"Michael," the Universal and Lionsgate musical biopic about the King of Pop, stands on the cusp of becoming a cultural and commercial phenomenon. The film has accumulated $788 million globally and will cross $800 million within days, cementing its place among the year's biggest earners. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the project captures Jackson's life through his most iconic performances and personal moments, resonating with both longtime fans and new audiences discovering his legacy.
The film's staying power abroad proves particularly impressive. Over the latest weekend, "Michael" pulled $28.5 million from international markets, where it has now collected $468 million. Domestically, the biopic sits at $319 million, reflecting strong performance across both regions. This split distribution strategy, with Universal handling international territory and Lionsgate managing the domestic market, has allowed the film to maximize its reach without franchise constraints.
The success arrives alongside another studio milestone. "The Devil Wears Prada 2," the long-awaited sequel to the 2006 fashion comedy, has crossed $600 million globally. The Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway vehicle taps into established fan affection for the original while attracting audiences hungry for nostalgic IP adaptations. That sequel's trajectory underscores how audiences respond to recognizable properties with genuine creative ambition behind them.
Both films demonstrate that theatrical moviegoing remains viable for event-driven content. "Michael" benefits from Jackson's enduring cultural presence and the universal appeal of music biopics, a genre that has proven resilient at the box office. "The Devil Wears Prada 2" capitalizes on the original's beloved status and the appeal of revisiting beloved characters, particularly Streep's deliciously acidic Miranda Priestly.
For studios, these performances validate betting on legacy properties