‘Michael’ Kicks Off With Strong $18.5 Million at International Box Office

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- Michael generated $18.5 M on opening day, including $16.6 M Wednesday and $1.9 M Tuesday previews.
- France led international markets with $2.6 M from 743 screens on Wednesday.
- Universal says the film is pacing ahead of Bohemian Rhapsody and Oppenheimer in most territories.
- Jaafar Jackson portrays Michael Jackson, marking the first major biopic starring his nephew.
- Antoine Fuqua directs the musical biopic, adding his name to the project.
Why it matters: Lionsgate and Universal stand to profit from a $150M+ global haul, while competing biopic releases lose market share; the film’s strong earnings validate musical biopics as box‑office drivers.




