A New Record for a Music Biopic
Since its debut, the biographical film about Michael Jackson titled Michael has been making waves across the globe. Although it has received a range of reactions from critics, the movie has managed to set new benchmarks at the box office. According to a report, Michael achieved a global opening weekend revenue of $217.4 million, marking a significant milestone as the highest-grossing music biopic ever. Within just the first few days, the film generated an impressive $97 million in North America alone.
This achievement surpasses the previous record held by Straight Outta Compton, which earned $60.1 million during its opening. Another notable entry in the music biopic category is Bohemian Rhapsody, released in 2018, which made $51 million in its opening period. However, it’s worth noting that Bohemian Rhapsody went on to accumulate over $910 million throughout its entire run, a figure that will be interesting to watch if Michael can match or exceed in the future.
The Story Behind the Film
The film Michael was directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan. It features Jaafar Jackson in the leading role, portraying the legendary musician. The narrative follows Jackson’s life from his early years in Gary, Indiana, through his rise to international stardom. The film highlights key moments in his career, including his time with the Jackson 5, the success of his album Off the Wall, and his unprecedented fame with the release of Thriller.
Critical Reception
Despite its commercial success, Michael has not been universally praised by critics. One reviewer, Showsha, gave the film a 2-star rating and described it as a “masterclass in sugar-coated, sanitised, shallow biopics.” In their review, they stated, “This biopic (hagiography, more aptly) is bland and even shallow. An artist of this legendary status deserved more, his fans deserved more and so did naysayers. A well-rounded, balanced portrayal of his life and times is definitely not what the makers had set out for.”
The reviewer added, “Sure, you’ll get to see a version of him, up-close-and-personal, but through rose-tinted glasses. But there’s good news. The film closes with, ‘The story continues…’ Hopefully, there’s a sequel in store that will shed light on the darker realities of this icon.”
What Lies Ahead?
As the film continues to make headlines, it remains to be seen whether it can maintain its momentum and potentially challenge the lifetime earnings of other successful biopics. With its compelling narrative and star-studded cast, Michael offers a unique perspective on one of the most iconic figures in music history. Whether it will be able to capture the full complexity of Jackson’s life remains to be seen, but its initial success suggests it has already made a significant impact on the film industry.
