Michael smashes UK records for biggest biopic opening | Film
Michael, Antoine Fuqua’s authorized biography of Michael Jackson’s life up to 1988, when allegations of child sexual assault against the singer began to emerge, performed slightly less impressively in the UK than in the US.
In the US, Michael took in $97 million (£72 million) to $51 million (£38 million), beating the opening of Bohemian Rhapsody, which became the highest-grossing music biopic of all time and which Michael co-produced with Graham King, by 90%.
However, in the UK, Michael received £11.6 million to Bohemian Rhapsody’s £6.4 million; this rate was 81%. Still, it represents a huge success for the project and studio Universal, accounting for 68% of all sales in the UK and Ireland over the three days from Friday to Sunday.
Other music biopics that have performed well in the UK include Rocketman (£4m), Elvis (£4m) and A Complete Unknown (£2.6m).
Universal’s animation The Super Mario Galaxy Movie came in second with a total of $46.5 million (£34.5 million), while Sony’s Project Hail Mary came in third; the current UK total is $43.1m (£31.2m).
Super Mario Galaxy Movie holds the title of the biggest UK opener of 2026 so far with £15m; followed by Michael, then Wuthering Heights and Project Hail Mary, which each earned around £7 million in the first three days.
Huge global box office result for Michael ($217 million) [£161m] The film, which has yet to be released in the key territory of Japan worldwide), represents a remarkable conclusion to Jackson’s legacy, putting the film well on its way to becoming the first music biopic to earn more than $1 billion (Bohemian Rhapsody took in $900 million). [£668m]).
