“Michael,” the highly anticipated biographical film about late pop icon Michael Jackson, has opened at number one in the North American box office, earning an impressive $97 million over the weekend, according to industry estimates released on Sunday.
The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and distributed by Lionsgate, explores the journey of the music legend from his early days as a child star to becoming one of the most influential entertainers in the world. The lead role is played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson.
Commenting on the film’s performance, analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research said, “This is a record-shattering opening for a musical biography.”
He added that the movie has resonated well with audiences, describing it as “playing as a feel-good, nostalgic appreciation,” though he noted that “reviews are weak.”
“Most critics feel the film is superficial and avoids the complicated parts of the performer’s life, including allegations of sexual misbehaviour,” Gross said, adding that a second part of the film is already being planned.
Having already premiered in parts of Europe, the biopic has grossed nearly $220 million globally, according to Exhibitor Relations.
Coming in second place at the North American box office was “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” which added $21.2 million. The animated sequel, produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, has now surpassed $775 million worldwide after three weeks at the top.
In third place was the sci-fi comedy “Project Hail Mary,” produced by Amazon MGM Studios. The film stars Ryan Gosling as a teacher-turned-astronaut tasked with saving Earth, and has earned nearly $600 million globally.
Fourth place went to “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy,” a horror film from Warner Bros., which brought in $5.6 million.
Rounding out the top five was “The Drama,” a romantic comedy with a dark twist from A24, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. The film earned an additional $2.6 million, bringing its global total to $80 million.
Other films in the top 10 include “Hoppers” ($1.9 million), “You, Me & Tuscany” ($1.5 million), “Over Your Dead Body” ($1.4 million), “I Swear” ($640,000), and “Normal” ($625,000).
