“Michael” is rocking the box office with $12.6 million in North American previews.
That’s the biggest preview haul of the year, above March’s “Project Hail Mary” ($12 million) and February’s “Scream 7” ($7.8 million). The Michel Jackson biopic earned $3.8 million of its haul from early access screenings on Wednesday. “Project Hail Mary” ended up earning $80 million in its opening weekend while “Scream 7” debuted to $63 million. “Michael” will easily top the box office as this weekend’s only major new release.
Projections for “Michael” have continued to rise despite the poor reviews and costly behind-the-scenes turmoil. Lionsgate’s film about the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, landed on tracking with estimates of $60 million. Now “Michael” is expected to earn $65 million to $75 million in its opening weekend, with some exhibitors are predicting the final number will be closer to $80 million. Those ticket sales would register as a record start for a musical biopic, ahead of 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($51 million) and 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton” ($60 million).
“Michael” could be even bigger at the international box office, where the movie is projected to collect $75 million to $80 million from 82 markets. “Michael” debuted on Wednesday in several foreign territories, where it earned $18.5 million on opening day. Globally, the film should earn with at least $140 million to $150 million by Sunday. (Universal is handling the overseas rollout.)
Antoine Fuqua directed “Michael,” which charts the singer’s early days in the Jackson 5 to becoming one of the biggest entertainers on the planet. Jaafar Jackson, the real-life nephew of Michael Jackson, is portraying the King of Pop in the film, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long playing his parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson.
“Michael” cost at least $170 million to produce, making it one of the most expensive biopics of all time. The film underwent major reshoots, which added tens of millions to the budget, after the third act had to be scrapped. The initial screenplay had recounted a 1993 lawsuit that accused Jackson of child sexual abuse, which he denied. After the movie was shot, producers discovered a clause in the settlement with the young accuser that barred the depiction or mention of him in film or television.
Should “Michael” reach the box office stratosphere (as predicted), Lionsgate is planning to make at least one more film about Jackson’s life.
