Following its release in cinemas on 22 April, the Michael Jackson biopic (Michael) shattered UK box office records with an impressive £11.6 million opening.
This huge opening shows just how much interest there still is in the King of Pop and his story.
Film News Blitz writer Jonathon House takes a look at the reasons behind the box office success.
Worldwide, the film is also doing extremely well, beating industry expectations with a massive $217 million earned during its opening weekend – a new record for biopics.
The Michael movie has taken the UK by storm, opening better in the UK box office than any other biopic has before.
Michael’s £11.4 million take during its UK opening far outweighs well-known biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody (£6.4 million), Rocketman (£4 million), and the Elvis movie (£4 million).
Why do people love the Michael Jackson biopic?
For many people watching this film, Michael Jackson meant a lot to them growing up.
They listened to his music throughout their childhoods, and his songs brought people together from all around the world.
Whether someone likes Michael or dislikes him, there is a clear reason why his movie is breaking box office records: his impact on music and culture is undeniable.
Michael Jackson was an iconic figure.
Even though there has been a lot of controversy surrounding him, many people still believe he created some of the greatest songs in music history.
Biopics often do well because the artist means so much to the fans who go to watch them, and this film is no different.
Big budget
It has been reported that the production budget for Michael was between $155 million and $200 million, making it one of the most expensive biopics ever made.
The producers knew that a film about someone as influential as Michael needed to be done properly, and that required a big budget.
Moreover, extensive reshoots also contributed to the inflated production costs.
Fan reactions clash with critics
Fans’ reactions to the movie have mostly been positive.
Many enjoyed the film overall, although some didn’t like the way the ending was handled.
Still, most fans seem happy with the movie, and as with most biopics, getting the story right is important because these films matter to so many people.
The widely positive fan reaction is completely at odds with how many critics have responded to the film.
For instance, on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a paltry 38% average score from critics, compared to a 97% score from audiences.
You can see our review of Michael right here on Film News Blitz.
