‘Michael’ Set to Moonwalk Over Box Office Records with Projected $60M+ Opening
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, the film features Jaafar Jackson—Michael Jackson’s nephew—in the title role.
RMN Stars Movies Desk
New Delhi | April 4, 2026
LOS ANGELES — The upcoming Michael Jackson musical biopic, Michael, is poised to become a historical chart-topper when it hits theaters later this month. Early three-week tracking suggests the film is headed for a massive domestic opening north of $60 million, a figure that could set a new record for the musical biopic genre.
If these projections hold, Michael will surpass the previous high-water marks set by 2015’s Straight Outta Compton ($60M) and 2018’s Freddie Mercury tribute Bohemian Rhapsody, which debuted at $51M.
A Thrilling Start
Advance ticket sales, which include early-access fan screenings scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, already indicate a three-day opening weekend of at least $50 million. Industry analysts note that the film’s “first choice” tracking is currently outperforming several major blockbusters at the same point in their release cycles, including Oppenheimer, Elvis, and the upcoming Project Hail Mary.
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The film has shown broad appeal across all demographics, with particularly strong interest from both men and women over the age of 25. This momentum comes despite a crowded marketplace featuring The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is currently dominating the box office with a projected five-day total of $188M+.
Behind the Production
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, the film features Jaafar Jackson—Michael Jackson’s nephew—in the title role. The production, which was scripted by John Logan and produced in association with the Jackson estate, has received “very positive” early feedback from exhibitors who have seen the finished product.
While some social media reaction suggests the $60 million projection may be a “lowball” estimate given the King of Pop’s global icon status, tracking figures are currently based on a combination of presales, social media sentiment, and genre comparisons.
Global Launch and Special Events
The film’s global journey begins on April 10 with a world premiere in Berlin at the Uber Eats Music Hall. The premiere will feature a massive “Michael Jackson experience” spanning four floors of memorabilia, culminating in a “Get on the Dance Floor” party on April 11. In a unique move for the international premiere, invited guests will be able to select the language in which they watch the film.
Michael is scheduled for wide domestic release by Lionsgate on April 24, while Universal will handle the film’s distribution in international markets.
