“Michael” has moonwalked past expectations with a $217 million global opening weekend, delivering one of the biggest debuts ever for a music biopic — even as critics and controversy swirl around the film’s portrayal of the King of Pop.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as his famous uncle, the film opened to roughly $97 million domestically and over $120 million internationally, setting a new benchmark for the genre. Industry tracking had initially projected far lower numbers, making the debut a standout in a year crowded with franchise fare.
The commercial strength comes in stark contrast to its critical reception. Reviews have been largely negative, with the film hovering around the 38–40% range on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have frequently described the narrative as “sanitized,” pointing to its decision to end in the late 1980s and avoid the later controversies that defined much of Michael Jackson’s life.
That omission has fueled ongoing backlash. Dan Reed, director of Leaving Neverland, publicly criticized the film for presenting what he called a misleading version of events and for excluding allegations from Jackson’s later years. The production itself underwent reported rewrites and reshoots tied to legal constraints involving prior settlements, further shaping its final storyline.
Still, audiences have responded far more enthusiastically, with strong exit scores and a high audience rating helping drive turnout across key demographics. The film leans heavily on Jackson’s music catalog and performance legacy, a strategy that appears to have resonated with both longtime fans and younger moviegoers.
Made with the blessings of the Jackson estate, the movie’s success underscores the continued box office power of music-driven biopics — and the reality that audience demand can outweigh critical reception. With the resounding commercial success, a sequel talk is reportedly already underway – a clear sign that conversation around Jackson’s on and off screen legacy is far from over.