Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 27: Director Antoine Fuqua’s musical biopic Michael has made a strong impact at the box office, collecting over Rs 19 crore in India during its opening weekend, while posting impressive global numbers.
The film, based on the life of pop icon Michael Jackson and starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, has grossed over $217 million worldwide in its first weekend.
In India, the film outperformed Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, on its opening day. While the sci-fi film collected Rs 2.70 crore on Day 1, Michael registered a significantly higher opening of Rs 6.48 crore, according to trade reports.
The gap was also reflected in national cinema chains such as PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, where the biopic reportedly sold around 45,000 tickets on its opening day.
In North America, including the US and Canada, the film recorded a domestic opening of $97 million, further boosting its global performance.
Back in India, Michael has amassed a total gross of Rs 19.89 crore by the end of Day 3. The film has also outperformed earlier music biopics such as Elvis and Bohemian Rhapsody, based on the lives of Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury, respectively.
With over 1.10 lakh tickets sold through advance bookings, the Jaafar Jackson-starrer has emerged as the fourth-highest Hollywood film in terms of all-time advance sales in India, behind blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, Oppenheimer, and Barbie.
The film traces the journey of Michael Jackson from his early days as a child star in the Jackson 5 to becoming a global music legend. It aims to present a balanced portrayal of his life, highlighting both his iconic stage presence and personal struggles.
Apart from Jaafar Jackson, the film features Miles Teller as John Branca, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Kat Grahaallum as Diana Ross, and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, along with a supporting cast including Laura Harrier, Kendrick Sampson, and Juliano Krue Valdi.
Michael was released in theatres on April 24 and continues to perform strongly across markets.