All articles tagged with #michael biopic
Michael has become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time with about $911.9 million worldwide, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody. The Lionsgate release earned roughly $358 million in the U.S. and $553 million internationally, despite mixed reviews and controversy over its portrayal of abuse allegations; the film has boosted interest in Jackson’s catalog and marked a major box-office milestone.
Universal’s Michael is closing in on $800 million globally with about $788M so far (roughly $468M overseas and $319M in the U.S.), and Japan remains unopened; Disney’s The Devil Wears Prada 2 has surpassed $600M worldwide (roughly $408M international and $200M domestic). The Mandalorian and Grogu stakes its cinematic potential, opening to $64M across 51 territories, with $82M in North America over the weekend and Memorial Day total around $102M there; the global box office for the three-day frame is about $145M and roughly $165M over the four-day holiday. The releases illustrate strong international demand for big-budget, star-driven titles, and set the stage for Disney’s upcoming Star Wars slate after Solo’s performance.
Universal’s Michael has surpassed $700 million worldwide (about $421 million overseas and $282 million domestically), with Japan still to open and the potential to become the highest-grossing musical biopic, possibly beating Bohemian Rhapsody’s $911 million. Disney’s The Devil Wears Prada 2 is approaching $550 million globally (roughly $546.2 million total: $175.9 million domestic and $370.3 million international), boosted by strong international performance in the UK, Italy, Brazil and Mexico, after a production budget of about $100 million.
Spike Lee says he loves the Michael Jackson biopic Michael and rejects critics for omitting abuse allegations, arguing the film’s timeline ends in 1988 and wouldn’t cover later accusations; reports note a settlement clause barred depiction of an accuser, and colman domingo hinted a possible Part 2 could address subsequent events.
Spike Lee defended Lionsgate’s Michael biopic for not including the 1993 child-sexual-abuse claims, arguing the film’s timeline ends in 1988 and cannot incorporate later accusations; director Antoine Fuqua says any exploration of the allegations will come in a potential sequel, noting the film was revised with additional shooting to shape the ending and that Lionsgate has discussed splitting the project into two parts as the Michael Jackson story extends beyond the current film.
Spike Lee defended Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic on CNN, explaining that the film covers Jackson’s life up to 1988 and thus omits the later abuse allegations; he said he loved Michael and watched the movie twice. The project reportedly underwent major overhauls after the Jackson estate's intervention, adding shooting days and reworking the ending, delaying its release to 2026 and prompting talk of a possible sequel.
Spike Lee defended Lionsgate’s Michael against critics who argue the film should have included allegations of child sexual abuse. He says the movie’s timeline ends in 1988, before the first accusation, so including later allegations wouldn’t fit the story. The ending was also rewritten after a settlement clause restricted depicting or mentioning one accuser. Despite the controversy, the film has performed strongly at the box office, with about $97.5 million domestic debut and $423 million worldwide to date.
Editor John Ottman recut the four-hour Michael biopic to add intimacy, humor, and momentum, trimming roughly 25 minutes of Jaafar Jackson’s voiceover and tightening the early years. The edits were driven by a need to ground Michael’s artistry while also heeding a settlement clause that barred depicting or mentioning a specific accuser, resulting in a stronger focus on young Michael and Jaafar’s standout performances through close-ups and character-driven moments.
Following Michael's $217M opening, the Jackson family is ramping up for more with talks of a Thriller-era tour and sequels; Jaafar Jackson stars in the biopic, the estate and film team eye additional films and a high-profile tour, Janet and Randy have declined involvement, and insiders say seven-figure payments have been made to those on the project.
Vox argues that the Michael biopic’s record-breaking opening highlights a tense cultural reckoning: audiences may separate Jackson’s musical genius from abuse allegations, but a frank look at the strongest evidence against him—and the racial biases in America’s justice system—demands a careful, nuanced discussion rather than pure celebration or dismissal.
The day’s entertainment roundup includes a trailer for Will Gluck’s One Night Only, a rom-com set in a world where premarital sex is legal for only 12 hours a year and opens August 7 with a star-studded cast; Dan Reed criticizes the Michael Jackson biopic Michael as distorting the truth and reinforcing myth; Letterboxd may be up for sale by Tiny as it eyes monetization; and at the weekend box office, Michael posts the biggest-ever biopic opening with $97 million in the US and $217 million worldwide, followed by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in second place.
The Michael Jackson biopic Michael is posting blockbuster box office numbers (reported around $217 million), underscoring a clear split between fans who want a hit-filled celebration and critics seeking more nuance. The film’s performance serves as a tentpole springboard for the summer slate, suggesting that fan demand can drive high grosses even as critical reception remains mixed.
Dan Reed, director of Leaving Neverland, argues that the Michael Jackson biopic Michael whitewashes Jackson’s alleged abuse and centers the pop icon as the victim, rather than Wade Robson and James Safechuck’s accounts. He defends his documentary’s focus on the accusers, discusses HBO’s removal of Leaving Neverland amid a dispute with the estate, and notes ongoing legal battles and a potential trial in 2026. Reed also cites online bot activity surrounding the film, the public reaction, and support from Oprah, framing the controversy as a fight to have the victims’ stories heard.
Director Antoine Fuqua faced legal constraints that forced major reshoots and a late-stage shift in the Michael Jackson biopic, mirroring the disruption he endured finishing Emancipation after the Will Smith–Chris Rock incident; the film pivoted to focus on Michael’s early life and ultimately opened strongly at the box office.
Director Antoine Fuqua says there’s “absolutely” enough filmed material—about a third of it—to support a Michael Jackson biopic sequel, and he’d like to direct it. The film humanizes Jackson and leaves out the Chandler abuse allegations due to a settlement, with extensive reshoots shaping a setup for a possible second installment after the movie’s record-breaking opening.