‘Michael’s’ $217 Million USD Global Debut Marks the Biggest Opening Weekend for a Biopic

Summary

• The Michael Jackson biopic generated a record-breaking $217 million USD globally during its opening weekend
• Domestically, the film pulled in $97 million USD alongside $120.365 million USD from international markets
• Production for the film reportedly cost nearly $200 million USD, which included $15 million USD for reshoots

Variety reports that Antoine Fuqua’s highly anticipated Michael biopic has officially shattered box office records, securing a massive $217 million USD global debut. Distributed by Lionsgate and Universal, the film has now claimed the title for the biggest opening weekend ever for a biopic, surging past the previous $174 million USD record set by Oppenheimer in 2023.

Digging into the financial splits, the project demonstrated significant draw across all markets. In North American theaters, the film generated a commanding $97 million USD domestic take. Internationally, the momentum continued with an additional $120.365 million USD. The robust performance places Michael as the second-biggest opening of 2026 so far, sitting just behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

The record-setting gross provides a strong return on the film’s substantial investment. According to reports, Michael required a production budget of nearly $200 million USD, a figure that includes approximately $15 million USD allocated for third-act reshoots. Given the sheer scale of the opening weekend, the film is projected to easily turn a profit throughout its theatrical run.