‘Michael’ Smashes All-Time Opening Box Office Record for Biopics

The new biopic Michael is off to a huge start at the box office. According to Deadline, the film has opened with $217.4 million worldwide, making it the biggest opening ever for a biopic.

Out of that total, $97 million came from the U.S. and Canada, while $120.4 million came from international markets, where Universal Pictures handled distribution. The numbers put the movie ahead of Project Hail Mary, which previously had one of the strongest openings this year.

The audience turnout has also been massive. Data from EntTelligence shows that around 6.3 million people watched the movie in North America during its opening weekend. That is higher than the 4.9 million who showed up for Project Hail Mary. Ticket prices averaged about $15, with premium formats going higher.

The film held steady over the weekend. It made $39.5 million on Friday including previews, then $32.5 million on Saturday. When previews are removed, Saturday actually saw a noticeable increase compared to Friday, which is a strong sign for long-term performance.

Premium screens also played a big role. IMAX alone brought in $24.4 million worldwide, marking the biggest IMAX debut ever for a musical biopic. In North America, IMAX accounted for $13.8 million across 427 screens, which made up 14% of the domestic opening. International IMAX added another $10.6 million.

The film’s success is not just about numbers. Reports say audiences are reacting strongly, with some even dancing in theaters. Families are also showing up, introducing younger viewers to Michael Jackson and his music.

The marketing campaign played a big part in the strong launch. Lionsgate and Universal focused on celebrating Jackson’s legacy and turning the promotion into real-world experiences. The North American campaign alone reportedly cost around $50 million.

One of the biggest highlights was the Berlin premiere, where fans could watch the movie in different languages and explore a large exhibit filled with costumes and props from Jackson’s life. The goal was to make people feel connected to his story in a more personal way.

There were also creative marketing events around the world. Flash mobs called “Don’t Walk, Moonwalk” took over city streets in multiple countries and gathered millions of views online. A marching band performance celebrating Jackson’s music also gained strong attention on social media.

In the U.S., fans experienced pop-up galleries, hologram installations in theaters, and live dance performances in cities. There were even traveling DJ trucks and surprise performances, including events with artists like Questlove.

Online promotion was just as strong. The film’s trailer became the most viewed in Lionsgate history within 24 hours. Social media campaigns across platforms like TikTok and X generated hundreds of millions of views, helping bring in younger audiences.

Despite some behind-the-scenes controversy related to the story, it doesn’t seem to have affected ticket sales. General audiences appear more focused on the music and the experience of the film.

Overall, the success of Michael helped push the total weekend box office to around $154.3 million, which is up compared to last year. So far, the 2026 box office has reached about $2.6 billion, showing strong growth compared to the same period in 2025.

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