The Michael Jackson biopic Michael has shattered box office records, becoming the highest-grossing biopic of all time. According to Lionsgate, the film has earned over $977 million worldwide, surpassing Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer as the top-earning biographical film ever.
Critical Reception and Fan Response
Released in April, the film stars Jaafar Jackson, the King of Pop's nephew, in the title role. Despite generally negative reviews—critics slammed the film for omitting the child abuse allegations that plagued Jackson's life—loyal fans flocked to theaters. The Lionsgate musical features many of Jackson's hits and concludes with his Bad Tour in the late 1980s.
George Simpson, Film & Music Editor, reported that the film's box office success has been remarkable. Michael also surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody, the Freddie Mercury biopic, to become the highest-grossing musical biopic.
Sequel Announced
Unsurprisingly, Lionsgate has announced Michael Part 2. The sequel will use unused footage from the first film and continue the story into the 1990s. It is expected to address Jackson's first set of child abuse allegations, which were settled out of court in a multi-million dollar deal.
The film is expected to cross $1 billion before its cinematic run ends, cementing its place in box office history.
