Trending Now - Musical Biopic 'michael' Debuts With $18.5M Globally

WHO:

Variety - The musical biopic "Michael" focuses on the rise of Michael Jackson.

Deadline - The film is produced by Lionsgate and distributed internationally by Universal.

WHAT:

Sportskeeda - "Michael" tells the story of Michael Jackson from his early days in the Jackson 5 to his rise as a global music icon.

Deadline - The film opened in 82 overseas markets and is expected to dominate the box office through the weekend.

Deadline - The combined previews for "Michael" from Imax/PLF fan 6PM showtimes and subsequent showtimes on April 22nd, 2026, are reported to be between $12.5 million and $13.5 million.

Deadline - The Rotten Tomatoes audience score for "Michael" is currently at 96%.

Deadline - The film achieved a record first day for a musical biopic in most territories where it was released.

Forbes - The film "Michael" had an initial production budget of $150 million, making it the most ambitious biopic of all time.

Forbes - The Jackson estate agreed to fund 22 days of additional production at a cost estimated to be more than $25 million, with some reports suggesting it could be as high as $50 million.

Forbes - "Michael" needs to gross more than $500 million globally to be profitable, with Lionsgate hoping for more than $700 million to greenlight a sequel.

Forbes - The Jackson estate could earn more than $40 million from profit participation if "Michael" becomes a blockbuster, in addition to an estimated $10 million earned upfront for co-producing and licensing the music.

Sportskeeda - The film "Michael" was released on April 24th, 2026.

Coming Soon - The film's audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is significantly higher than the critics' score, indicating a divided response among viewers and critics.

The Hollywood Reporter - Jaafar Jackson's portrayal of Michael Jackson includes a blend of his own vocals and Michael's original recordings, with the process involving extensive sound editing to achieve this effect.

The Hollywood Reporter - Music supervisor John Warhurst stated, "We had the discussion a lot, could we have Jaafar and Juliano go to a studio and record those songs, and the answer was yes," regarding the vocal performances in the film.

Deadline - The combined previews for "Michael" from Imax/PLF fan 6PM showtimes and subsequent showtimes on April 22nd, 2026, are reported to be between $12.5 million and $13.5 million.

Deadline - The Rotten Tomatoes audience score for "Michael" is currently at 96%.

The Source - Colman Domingo and Nia Long discussed why the film "Michael" omits certain controversies surrounding Michael Jackson's life and career.

Deadline - The film "Michael" achieved a record first day for a musical biopic in most territories where it was released.

Variety - "Michael" generated $18.5 million on its opening day at the international box office.

Variety - The opening day ticket sales included $16.6 million on Wednesday and $1.9 million from Tuesday's previews.

Deadline - The film opened in 82 overseas markets and is expected to dominate the box office through the weekend.

WHERE:

Deadline - The film is playing in 23,230 locations internationally, which is a specific count of the venues.

Variety - The film debuted in North America and 82 overseas markets.

Deadline - The film is playing in 23,230 locations internationally.

WHEN:

Deadline - The international release of "Michael" began on Wednesday, April 20th, 2026, with previews on Tuesday, April 19th, 2026.

Variety - The film debuted on Friday, April 22nd, 2026.

Deadline - The international release began on Wednesday, April 20th, 2026, with previews on Tuesday, April 19th, 2026.

Deadline - China is set to open on Friday, April 22nd, 2026, while India, Bolivia, and Pakistan will open on Thursday, April 21st, 2026.

WHY:

Forbes - Producer Graham King expressed feeling "nervous and anxious" about the film's reception, stating, "A lot has happened on this film that I question how, why."

HOW:

The Hollywood Reporter - The filmmakers approached the vocal performances as if they were live musical recordings, requiring the actors to perform the songs on set while being recorded.

Forbes - The Jackson estate negotiated for a larger share of international royalties on the remaining half of the Jackson music it owns during its catalog sale in 2024, anticipating significant revenue from "Michael."

The Hollywood Reporter - The filmmakers approached the vocal performances as if they were live musical recordings, requiring the actors to perform the songs on set while being recorded.

Variety - The film's strong opening day performance is attributed to its release in multiple international markets.

(UPDATED April 24, 2026 17:18 UTC)

The new film "Michael," which chronicles the life of Michael Jackson from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his emergence as a global music icon, opened in 82 overseas markets and is projected to lead the box office this weekend. Following its international release on Monday, the film has already set a record for the highest first-day earnings for a musical biopic in most territories, with previews generating between $12.5 million and $13.5 million. With a current audience score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, producer Graham King has shared his nervousness about the film's reception, reflecting on the challenges faced during its production.

(UPDATED April 24, 2026 15:19 UTC)

The film "Michael" has set a record as the most ambitious biopic ever, with an initial production budget of $150 million and an additional estimated cost of up to $50 million for 22 extra days of filming funded by the Jackson estate. To be profitable, "Michael" needs to gross over $500 million globally, with Lionsgate aiming for more than $700 million to consider a sequel, while the Jackson estate stands to earn over $40 million from profit participation if the film becomes a blockbuster. Producer Graham King has expressed his nerves about the film's reception, questioning many aspects of its production, as the Jackson estate also negotiated a larger share of international royalties from its music catalog in anticipation of significant revenue from the film.

(UPDATED April 24, 2026 13:20 UTC)

The film "Michael" premiered on Friday. Audience reactions have been notably more favorable than those from critics, as reflected in its significantly higher audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This disparity suggests a divided response among viewers and critics alike.

(UPDATED April 24, 2026 11:18 UTC)

Jaafar Jackson's portrayal of Michael Jackson in the upcoming film features a unique blend of his own vocals alongside Michael's original recordings, achieved through extensive sound editing. Music supervisor John Warhurst confirmed that the team considered having Jaafar and Juliano record the songs in a studio, ultimately deciding to capture the vocal performances live on set. This approach allowed the filmmakers to create a more authentic musical experience, treating the performances as if they were happening in real time.

(UPDATED April 24, 2026 07:31 UTC)

The combined previews for the film "Michael" from Imax and PLF fan showtimes on Wednesday, are reported to be between $12.5 million and $13.5 million. Additionally, the Rotten Tomatoes audience score for "Michael" is currently an impressive 96%. This strong performance reflects the film's positive reception among viewers.

(UPDATED April 24, 2026 01:23 UTC)

On Tuesday, Colman Domingo and Nia Long appeared on The Source to discuss their film "Michael." They explained why the movie omits certain controversies surrounding Michael Jackson's life and career. The conversation highlighted their creative choices in portraying the iconic artist.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 23:18 UTC)

The film "Michael" has set a record for the highest first day for a musical biopic in most territories where it was released. It is currently playing in an impressive 23,230 locations around the world, showcasing its widespread appeal. The international release kicked off on Monday, following previews on Tuesday, on Sunday.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 21:17 UTC)

The musical biopic "Michael," which chronicles the rise of Michael Jackson, debuted on Wednesday, and generated an impressive $18.5 million on its opening day at the international box office. The film, produced by Lionsgate and distributed by Universal, opened in 82 overseas markets and is expected to dominate ticket sales through the weekend, with $16.6 million from Wednesday and $1.9 million from Tuesday's previews. As it plays in over 23,000 locations globally, audiences in China will get their chance to see it starting on Wednesday, while India, Bolivia, and Pakistan opened on Tuesday.