Michael Jackson Musical Biopic Crosses $300 Million Worldwide

Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' crossed $300M worldwide, becoming the No. 2 musical biopic ever behind 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'

Objective Facts

Lionsgate's Michael crossed $300M to unseat Elvis ($288.6M) as the No. 2 musical biopic of all-time, just behind Bohemian Rhapsody ($911M), which was also produced by Michael producer Graham King. The film passed the $300 million milestone worldwide after just 10 full days in theaters (opening domestically April 24, 2026). The film carries a price tag near $200 million, with costs split by Lionsgate, Universal (distributing internationally), and the Michael Jackson estate. The milestone comes amid significant controversy: Film reviewers have complained that "Michael" takes a sanitized look at Jackson's life because it doesn't include child sexual abuse allegations leveled against him later in his career—though the original screenplay had dramatized a 1993 child molestation lawsuit against Jackson, but those sequences were removed after producers discovered a clause in the settlement that barred the depiction or mention of the accuser. Michael holds a 38% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes but carries a stellar 97% audience rating.

Left-Leaning Perspective

"Leaving Neverland" director Dan Reed launched a fierce attack on the biopic, declaring Jackson worse than infamous criminals just hours after Michael's nationwide premiere on April 24, 2026. Boston Globe Ideas editor David Scharfenberg and film critic Carlos Aguilar argued that biopics conceived with direct estate involvement tend to excise difficult material and serve mythology rather than truth. The Daily Beast criticized the film as "a puff piece that sands every sharp edge," while Esquire noted that ignoring Jackson's destructive behaviors "is ultimately deceitful." While critics acknowledge the legal settlement clause forced removal of Jordan Chandler's story, they argue that excising abuse allegations altogether "feels like a breach" for a film purporting to tell the story of one of the last century's greatest cultural phenomena. Euronews called Michael "a drama-free, formulaic and estate-controlled excuse to sell more albums" and "sanitized to the point of being translucent." Telegraph critic Robbie Collin said Michael "refused to address the elephant in the room," while IndieWire's Kate Erbland wrote that by omitting allegations, "the final film has been mostly stripped of any humanity, good and bad," calling it "glossy, sanitised, and surprisingly dull." Left-leaning outlets noted that individuals whose allegations were omitted from the script used the movie's release to voice concerns, with accuser Wade Robson sharing confusion over how a major film could be created without considering the impact on those who came forward with accusations.

Right-Leaning Perspective

In The Root, Lawrence Ware of Oklahoma State University argued that it was unfair to expect a film covering Jackson's early life to address the allegations, and that critics did not make similar complaints about biopics of white musicians such as Elvis Presley and Elton John, who also have complicated histories. Ware further argued that critics did not recognize the craft in the film and that critics of white musicians' biopics such as Elvis and Elton John also fail to make demands that those films address their subjects' "complicated histories." Director Antoine Fuqua defended focusing on Jackson's rise to stardom and his superhero persona on stage, stating it was important to provide context: "If you start there [with the accusations], some people who don't know Michael, it's out of context...it was important for us to go back and give them a journey to go on with Michael." Supporters also note that in 1994 Jackson settled with Jordan Chandler for $23 million; the settlement was not an admission of guilt, as Jackson said he settled to prevent the lawsuit interfering with his career. Jackson was acquitted on all 14 child molestation charges in his 2005 trial. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson stated: "The power of Michael Jackson's reach into culture is undeniable...and people are having a blast in theaters." The film's 97% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes demonstrates that viewers rewarded the entertainment value and musical performances despite critical dismissals.

Deep Dive

The film's omission of abuse allegations stems from legal constraint: the original screenplay dramatized a 1993 child molestation lawsuit, but those sequences were removed after producers discovered a clause in the settlement with the accuser barred the depiction or mention of him in film or television, forcing a major overhaul of the third act with the film ending during the Bad tour in 1988. The budget grew to reportedly $200 million with reshoots costing roughly $50 million, though Variety reported the reshoots only added $10–15 million, funded by the Jackson estate. The tension reflects genuine disagreements about biopic ethics: As Boston Globe's Scharfenberg notes, biopics conceived with direct involvement of subjects or estates tend to excise difficult material and serve mythology, but making films without estates is especially tricky when music rights are essential. Critics who praised "Bohemian Rhapsody" for its sanitized approach now find "Michael" similarly problematic, yet the film succeeded by leaning heavily on recreations of iconic performances like "Billie Jean," "Thriller," and "Beat It," mirroring the earlier Queen biopic's formula. Notably, while "Leaving Neverland" premiered on HBO in 2019 to seeming permanent impact on Jackson's legacy, Jackson's streaming numbers are up, MJ the Musical is a Broadway juggernaut, and Michael is tracking to be one of 2026's biggest hits—while "Leaving Neverland" quietly vanished from HBO after a legal settlement with the Jackson estate. The $300 million milestone underscores what may be an enduring cultural tension: audiences demonstrably prefer celebratory, artistry-focused narratives over morally complicated ones, even when those choices omit significant historical elements.

