The long-awaited biographical film about late pop icon Michael Jackson has debuted at number one at the North American box office, recording an impressive opening weekend haul and reaffirming continued global interest in the music legend’s life story.
The film, titled Michael, grossed an estimated $97 million in its opening weekend, according to industry figures released on Sunday. The production is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Antoine Fuqua and distributed by Lionsgate.
The biopic traces Jackson’s journey from his early days as a child performer to his rise as one of the most influential and globally recognised pop stars in history.
In a notable casting choice, the lead role is played by Jaafar Jackson, who is also the nephew of the late singer, adding a personal family connection to the portrayal.
Industry analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research described the opening as “record-shattering for a musical biography,” noting the strong commercial performance despite mixed critical reception.
While audiences have responded positively to the film’s nostalgic tone and emotional storytelling, critics have offered more divided opinions. Some reviewers argue that the production presents a simplified version of Jackson’s life and avoids deeper exploration of the more controversial aspects of his personal history.
Gross also noted that discussions are already underway for a potential second instalment, suggesting that the project may expand into a multi-part cinematic series.
The film’s global performance has also been strong, earning nearly $220 million worldwide, boosted by its earlier release in European markets.
In second place at the box office, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie continued its strong run, earning an additional $21.2 million. The animated sequel, produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, has now surpassed $775 million globally after spending several weeks at the top of the chart.
Third place went to Amazon MGM’s sci-fi adventure comedy Project Hail Mary, which brought in $13.2 million over the weekend. The film stars Ryan Gosling as a former teacher-turned-astronaut tasked with saving Earth from a collapsing sun. It has now earned nearly $600 million worldwide during its extended theatrical run.
In fourth position, Warner Bros’ horror release The Mummy collected $5.6 million. The film follows a supernatural storyline involving an ancient Egyptian burial ritual that unleashes a demonic force.
A24’s romantic drama The Drama rounded out the top five, earning $2.6 million. The film stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a couple whose relationship begins to unravel shortly before their wedding.
Further down the chart, Hoppers earned $1.9 million, followed by You, Me & Tuscany with $1.5 million, and Over Your Dead Body with $1.4 million. Completing the list were I Swear with $640,000 and Normal with $625,000.
The weekend box office performance highlights a strong appetite for both nostalgic biopics and big-budget franchise films, with Michael emerging as one of the most commercially successful music-based films in recent years.
