Michael Jackson biopic defies critics, becomes highest-grossing music biopic debut
MichaelThe big-budget Michael Jackson show shrugged off poor reviews, controversy over ignoring child molestation allegations, and troubled production slated for release. $7.98 million in Australian cinemas The weekend marked the highest opening for a musical biopic in Australian box office history.
Blew up the previous record holder, Bohemian Rhapsodyout of water. That movie – which, for example MichaelBaz Luhrmann’s similarly popular film, also produced by Graham King, grossed $6.76 million in its opening weekend in 2018 Elvis Received $6.74 million in 2022And Straight Outta Compton It grossed $4.52 million in 2015.
Michael It was Lionsgate’s audacious bet on an extraordinarily popular but controversial figure. Jackson was the subject of numerous accusations of child sexual abuse; he and his estate vehemently denied all of this. In 1994, Jackson reportedly paid millions settle out of court Along with one of his accusers, Jordan Chandler. So was he was cleared of all charges In 2005, he was acquitted of abusing a 13-year-old boy in a four-month sexual abuse trial.
one in february new case The lawsuit was filed by four siblings who accused Jackson of being a “serial child predator” who preyed on them when they were seven or eight years old. Representatives of the Jackson estate denied the allegations and called them a “desperate money grab.”
But three years later Leaving NeverlandKing, whose 2009 documentary about Jackson’s allegations of child sexual abuse, has announced plans for a biopic. Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson starred in the lead role.
Despite many harsh reviews, some critics described the film as cliché, bland and insipid. inexperienced – The film has earned $9.32 million at the Australian box office since its release on Wednesday. This puts it leagues above its current rivals. Hail Mary Project And Super Mario Galaxy MovieLast weekend, it earned $1.81 million and $1.73 million, respectively. The first film has been in theaters for six weekends, and the second for four weeks.
Michael has so far failed to surpass the country’s biggest opening of the year. That record remained Super Mario Galaxy MovieIt grossed $9.44 million in its first four days earlier this month.
The authorized portrayal of the King of Pop, co-produced by the Jackson estate, also set the first record for music biopics in North America. The film grossed US$97 million ($135 million) in US and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates on Sunday (US time).
The film far outperformed the previous best biopics in the United States. Straight Outta Compton (initial sales of $60.2 million in 2015) and Bohemian Rhapsody ($51 million in 2018).
Globally, Michael to have has grossed over $303 million so far, A new peak for a music biography. Universal handled distribution in most international markets.
Predictions a few weeks ago Michael In the US it was close to $50 million. Heading into the weekend, the studio’s estimate was close to $70 million. But he wildly overperformed.
“All the signals from the beginning were that something like this was possible,” Lionsgate chairman Adam Fogelson said. “We were seeing huge engagement across every conceivable audience segment you could identify.”
However Michael It had an unusually heavy-handed production. After filming wrapped, the filmmakers belatedly discovered a costly mistake: The third act focused on the accusations of then-13-year-old Jordan Chandler, for whom Jackson paid $23 million in a 1994 settlement. The terms of this agreement prohibited the Jackson estate from mentioning Chandler in a film.
A large portion of the film had to be cut. Reshoots costing US$50 million were undertaken, paid for by Jackson’s estate. Director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan reworked the film to finish it in 1988 before any accusations were made.
Some members of the Jackson family opposed the film. Janet Jackson was not involved and does not appear in the film. Jackson’s daughter Paris called it “fantasy land.”
The total production cost of the film approached 200 million dollars. Lionsgate sold international distribution rights to Universal to cover costs. A sequel is in development. Fogelson said the next third movie wasn’t “a no-brainer.”
“The audience spoke loud and clear,” Fogelson said. “The part of Michael’s life depicted in this story cannot be included in these allegations because the allegations did not occur during the existence of this film. I think the audience evaluates it on those terms. We will see what happens as we move on to the possibility of subsequent films.”
Critics criticized the film for overlooking some aspects of Jackson’s life that were considered less favorable. He got very few points 38 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the audience was much more enthusiastic. Michael i won “A-” Cinema Score.
“It’s human nature to have fun at the movies,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s head of market trends. “The film is perfectly positioned for the start of the (northern) summer movie season, which kicks off later this weekend. The Devil Wears Prada 2 “This is also poised to surpass even the most generous opening weekend predictions.”
Opening Michael Amazon adds to Hollywood’s strong spring of blockbusters like MGM’s Hail Mary Project and Universal’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie. After remaining at the top of the box office for three weeks, mario the sequel fell to second place with $21.2 million. In four weeks, 386.5 million dollars were collected domestically and 445 million dollars abroad.
Meanwhile, Hail Mary Project It surpassed $600 million worldwide in its sixth weekend of release. The film’s total gross for Amazon MGM is $305.3 million domestically and $613.3 million globally.
with AP
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Nell Geraets is Culture correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
