reworked to conclude in 1988, prior to any accusations.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, “Michael” emphasizes Jackson’s musical career and includes recreated concert performances.

The film’s production, which faced unique challenges due to the NDA, involved costly reshoots, leading to a budget estimated around $200 million, marking it as one of the most expensive biopics ever made.

Although “Michael” has launched in most markets, it is yet to debut in Japan, where it is scheduled for release in June.

Overall, the film is part of a resurgence in cinema popularity, coinciding with recent hits like “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and upcoming releases like “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”