The Michael Jackson biopic Michael is rewriting box office history, debuting with unprecedented numbers both in North America and across Europe.

In the U.S., the film opened with $97 million in its first three days, the largest opening ever for a music biopic, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody ($51.1M), Straight Outta Compton ($60.2M), and even Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour ($93.2M). It also outperformed major releases like American Sniper ($89.3M) and Oppenheimer ($82.5M), securing a place among the Top 10 April releases of all time.

Across Europe, Michael is taking the box office by storm:
France: $17M+
U.K./Ireland: $14M–$15M
Germany: $7M–$8M
Italy: $6.5M–$7M
Spain: ~$6M

The film also set a global IMAX record for music biopics, earning $24.4M worldwide in premium formats, with $13.8M from U.S. audiences and $10.6M overseas.

Industry analysts say the film’s success reflects Michael Jackson’s enduring influence as the “King of Pop,” with fans across generations flocking to theaters. With momentum building internationally, Michael is poised to become one of the defining box office stories of 2026.