The King of Pop continues to reign, this time on the big screen. “Michael,” the highly anticipated biopic about the life and career of Michael Jackson, got off to a strong start at the international box office, grossing $18.5 million on its opening day, according to Deadline, citing data from Universal. It has already been released in several countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, Germany, and Brazil. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film chronicles the artist's journey from his humble beginnings with the Jackson 5 to becoming one of the most influential figures in world music. One of the film's biggest draws is the performance of Jaafar Jackson, the singer's nephew, who portrays the pop icon with a striking resemblance. The cast is rounded out by Colman Domingo and Nia Long, playing Michael's parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson.

Worldwide Domination on the Horizon

“Michael,” distributed by Lionsgate in North America and by Universal in international markets, will officially arrive this Friday, April 24, in the United States and the rest of the 82 territories worldwide.

Projections for the weekend are strong: the film is expected to dominate the global box office with between $65 and $75 million in North America and a similar or even higher figure—$75 to $80 million—internationally.

So far, the audience reception has been overwhelming. France leads the openings with $2.6 million in 743 theaters, tied with the United Kingdom and Ireland. Italy follows with $1.3 million, and Mexico and Spain with $1.1 million each. According to Universal, these figures surpass those of two of the highest-grossing biopics of the last decade in most territories: “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Oppenheimer.” However, it's not all perfect. Critics point out that “Michael” offers a sanitized view of the singer's life, completely omitting the child sexual abuse allegations that marked his final years. Initially,The script included a lawsuit filed against Jackson in 1993, but the producers had to remove those scenes after discovering a clause in the agreement with the young plaintiff that expressly prohibited the depiction or mention of the case in film or television. As a result, the film concludes during the 1988 Bad tour, avoiding any subsequent controversy. Even so, the production cost is high, exceeding $170 million, making it one of the most expensive biopics ever made. The story of the King of Pop, to date, only has a 47% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.