Box Office: ‘Michael’ Aims for $70 Million-Plus Debut, Record Start for Music Biopic

Home Film Box Office Apr 22, 2026 7:49am PT Box Office: ‘Michael’ Aims for $70 Million-Plus Debut, Record Start for Music Biopic By Rebecca Rubin Plus Icon Rebecca Rubin Senior Film and Media Reporter rebeccaarubin Latest Box Office: ‘Michael’ Aims for $70 Million-Plus Debut, Record Start for Music Biopic 11 minutes ago ‘Superman’ Sequel ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Starts Filming as James Gunn Teases Brainiac, Lex Luthor in Jail 2 days ago ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Trailer: Thor Battles Doctor Doom, Chris Evans Picks Up the Hammer, X-Men Back in Action in Thrilling CinemaCon Footage 6 days ago See All Glen Wilson/Lionsgate “Michael” will moonwalk to the top of box office charts. Lionsgate’s film about the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is aiming for $65 million to $70 million from 3,900 North American theaters in its opening weekend. Some exhibitors are predicting the final number will be closer to $80 million as advance ticket sales, particularly in premium large formats like Imax, continue to rise. Even the lower end of projections would rank as the largest debut ever for a musical biopic, ahead of 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($51 million) and 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton” ($60 million). Related Stories Netflix's 'Love on the Spectrum' Renewed for Season 5, Fan Favorite Cast Member Connor Tomlinson Exits: 'I’ve Chosen to Pass the Torch' (EXCLUSIVE)