Lionsgate‘s Michael is bound to be a chart-topping hit when it opens on April 24. Three-week tracking today indicates an opening between $55M-$60M, besting the previous box office record set by a musical biopic, that being the 2018 Freddie Mercury movie, Bohemian Rhapsody, which bowed to $51M.
Advance tickets sales at this point in time, which includes presales for an early access fan screening on Wednesday, April 22, point to a thriller 3-day start that’s north of $50M+. Even with big movies on tracking, such as Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Project Hail Mary which can impact long-term tracking on new titles, Michael still looks great. Exhibitors have already seen the movie, and the reaction has been very positive on what has been a challenging production for the Jackson estate-produced movie.
The Graham King-produced, Antoine Fuqua directed, John Logan written, Jaafar Jackson starring feature is strong across all demos, and diverse groups, though slightly more pronounced in first choice with men and women over 25. Overall, first choice for the Michael Jackson biopic is well ahead of Project Hail Mary, Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis, Sinners and Oppenheimer at the same point when they hit tracking.
Michael begins to moonwalk on April 10 with the world premiere in Berlin at the Uber Eats Music Hall at Uber Square. There is a full four-floor Michael experience with memorabilia from the movie as well as Jackson’s career. On Saturday night, April 11, there’s a “Get on the Dance Floor – The Michael Jackson Party”. Universal is releasing the biopic overseas, Lionsgate has domestic.