A Record-Breaking Debut for ‘Michael’
The biopic Michael, the first officially authorized film about the late music legend Michael Jackson, has made a remarkable debut at the box office. Despite receiving largely negative reviews and facing significant production challenges, the film grossed $97 million in the United States and Canada during its opening weekend. This performance shattered previous records for music biopics, surpassing the opening numbers of films like Straight Outta Compton (which earned $60.1 million in 2015) and Bohemian Rhapsody ($51 million in 2018). The film also saw strong international sales, earning $120.4 million overseas, bringing its global opening total to an impressive $217.4 million.
Lionsgate chairman Adam Fogelson expressed his satisfaction with the film’s success, stating that “from the beginning, all of the signals were that something like this was possible.” He noted that the film had seen “massive engagement with every conceivable audience segment.”
The film is now showing in most parts of the world, with the exception of Japan, where it will be released in June. With a production budget nearing $200 million, Michael is one of the most expensive biopics ever made. Its impressive opening weekend has raised the possibility that it could eventually overtake Bohemian Rhapsody as the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, which earned a total of $910 million globally.
Mixed Reactions from Critics and the Jackson Family
Despite its commercial success, Michael has received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. Some members of the Jackson family have also voiced their disapproval of the film. Notably, Michael’s sister, Janet Jackson, and his daughter, Paris Jackson, have criticized the movie, with Paris calling it “fantasy land.”
In a review by Culture, the film was described as “drama-free, formulaic and estate-controlled excuse to sell more albums” and “sanitized to the point of being translucent.” The review also criticized the film for avoiding any exploration of the darker aspects of Jackson’s life, including allegations of abuse by his father, Joe Jackson, and his struggles with body dysmorphia. The film’s decision to end in 1988, before any accusations were made against Jackson, has been seen as a deliberate omission of key events in his life.
Production Challenges and Controversies
The production of Michael faced several difficulties. After filming was completed, producers realized they had made a costly mistake: the third act of the film focused on the 1994 settlement involving Jordan Chandler, a 13-year-old boy who accused Jackson of sexual abuse. The terms of that settlement prevented the Jackson estate from mentioning Chandler in any film. As a result, a large portion of the film was cut and reshot, costing up to $50 million. Director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan reworked the movie to conclude in 1988, before the allegations surfaced.
James Safechuck, one of the accusers featured in Dan Reed’s documentary Leaving Neverland (2019), shared a statement supporting child sex abuse survivors in light of the film’s release. Safechuck, who alleged he was sexually abused by Jackson as a child, expressed concern that the film could be triggering for survivors. He urged survivors to seek support from loved ones and emphasized the importance of telling the truth as part of the healing process.
Dan Reed, the director of Leaving Neverland, has also questioned why Michael failed to address the abuse allegations against Jackson. He suggested that many people are willing to overlook Jackson’s actions due to his musical legacy. “How can you tell an authentic story about Michael Jackson without ever mentioning the fact that he was seriously accused of being a child molester?” he asked.
A Divisive Film
While Michael has proven to be a financial success, it remains a divisive film. Its sanitized portrayal of Jackson’s life has drawn criticism from those who believe it fails to present a complete or honest account of his story. The film’s decision to avoid addressing the allegations of abuse has further fueled controversy, raising questions about the role of the Jackson estate in shaping the narrative.
