Michael's Shocking Demand to Mario: Will This Bold Move Cost the King of Pop's Biopic $100 Million?

Staff

22 hours ago · Updated 22 hours ago

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Credit: Lionsgate

The weekend box office saw a monumental shift as the new biopic Michael, chronicling the life of pop legend Michael Jackson, stormed to the top, dethroning the previous champion, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. With an impressive $97 million in domestic ticket sales, Michael achieved the best opening weekend ever for a biopic, smashing records previously held by films like Straight Outta Compton and Bohemian Rhapsody.

This major debut not only secured its place in box office history but also showcased the enduring allure of Jackson's music, particularly as portrayed by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson. The film, which premiered on the weekend of April 24-26, 2026, was released across 3,955 theaters nationwide and is likely to continue its strong performance given its positive reception among fans.

The domestic Top 10 for the weekend is as follows:

TITLE

WEEKEND GROSS

DOMESTIC GROSS

LAST WEEK

THEATERS

1. Michael*	$97,000,000	$97,000,000	N/A	3,955
2. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie	$21,200,000	$386,493,000	1	3,732
3. Project Hail Mary	$13,208,000	$305,432,000	2	3,510
4. Lee Cronin's The Mummy	$5,630,000	$23,452,000	3	3,304
5. The Drama	$2,648,084	$44,803,603	4	1,822
6. Hoppers	$1,900,000	$164,156,679	6	2,000
7. You, Me & Tuscany	$1,500,000	$17,632,000	5	2,115
8. Over Your Dead Body*	$1,425,000	$1,425,000	N/A	1,550
9. Mother Mary	$1,253,486	$1,486,034	20	1,103
10. I Swear*	$640,000	$640,000	N/A	645

Notably, the film's domestic earnings of $97 million not only surpassed the previous record held by Straight Outta Compton with $60 million, but also outpaced Bohemian Rhapsody at $51 million. Additionally, its global total of $217 million includes $120 million from international markets, and this figure is expected to increase as the film has yet to release in Korea (May 13) and Japan (June).

This remarkable debut also signifies a major win for Lionsgate, which co-financed the film's $200 million production budget with Universal and Jackson's estate. With a strong performance since its release, Michael is poised to be Lionsgate's most successful title since The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, which opened to $102 million in 2015.

Despite mixed critical reception—holding a Tomatometer score of 38% on Rotten Tomatoes against a fan score of 97%—the film has resonated with audiences, as evidenced by a CinemaScore of A-. This disparity highlights the film's appeal to fans of Jackson's music, showcasing the enduring legacy of the King of Pop. In a climate where biopics often face scrutiny for their portrayal of complex figures, Michael seems to have struck a chord with viewers, celebrating the artistry and impact of its subject.

As The Super Mario Galaxy Movie slipped to second place, it still managed to gross $21.2 million domestically, bringing its total to $386.5 million. Meanwhile, Project Hail Mary maintained its momentum, earning $13.2 million for a total of $305.4 million. In contrast, the weekend's new releases struggled, with Over Your Dead Body debuting at eight with $1.4 million.

The upcoming release of The Devil Wears Prada 2 may further shake up the box office next week, especially with Anne Hathaway's dual role in Mother Mary looking to attract more viewers. There are high expectations for the sequel, which is projected to earn around $66 million on its opening weekend. It remains to be seen whether audiences will opt for a Hathaway double feature, providing a potential boost for Mother Mary as it seeks to recoup its $20 million budget.

As the box office landscape evolves, all eyes will be on the continued performance of Michael, a film that not only celebrates a musical icon but also holds the potential to reshape the narrative around biopics in Hollywood.