Lionsgate's "Michael," a biopic co-produced by the Jackson estate, opened with a global haul of $217.4 million, shattering previous records for music biopics. The film collected $97 million in U.S. and Canada theaters, alongside $120.4 million overseas. This record-breaking surplus extraction far surpassed prior top performers in the genre, including "Straight Outta Compton," which debuted 11 years ago with $60.2 million, and "Bohemian Rhapsody," which opened 8 years ago to $51 million.
Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate chairman, stated that "all of the signals were that something like this was possible," noting "massive engagement with every conceivable audience segment." He added that the film presented "an opportunity to tell more story than any one film could possibly contain," despite significant narrative alterations.
The Cost of Narrative Control
The film's total production cost approached $200 million. To defray these costs, Lionsgate sold international distribution rights to Universal, which picked up most international markets. The production faced unusual challenges, including costly reshoots amounting to as much as $50 million, paid at the Jackson estate's expense. These reshoots were necessitated after producers realized a significant portion of the third act, which focused on allegations made by Jordan Chandler, then 13 years old, had to be cut. A 1994 settlement, in which Jackson paid Chandler $23 million, barred the Jackson estate from ever mentioning Chandler in a movie. Director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan subsequently reworked the movie to conclude in 1988, before any accusations were made.
Jackson's reputation had been repeatedly tarnished by allegations of sexual abuse of children, though he and his estate maintained his innocence. He was acquitted in his sole criminal trial 21 years ago, in 2005. The film was described as a "highly authorized portrayal" of the King of Pop.
Manufactured Consent and Dispossession
Critics largely condemned the film, scoring it 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, for "glossing over some of the less convenient aspects of Jackson’s life." However, audiences were more enthusiastic, giving it an "A-" CinemaScore. Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Comscore, observed, "It’s only human nature to enjoy yourself at the movie theater." Fogelson asserted, "The audience spoke loud and clear," and justified the omissions by stating, "The portion of Michael’s life that this story tells couldn’t have gotten into those allegations because the allegations themselves hadn’t happened in the period this movie existed."
Some members of the Jackson family opposed the film's narrative. Janet Jackson was uninvolved and does not appear in it, while Jackson’s daughter, Paris, called it "fantasy land." The film's development followed the release of the "Leaving Neverland" documentary 17 years ago, which detailed alleged sexual abuse of children. Despite the controversy and internal family dissent, a sequel is already in development, with Fogelson stating a third film is "not inconceivable." The success of "Michael" contributes to a strong spring for Hollywood, alongside other box-office hits like Amazon MGM’s "Project Hail Mary" and Universal’s "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," further consolidating capital accumulation within the entertainment industry.