The highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, titled “Michael,” has made an explosive debut at the box office, shattering records and setting a new benchmark for music biopics. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, the King of Pop’s real-life nephew, the film defied poor critical reviews and resurfaced controversies surrounding Jackson’s personal life. Instead, it rode a powerful wave of enthusiastic audience support, achieving unprecedented success in its opening weekend.

“Michael” not only exceeded the opening weekend haul of Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which holds the record for the highest-grossing biopic of all time, but it also grossed 30% more than the previous best for a music biopic in its first weekend. With just under $100 million domestically and more than $215 million worldwide after only three days, the film has positioned itself to become the first blockbuster in the genre to pass the coveted $1 billion mark globally. This remarkable achievement comes despite a 38% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, largely offset by a robust “Verified Hot” 97% audience score on the same aggregator website.

Director Antoine Fuqua, known for previous hits, has never witnessed a success of this magnitude. “Michael” outgrossed all three of his “The Equalizer” movies, his “The Magnificent Seven” remake, and the action franchise-starter “Olympus Has Fallen” in a single weekend. In fact, after just three days, “Michael” has already become Fuqua’s highest-grossing release at the worldwide box office, showcasing an unparalleled performance in his career.

The film’s dominance extends beyond its domestic market. In the U.K. and Ireland, Universal’s “Michael” opened at No. 1, securing £11.6 million ($15.6 million) and delivering one of the strongest debuts of the year in that territory. This international success further solidifies its global box office impact and widespread appeal.

Comparing its performance to other major music biopics, “Michael” quickly surpassed the entire lifetime haul of the Elton John biopic “Rocketman,” which grossed approximately $195 million worldwide in 2019. While “Rocketman” opened to significantly better reviews, “Michael” demonstrated superior commercial power. The film also faces comparisons to the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which generated over $900 million globally. However, “Michael” was produced with a substantially higher budget, reportedly exceeding $200 million due to reshoots, costing four times more than both “Rocketman” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

The film, which also stars Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, and Nia Long, continues its theatrical run, capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. Its extraordinary box office performance underscores the enduring legacy of Michael Jackson and the significant draw of his life story, despite the surrounding controversies.