'Michael,' the film about the singer's ascent to pop superstardom, hit theaters on April 24
Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate
NEED TO KNOW
- Michael, the new biopic about Michael Jackson, hit theaters on April 24
- At the box office, the film totaled $314 million in its debut weekend
- The late pop star’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, plays him in the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic
Michael Jackson and his family are taking over the big screen, and audiences won’t stop ’til they get enough.
After its Friday, April 24, theatrical release, the new biopic, Michael, has netted $97 million domestically and $217 million abroad in its first weekend, totaling to an impressive $314 million worldwide, per Variety.
The feat marks the best box office start of all time for a biopic. 2015’s Straight Outta Compton previously held the record with $60 million.
Credit: LIONSGATE
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Michael stars Jaafar Jackson, the son of the King of Pop’s brother, Jermaine Jackson, in the titular role.
Playing a young Michael is Juliano Krue Valdi, while Colman Domingo portrays patriarch Joe Jackson, who managed Michael and his brothers in the Jackson 5, and daughters Rebbie Jackson, La Toya Jackson and Janet Jackson.
The Antoine Fuqua-directed and John Logan-written biopic was developed with the blessing of many of the late Michael’s family members after he died in 2009 at age 50.
It also stars Nia Long as Jackson matriarch Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as lawyer-manager John Branca, Laura Harrier as producer Suzanne de Passe and Mike Myers as CBS Records exec Walter Yetnikoff.
Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate
The other box office winners of 2026 so far include animated sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Ryan Gosling's Project Hail Mary, Pixar’s Hoppers and James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, per Box Office Mojo.
Michael, distributed by Lionsgate, is in theaters now.
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