‘The Emperor of Pop’ ‘Michael’ Charges Through the Box Office, Breaking the Best North American Opening Record… Surpasses $200 Million Worldwide

〈Michael〉 fired off an unforgettable opening salvo, kicking the box office into motion.

A biopic featuring Michael Jackson’s rise as he stands on his own 〈Michael〉 is a biographical film depicting the journey of pop icon Michael Jackson as he forged ahead on his own, with his real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson starring in the lead role. Moving from the Jackson 5 era to life as a solo artist, 〈Michael〉 portrays the conflicts he faced along the way and the success that followed—yet it initially leaned toward uncertainty after lukewarm press reactions just before release.

The best North American opening and a global box-office surge However, after opening on April 24 (local time), public reaction was completely different. Rated A- by CinemaScore, which measures audience response firsthand, it immediately grabbed attention, and—just as Michael Jackson’s enduring popularity would suggest—pulled in $39.5 million on opening day, setting the best opening record among North American releases in 2026. By the end of the first weekend, worldwide box office had already surpassed $200 million.

Korean Release and a Variety of Screening Formats 〈Michael〉 opens in Korea on May 13, bringing the story to audiences through diverse formats including IMAX, 4DX, SCREENX, and Dolby Cinema.