Michael, the biographical film on the life of King of Pop Michael Jackson, has broken the worldwide opening weekend record for a biopic, pulling in $217 million globally since it was released.
The film stars Jaafar Jackson, the late Michael Jackson’s nephew, who visited Pakistan in 2020 for a ten-day tour across Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
The visit included university appearances, television studios, government meetings and fan interactions, with little room in between to slow down.
In Islamabad, he was seen at the Pakistan Monument and also visited Faisal Mosque, where he spent time in a more composed setting, interacting with people who met him during the visit.
He also visited universities where students gathered to meet him and take photographs. The visit included multiple stops across the country, where he was seen engaging with fans, participating in formal meetings and moving through tightly managed public appearances that drew consistent attention throughout the trip.
The film surpassed the $180 million opening weekend recorded by Oppenheimer in 2024, claiming the highest worldwide opening weekend for a biopic of any kind. It also crossed the $60 million opening record previously held by Straight Outta Compton for a music biopic.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael follows Jackson’s life from his early years through to 1988. The cast includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long and Miles Teller alongside Jaafar Jackson.
Audiences have responded strongly, with the film earning a 97 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and a “Verified Hot” rating.
Critics, however, have been more divided, giving it 38 percent. Reports suggest a sequel is being considered if global earnings continue to climb.
