Michael has moonwalked past the expectations of the domestic box office, with its premiere weekend projected to gross $94-100 million domestically and approximately $200 million worldwide. This marks a milestone for Lionsgate, as it is their biggest theatrical release in years. While critical reviews of the biopic have not been the best, it grossed nearly $38.5 million on its opening day. This makes Michael one of the biggest opening-weekend biopics of all time, alongside Universal’s Straight Outta Compton and Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
In the global box office, Michael seems to have even more luck with a record-breaking start of approximately $114 million. Other wins that this box office performance achieved was beating out arguably 2026’s biggest blockbuster so far, Project Hail Mary, for top 2026 domestic opening of a non-franchise and is set to be the sixth biggest Lionsgate opening in the studio’s history, right behind The Hunger Games Franchise and the final Twilight movie.
Michael was directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Jafaar Jackson playing his iconic uncle Michael. The film was previously meant to tackle the whole of Jackson’s widely publicized life; the original third act included the child sexual abuse allegations that Jackson first publicly faced in 1993. The Hollywood Reporter stated that one previous accuser had reached a “settlement with the estate that guaranteed he could never be depicted in future commercial projects.” From there, Lionsgate and the Jackson Estate decided to end the film before the ‘Billie Jean’ singer became embroiled in such allegations, but filmmakers are floating around the idea of there being a second film to cover the pop stars’ later and much darker years.
The Super Mario Galaxy movie in it’s fourth weekend took home 21.2 million for a second place finish being dethroned by Michael. Project Hail Mary is still in the top three after six weeks taking third place with 13.2 million while The Mummy and it’s sophomore outing which only brought home 5.63 million.
The Drama came in fifth with 3.64 million in its fourth week while the lower half of the top ten saw some new faces. Before we get into that Hoppers in it’s eighth week saw 1.9 million and a sixth place finish beating out You Me and Tuscany which is in its third week with 1.5 million on top of its previous haul. Over Your Dead Body premiered to 1.42 million just eating by Mother Mary with 1.25 million on its second week for wide release after its limited run premiere. Tenth went to American Youngboy with 1.19 million.
The weekend box office box office is as follows,
1. Michael Weekend $97M Total $97M Week 1
2. Super Mario Galaxy Movie Weekend $21.2M, Total $386.4M Week 4
3. Project Hail Mary Weekend $13.2M, Total $305.4M Week 6
4. Lee Cronin’s The Mummy Weekend $5.63M, Total $23.4M Week 2
5. The Drama Weekend$2.64M, Total $44.8M Week 4
6. Hoppers Weekend $1.9M Total $164.1M Week 8
7. You, Me & Tuscany Weekend $1.5M, Total $17.6M Week
8. Over Your Dead Body Weekend $1.42M Total $1.42M Week 1
9. Mother Mary Weekend $1.25M Total $1.48M Week 2
10. American Youngboy Weekend $1.19M, Total $1.84M Week 1
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