'Michael' biopic surpasses 'Elvis' to become box office royalty

'Michael' has grossed over $577 million worldwide, surpassing 'Elvis' to become a top-grossing biopic.

This stunning performance pushes the 2022 hit Elvis ($288.7 million worldwide) down the all-time list of most successful biographical films.

The top spot is still firmly held by 2018’s musical biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which amassed a staggering $910.8 million globally.

The Michael Jackson movie signalled its blockbuster status from its opening weekend, scoring the best box office start for any biopic with $97 million domestically. This impressive performance smashed the previous record held by 2015’s Straight Outta Compton.

Audience acclaim despite critical reviews

While audiences are flocking to theatres, critics have been largely unkind. The film currently holds a "Rotten" rating on the review-aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score tells a different story. With a 96% rating, the Jackson biopic has surpassed Elvis to become the highest audience-rated biographical film on the site.

Behind the film: cast and story

Directed by Antoine Fuqua with the blessing of Jackson's family, the movie focuses on the star's early career, ending in 1988.

The plot omits the controversial abuse allegations that followed him in later years, a decision that reportedly swelled the budget due to extensive reshoots to scrap any reference to them.

The film stars the King of Pop’s own nephew, the 29-year-old Jaafar Jackson, in the lead role. He is supported by a strong cast including Colman Domingo as patriarch Joe Jackson and Nia Long as matriarch Katherine Jackson.