AAP News
Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson plays the king of pop in Antoine Fuqua's film. (AP PHOTO)
Michael, the big-budget Michael Jackson spectacle, has shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to shatter records for music biopic debuts.
The highly authorised portrayal of the King of Pop, co-produced by the Jackson estate, took in $US97 million ($A136 million) in US and Canadian theatres, and $US217.4 million ($A304.7 million) globally, according to studio estimates.
Lionsgate’s Michael far surpassed previous biopic top performers like Straight Outta Compton – a $US60.2 million ($A84.4 million) domestic debut in 2015 – and Bohemian Rhapsody – $US51 million ($A71 million) in 2018.
Internationally, Michael collected $US120.4 million ($A168.7 million), with its global opening figures also a new high for a music biopic.
Universal picked up distribution in most international markets.
