It only took seven days. MICHAEL is continuing its absolute demolition of the global box office, officially dethroning Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer in Japan just seven days after making its theatrical debut in the country. The Antoine Fuqua-directed musical biopic has turned into an undeniable cinematic event, proving that the King of Pop’s legendary international pull remains completely unmatched.
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The Japanese Box Office Breakdown
According to the latest box office tracking data from film reporter Luiz Fernando, Michael wrapped up its first full week in Japanese theaters with an estimated $12.5 million in total earnings. The biopic pulled in an impressive $1.2 million on Thursday alone, representing a tiny 14.5% drop from its Wednesday discount-day numbers. That massive late-week push officially nudged the film past the entire $12.2 million lifetime Japanese box office run of Oppenheimer, hitting the milestone in a single week without the help of a major national holiday window.
Chasing the Elite $1 Billion Milestone
The film’s breakout performance in Japan arrives right as MICHAEL secures its crown as the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, having already bypassed the $911 million lifetime record of Bohemian Rhapsody.
Additionally, to commemorate the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s passing, 50 theaters will be paying homage to the King with a nationwide rollout that highlights Japan’s continued leadership in immersive theatrical formats that transform traditional moviegoing into a participatory cultural event.
What’s Next?
Fans can now purchase or rent MICHAEL through major premium video-on-demand platforms, including digital storefronts such as Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home. The digital release includes purchase options as well as rental access for viewers who want to revisit the story of the King of Pop from home.
From there, Lionsgate will follow up the streaming debut with a premium physical rollout on July 14 (according to the Blu Ray website), introducing an array of Collector’s Edition 4K UHD Steelbooks at retail giants like Walmart and Amazon.
MICHAEL is now confirmed to be hitting the $1 billion mark.
Featured Photo: Lionsgate
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