About Michael
Michael is the latest biopic produced by Universal Studios Hollywood Hub. The film has made headlines for achieving a record-breaking debut at the global box office.
Box Office Performance
Michael made a staggering $217 million at the global box office, securing its place as the biggest opening weekend for a biopic ever. This figure surpasses the previous record held by Oppenheimer, which debuted to $174 million in 2023. Of the total, $97 million came from North American theaters, while $120.365 million originated from international markets.
Production Costs and Profitability
The film's production cost nearly $200 million, which included $15 million for reshoots of the third act. Given its strong start, Michael is set to turn a profit during its theatrical run, despite some controversy surrounding its content.
Criticism and Audience Reception
Michael's success comes amid accusations of 'whitewashing' and poor review scores from critics. IGN gave the film a low score of 3/10, stating, "Michael does the impossible: It makes the King of Pop boring." However, it has garnered a strong audience rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a divide between critic and viewer perception.
Comparisons in the Box Office
In terms of global box office debuts this year, Michael is only behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which added another $36.7 million internationally this weekend, bringing its total to $831.474 million globally. Meanwhile, Project Hail Mary continues to perform well, adding $12.2 million in its sixth weekend and reaching $613.3 million globally.