Michael Jackson biopic Michael has opened to $40 million, setting the biggest biopic opening day record of all time in 2026. Despite cautious industry expectations and mixed critical response, the film has far exceeded forecasts, powered by a massive global turnout. International markets like France, the UK, Italy, and Australia delivered record openings. Clearly, Michael has moonwalked expectations effortlessly in true Michael Jackson biopic fashion.

Michael has opened to an estimated $40 million–$41 million domestically on its first day, immediately setting two major records. It now stands as the biggest biopic opening day of all time, surpassing Oppenheimer, and also the highest single-day gross of 2026, overtaking The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The achievement places the Michael Jackson biopic firmly at the top of both genre and yearly rankings.

Early tracking suggests a domestic opening weekend between $85 million and over $95 million, positioning Michael to shatter multiple genre benchmarks. It is now set to eclipse long-standing musical biopic records held by Straight Outta Compton and Bohemian Rhapsody. The trajectory indicates sustained demand rather than a front-loaded spike.

The global performance of Michael is rewriting the box office record books for biopics, with the film now tracking toward a massive $180 million to $200 million worldwide opening weekend. Launching across 82 overseas markets, it earned $18.5 million on its first day alone, powered by historic regional turnouts.

Despite Michael rewriting box office records, it finds itself dancing through a sharper divide between audiences and critics.

The review divide of Michael

The critical and audience divide for Michael stands among the most striking seen in recent major releases, with audience approval soaring near 96–97 percent while critical scores remain in the 38–40 percent range on Rotten Tomatoes. The contrast highlights a rare split between commercial triumph and critical skepticism.

Critics largely frame the film as a restrained, estate-shaped portrait of Michael Jackson, arguing that its narrative avoids major controversies and flattens emotional complexity. Many reviews describe its structure as predictable and celebratory in tone, leaning heavily on musical highlights while offering limited exploration of the artist’s more difficult legacy.

Audiences, however, respond with strong enthusiasm, praising its emotional pull, Jaafar Jackson's energy, and recreation of iconic moments that resonate deeply with long-time fans. The reception reflects a celebratory experience rather than a critical dissection, and despite the divide, Michael continues to dominate globally while rewriting biopic box office records.

Have you watched Michael yet? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Hriddhi Maitra