Michael Jackson Biopic Earns $97 Million Debut Weekend

The biopic about late pop icon Michael Jackson, directed by Antoine Fuqua and distributed by Lionsgate, opened at number one on the North American box office, earning an impressive $97 million during its debut weekend, according to industry estimates released on Sunday. The film explores the journey of Jackson from a child star to an influential figure in the entertainment world, with Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew, playing the lead role.

Analyst David Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research noted that the film shattered records for music biopics and resonated with audiences, despite receiving weak reviews from critics who described it as superficial and avoiding complex aspects of Jackson's life, including allegations of sexual misconduct. A second part of the film is already planned and has premiered in Europe.

The biopic has grossed nearly $220 million globally. In comparison, the animated sequel "Super Mario Galaxy" earned $21.2 million, while other films rounded out the top five at the box office.