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Michael Jackson Musical Biopic Crosses $300 Million Worldwide

Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' crossed $300M worldwide, becoming the No. 2 musical biopic ever behind 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'

May 2, 2026· Updated May 3, 2026
What's Going On

Lionsgate's Michael crossed $300M to unseat Elvis ($288.6M) as the No. 2 musical biopic of all-time, just behind Bohemian Rhapsody ($911M), which was also produced by Michael producer Graham King. The film passed the $300 million milestone worldwide after just 10 full days in theaters (opening domestically April 24, 2026). The film carries a price tag near $200 million, with costs split by Lionsgate, Universal (distributing internationally), and the Michael Jackson estate. The milestone comes amid significant controversy: Film reviewers have complained that "Michael" takes a sanitized look at Jackson's life because it doesn't include child sexual abuse allegations leveled against him later in his career—though the original screenplay had dramatized a 1993 child molestation lawsuit against Jackson, but those sequences were removed after producers discovered a clause in the settlement that barred the depiction or mention of the accuser. Michael holds a 38% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes but carries a stellar 97% audience rating.

Left says: Left-leaning critics argue the film is an evasion of accountability, with "Leaving Neverland" director Dan Reed attacking it for completely ignoring child sexual abuse allegations. Critics contend that while the settlement clause required the removal of Jordan Chandler's story, excising the abuse allegations altogether "feels like a breach" for a film claiming to tell the story of one of the greatest cultural phenomena of the last century.
Right says: Some defenders argue critics apply a double standard to Black artists like Jackson when they don't make the same complaints about white musicians' biopics that also omit difficult material. Director Antoine Fuqua defended focusing on Jackson's rise while noting the film ends in 1988, five years before the first allegations emerged, with plans for a potential sequel to address later chapters.
✓ Common Ground
Both critics and defenders acknowledge a stark divide: the film holds a 38% critical rating but a 97% audience rating, indicating genuine disagreement about what audiences wanted versus what critics valued.
Across the spectrum, commentators acknowledge the legal reality: scenes had to be removed after attorneys for the Jackson estate realized there was a clause in the Chandler settlement blocking depiction or mention of him in any movie.
Both sides accept the film's structural choice: it takes place from the 1960s to 1988, centering on "the makings of Michael," with actor Colman Domingo acknowledging "There could be a sequel" to potentially address later chapters.
Observers across viewpoints note that while the film shows strong audience retention (48% drop in sophomore weekend), it may not match "Bohemian Rhapsody"'s unusually narrow 38.9% sophomore decline.
Objective Deep Dive

The film's omission of abuse allegations stems from legal constraint: the original screenplay dramatized a 1993 child molestation lawsuit, but those sequences were removed after producers discovered a clause in the settlement with the accuser barred the depiction or mention of him in film or television, forcing a major overhaul of the third act with the film ending during the Bad tour in 1988. The budget grew to reportedly $200 million with reshoots costing roughly $50 million, though Variety reported the reshoots only added $10–15 million, funded by the Jackson estate. The tension reflects genuine disagreements about biopic ethics: As Boston Globe's Scharfenberg notes, biopics conceived with direct involvement of subjects or estates tend to excise difficult material and serve mythology, but making films without estates is especially tricky when music rights are essential.

Critics who praised "Bohemian Rhapsody" for its sanitized approach now find "Michael" similarly problematic, yet the film succeeded by leaning heavily on recreations of iconic performances like "Billie Jean," "Thriller," and "Beat It," mirroring the earlier Queen biopic's formula. Notably, while "Leaving Neverland" premiered on HBO in 2019 to seeming permanent impact on Jackson's legacy, Jackson's streaming numbers are up, MJ the Musical is a Broadway juggernaut, and Michael is tracking to be one of 2026's biggest hits—while "Leaving Neverland" quietly vanished from HBO after a legal settlement with the Jackson estate. The $300 million milestone underscores what may be an enduring cultural tension: audiences demonstrably prefer celebratory, artistry-focused narratives over morally complicated ones, even when those choices omit significant historical elements.

◈ Tone Comparison

Left-leaning critics used aggressive language, with Dan Reed calling the film "a complete whitewash of Michael Jackson's documented history." By contrast, director Fuqua and defenders employed softer language about providing "context" and a "journey" for audiences unfamiliar with Jackson.