Critics who were skeptical this week can “eat their words,” quips The Hollywood Reporter. Boosted by nearly perfect word-of-mouth from the public, “Michael,” the biopic about the “king of pop” released this week in the United States and much of the world, has exceeded even the most optimistic predictions for its opening weekend. The film is estimated to have earned “between 94 and 100 million dollars” (80 to 85 million euros) in North America alone, with similar success in the rest of the world.
In the United States and Canada, the film raked in “a whopping 38.5 million dollars” (33 million euros) on its opening day, Friday. The film’s high level of satisfaction among moviegoers hints that this is just the beginning, with the majority of audiences, particularly African Americans and women, finding the film appealing.
Despite controversies surrounding its release, as the film focuses on the singer’s first thirty years of life and disregards later allegations of child abuse, “Michael” appears poised to break the record for the best opening weekend for a musical biopic, according to Rolling Stone. The current record is held by “N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton” ($60 million for its first weekend), followed by “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($51 million).
As Variety points out, Lionsgate, the studio that produced and distributed the film in North America, Universal releasing it worldwide, “needs Michael to generate huge revenues, as the film has a substantial production budget of 155 million dollars (132 million euros), inflated by expensive music rights and extravagant concert recreations.”
While breaking the best opening weekend record seems likely, “Michael” must work hard to become the most profitable musical biopic of all time, surpassing “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The film about Queen and Freddie Mercury earned a massive 910 million dollars (776 million euros) worldwide during its theatrical run, and earned its star, Rami Malek, the Oscar for best actor.
