Posted on 05/16/2026 9:38:58 PM PDT by Cronos
Michael continues to soar at the box office.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the music biopic charts the meteoric rise of pop star Michael Jackson, with Jaafar Jackson taking on the titular role. Michael has been a big hit at the box office since its release on April 24, bringing in an opening weekend of $97.2 million domestically and over $217 million worldwide.
Per Deadline, Michael passed $600 million worldwide at the box office this past Tuesday, with a global total now standing at over $604 million. This total comprises $353.8 million internationally and $250 million from North America. The film is projected to gross more than $20 million in its upcoming third weekend in theaters
Though Michael reviews have been mostly negative from critics due to its more surface-level exploration of the music icon, the film is succeeding in a big way with general audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, for example, the movie has only a 39% critics' score, but the audience-driven Popcornmeter is glowing at 97%.
(Excerpt) Read more at screenrant.com ...
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I just watched it yesterday and I kind of liked it. It doesn't go deep on any issues and is mostly a feel good musical. It does lightly show the issues but doesn't go into a psychological breakdown, hence the low critics score. But it does entertain and looks good on the big screen
Haven't seen it yet, but that's what I've been hearing around as well.
For those of us who want to uphold the Free Republic tradition of not reading the article, what is the all time record mentioned in the title?
Boc office earnings for a biopic. Currently held by “Bohemian Rhapsody “
Michael's long lost little brother?
I'm told the closing scene where hundreds of ten-year-old boys dance and pose provocatively while Michael sings "Bad" is just boffo...
His nephew.
And the movie doesn’t even hint at the allegations.
It a feel good music film. Which is why the critics gave it a 39% rating while audiences gave it a 97% rating.
Even if you don’t particularly care for his music, the movie is worth going to the theatres for, IMHO. Just don’t expect a psychological investigation film.
Just watched a bit of the interview w/ cast & director at the link: Jaafar Jackson is utterly charming and definitely has some of that Jackson magic.
I personally have been more of a fan of Janet Jackson’s music than Michael’s…I read an article that she didn’t like how little she was featured in the movie’s story? Will have to see for myself.
A biopic on Janet would probably not be as big, but I’d go see it.
Was a white woman cast in the starring role?
Inspired by the success of Michael, a new film is coming out, “O.J.”, which focuses on O.J. Simpson’s years with the Buffalo Bills.
For part 2, they have Meryl Streep
Only in America can a poor black boy grow up to be a rich white woman.
Janet isn’t in the movie at all.
I am personally more of an Offspring, Megadeth, Nickelback rock/metal/punk fan myself, so if I liked the movie, you would love it.
Watch it on the big screen for the atmosphere. It probably won’t be so good on a home screen
Heyman do you remember watching the first Naked Gun movie? It’s hard to believe we all saw oj as this lovable guy then. But we did.
O.J. was the “Whitest” black man in America, back then.
So, a twisted version of The Jerk.
I loved Michael Jackson from the first time I saw him n TV. Amazingly talented guy. Didn’t care about his personal life, which a wreck.
I had just walked into my daughter’s house when announceement of his death came on TV. Both of us shed tears.
Where this was going was that my family and I were watching MTV to see them use my commercial. And the show started literally seconds after the news had broken out from most outlets that Michael Jackson had died.
The very last thing that MTV showed, before it began nonstop coverage of Jackson's passing, was my commercial.
And that's my connection with Michael Jackson.
Post of the week!
Liberal coworker saw it and was fixated on the scene where the Mike Meyer character forced MTV to air MJ’s videos. Said it showed how racist MTV and the country were at the time. I sure hope that’s not the takeaway people are getting from the movie.
Ha, that’s pretty cool actually. What was it about your video that made it go viral and that got MTV interested. I would guess most school board candidate videos are pretty staid...
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