Box Office: ‘Michael’ Starts Strong With $39.5 Million; Expected to Shatter Record for Best Music Biopic Opening

Apr 25, 2026 9:07am PT Box Office: ‘Michael’ Starts Strong With $39.5 Million; Expected to Shatter Record for Best Music Biopic Opening

By Jack Dunn

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Jack Dunn

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“Michael” told the rest of the domestic box office to “Beat It,” as Lionsgate’s biopic about the King of Pop easily secured the top spot on the Friday charts.

Antoine Fuqua’s “Michael” earned $39.5 million on opening day from 3,955 North American theaters. Early projections have the film grossing a staggering $90 million to $100 million by Sunday. That easily marks the best debut for a music biopic, legging out 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($51 million) and 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton” ($60 million).

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