‘Michael’ Knocking Auds Off Their Feet: Biopic Nears $100M U.S. & $206M+ WW Opening, Best Post Covid For Lionsgate – Box Office Update

“Michael” told the rest of the domestic box office to “Beat It,” as Lionsgate’s biopic about the King of Pop easily secured the top spot on the Friday charts.

via: Deadline

Well, it’s clear, if you want to make the box office a better place, release a Michael Jackson biopic, and make a change. Lionsgate‘s Michael twirled up a $39.5M Friday U.S. in what’s shaping up to be a $95M opening in North America, maybe even an epic $100M (which would be the second highest bow of the year behind Super Mario Galaxy Movie‘s $131M). Overseas Universal is reporting from 82 territories $111.4M (excluding Korea and Japan), add it all up and we’re at $206.4M WW, which is the best opening YTD for a live-action MPA movie ahead of Project Hail Mary ($140.9M).

That first day/previews for Michael stateside as well as its opening weekend are the best Lionsgate has seen since 2015’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 ($45.5M), and far and away the best post Covid opening day and weekend the Santa Monica, CA studio has seen. Michael has easily won the dance-off between musical biopic openings, well ahead of Straight Outta Compton ($60.2M). Also, it’s the biggest opening ever for director Antoine Fuqua, far ahead of Equalizer 2 ($36M). It’s also the biggest opening for producer Graham King ahead of both World War Z ($66.4M) and Bohemian Rhapsody ($51M), as well as screenwriter John Logan, besting the 007 title Skyfall ($88.3M).

Big cheers here for Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson, who got this tentpole across the finish line amid the legal snafus with the estate and the dramatized accuser, as well as the third act reshoots. Quite the needle to thread with the sweat paying off with a blockbuster here and the potential for a second film. History has shown that those movies that have the most challenging behind-the-scenes (i.e. The Godfather, Chinatown, Titanic) turn out to be the titles which are for the ages. Though Michael first arrived at the studio during the Joe Drake administration (many studios had passed as they feared the controversy of a Jackson biopic), Lionsgate had the guts to greenlight. It was a scenario similar to Hunger Games, which Lionsgate had the cajones to make as rivals were concerned about an IP in which kids fiercely battled with one another). Guts are clearly paying off, Lionsgate, and it’s a testament to the culture that the studio’s leadership has created.

“This record-breaking performance is a testament to the incredible filmmaking team of producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, an amazing cast led by Jaafar Jackson’s singular performance, our world-class partners at Universal, the cooperation and support of the Michael Jackson Estate, and our tireless and exceptionally talented Lionsgate team,” beamed Fogelson in a statement this AM. “Above all, it reflects the tremendous outpouring of love and affection from moviegoers around the world, underscoring the strength and vitality of the theatrical box office. If you give audiences what they want, they will come.”

So far overseas, Michael is No. 1 in 64 territories, setting all-time opening weekend records for a musical biopic in 63 of those. Top performing countries are UK ($13.8M by Sunday); France (estimated cume of $10.3M by Sunday); Mexico ($9.3M by Sunday); Italy (estimated $8.1M by Sunday); and Germany ($6.9M by Sunday). The pic rolls out in the hot Jackson territory of Japan via Kino and Lionsgate in June.

CinemaScore after Friday night polling for Michael remains A-, but on Screen Engine/Comscore’s PostTrak, definite recommend has risen to 84% and a 90% positive. Wow. Kids under 12 graded the movie 88% positive and a 62% must-see-right-away.

Imax and premium large format screens are driving a massive 48% of U.S. weekend ticket sales (16% from Imax alone, 32% from PLFs). Michael is dancing the night away everywhere across the country, but he’s strong in the East, South and South Central. The Regal Atlantic Station in Atlanta, GA is the movie’s top grossing location so far with $130K.

Black moviegoers are still leading at 38%, followed by Latino/Hispanic at 26%, Caucasian 24% and Asian at 6%. Still a very female leaning movie at 61%. Broken down demos are women over 25 at 41% (92% positive); men over 25 at 24% (89% positive), women under 25 at 20% (93% positive) and men under 25 at 15% (84% positive).

The weekend for all movies is coming in at $149.7M, which is up +2% over the same frame a year ago (Sinners was leading in weekend 2 with $45.7M, followed by the 20th Anniversary of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith with $25.4M and the opening of The Accountant 2 at $24.5M).

The entire U.S./Canada box office is clicking past $2.6 billion, +17% over the Jan. 1-April 26 period a year ago.

Domestic chart as of Saturday AM:

1. Michael (LG) 3,955 theaters, Fri $39.5M 3-day $95M/Wk 1

2. Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Uni) 3,732 (-552) theaters Fri $4.5M (-40%), 3-day $20.5M (-44%), Total $385.7M/Wk 4

3. Project Hail Mary (Amz) 3,510 (-310) theaters, Fri $3.2M (-37%) 3-day $12.1M (-41%), Total $304.3M/Wk 6

4. Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (NL) 3,304 theaters, Fri $1.6M (-70%), 3-day $5.5M (-59%), Total $23.3M/Wk 2

5. The Drama (A24) 1,822 (-807) theaters, Fri $816K (-46%) 3-day $2.6M (-47%), Total $44.7M/Wk 4

6. Hoppers (Dis) 2,000 (-475) theaters, Fri $370K (-41%) 3-day $1.83M (-40%), Total $164M/Wk 8

7. Over Your Dead Body (IFC) 1,550 theaters, Fri $700K, 3-day $1.5M/Wk 1

8. Mother Mary (A24) 1,103 (+1,098) Fri $551K (+687%), 3-day $1.3M, Total $1.5M/Wk 2

9. You, Me & Tuscany (Uni) 2,115 (-1,042) theaters, Fri $420K (-63%)/3-day $1.4M (-64%), Cume $17.5M/Wk 3

10. Fuze (RSA) 1,164 theaters Fri $566K, 3-day $1.1M/Wk 1