Apr 22, 2026 12:13pm IST
‘Michael’ Eyes $65M–$70M Opening, Set to Overtake ‘Straight Outta Compton’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as Biggest Music Biopic Debut
“Michael,” the biopic based on the life of Michael Jackson, and starring Jaafar Jackson, is tracking for a strong opening weekend at the domestic box office. The film, which releases this week, is now projected to debut between $65 million and $70 million in North America, according to industry estimates.
The revised projections mark an upward shift from earlier forecasts in the $50 million to $60 million range. If the current estimates hold, “Michael” could record the biggest opening weekend for a music biopic in Hollywood. The current benchmarks are held by “Straight Outta Compton,” which opened to $60.2 million, and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which debuted with $51 million.
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Globally, the film is also expected to post strong numbers. Early projections suggest an additional $75 million to $80 million from international markets, taking the worldwide opening weekend total to approximately $140 million to $150 million. This would position the film among the stronger global debuts for a biographical feature.
Some estimates indicate the possibility of an even higher domestic total, which could bring “Michael” close to or past the opening weekend of “Oppenheimer,” directed by Christopher Nolan. That film opened to $82 million in North America.
The performance underscores continued audience interest in music-led biopics, particularly those centered on globally recognized artists. With its current tracking, “Michael” is all poised to set a new benchmark for the genre if the momentum sustains through opening weekend.
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