Michael Jackson biopic breaks audience records

Photo: Lionsgate

The mentioned figures are a new record for biographical films. Previously, the best start belonged to "Straight Outta Compton," about the group N.W.A., which earned 60 million dollars in its first weekend in 2015. "Michael" also significantly outpaced "Bohemian Rhapsody," about the band Queen, which once started with 51 million but later collected over 900 million worldwide.

The film became the second-highest opening weekend result of the year. Only the sequel to the family blockbuster about Mario had a better start.

The role of Michael Jackson in the film was played by Jaafar Jackson — his nephew. This is his debut in a major film. Audiences were interested not only in his resemblance to the artist but also in the very fact of a family member participating in such a project.

The film was directed by the renowned Antoine Fuqua. The plot tells the story of the future star's early years, his journey with the Jackson 5, and his transformation into one of the most popular artists in music history.

Audiences particularly enjoyed the concert scenes. The film recreates performances and numbers set to songs like "Billie Jean," "Thriller," "Beat It," and other hits. These episodes were one of the main reasons people went to the cinema, including Imax and large auditoriums.

However, professional critics received the film much more coldly. The main complaint is that the film avoids the most complex and scandalous pages of Michael Jackson's life, including the accusations of pedophilia that were made against him in later years.

Reportedly, these events were in an early script, but after legal issues and plot revisions, the film's ending was changed. Now, the story concludes in the late 1980s, during the Bad Tour period.

Despite this, ordinary viewers accepted the film much better than critics. People highly praised the emotions, music, atmosphere, and the opportunity to relive the era of Michael Jackson on the big screen.

The film's budget was around 200 million dollars, which is very high for a biographical picture. But experts already believe that the film will not only break even but could also bring in significant profit.

According to forecasts, worldwide box office receipts could exceed 700 million dollars. If this happens, "Michael" will become one of Lionsgate studio's highest-grossing projects of all time.

The film's success is also important for the entire film industry. After difficult years, cinemas have once again received a major musical hit that attracted a wide audience — both the older generation who remember the star personally and younger viewers.

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