Record-Breaking Box Office Success
The recently released Michael Jackson biopic has surpassed Christopher Nolan's 2023 film Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biographical movie of all time, grossing $977 million (£739 million) worldwide.
Previously, Michael Jackson's film was already the highest-grossing musical biopic, having overtaken the 2018 Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. It has now also exceeded the box office earnings of Oppenheimer, which held the record for any film based on a real-life figure.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie chronicles the late American singer's journey from his beginnings as a child star in the Jackson 5 to his rise as the solo King of Pop.
Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's real-life nephew, portrays the titular role. Colman Domingo and Nia Long play the roles of his parents.
Upon its April release, Michael earned $217 million globally in its first week, surpassing previous music biopics such as the 2015 NWA film Straight Outta Compton and Bohemian Rhapsody.
The film has also become Lionsgate Studios' most successful release, overtaking 2013's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Notably, Michael surpassed Oppenheimer despite the latter benefiting from the viral "Barbenheimer" phenomenon during the summer of 2023, when audiences were drawn to see both Barbie and Oppenheimer following a series of memes highlighting the contrast between the two films released on the same day.
Critical Reception and Controversy
The film has been well received by many fans worldwide for its portrayal of Michael Jackson's childhood and its detailed recreations of iconic concert performances and music videos.
Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson, has been particularly praised for his portrayal of his uncle.
However, numerous critics have described the film as a "whitewash," criticizing it for presenting a "sanitised" version of Jackson's life and career.
This criticism largely stems from the film's omission of the sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson. A historic non-disclosure agreement (NDA) resulted in the removal of some footage referencing these allegations.
The Hollywood Reporter said the feature "delivers for lifelong fans who cherish the music"
The Telegraph noted that it "refuses to address the elephant in the room"
The Independent described it as a "ghoulish, soulless cash grab"
Despite the negative reviews, the film's reception among fans has been significantly more positive, as reflected in higher audience ratings on review aggregator sites such as Rotten Tomatoes.
Financially backed by Michael Jackson's estate, the film features his original vocals prominently throughout its musical numbers.
According to the US publication Variety, Lionsgate is expected to produce at least one more film about Jackson's life.
Impact on Music Streaming
In addition to driving cinema attendance, the film has contributed to a surge in streaming of Michael Jackson's music.
He has been the most streamed artist in the UK on YouTube over the past month, with twice the number of plays compared to his closest competitor, Canadian artist Drake.
His song "Billie Jean," one of his most famous tracks, is currently the most played song on Spotify globally.
Michael Jackson was the most listened-to artist on Spotify in the UK last month, shortly after the film's release, and remains in third place at the time of writing.
The compilation album The Essential Michael Jackson reclaimed the number one spot on the UK albums chart, outperforming competition from the Irish language rap group Kneecap.
- Michael Jackson beats Kneecap in battle for UK album number one
- Michael Jackson biopic smashes box office record
