Earlier this year, Puck’s Matt Belloni mentioned that Lionsgate has high hopes for Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, expecting it to possibly hit $1 billion at the box office when it comes out early next year.
Now, Lionsgate president Jim Packer is confirming Belloni’s report, saying he believes “Michael” could be their biggest film ever.
“The excitement we’re seeing with each new photo is amazing. I think this will be the biggest movie we’ve ever had,” Packer predicts.
Currently, Lionsgate’s top-grossing movie is 2013’s “Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” which made $865 million worldwide. They’re clearly hoping “Michael” will reach or get close to the $1 billion mark. The film cost $155 million to make.
It all depends on the kind of film Fuqua has made. Will it be entertaining and a crowd-pleaser? His last film, “Emancipation,” wasn’t well-received, possibly because it was Will Smith’s first movie since the Oscar incident. But has Fuqua made a good film before? His best-received ones are “Training Day,” “The Equalizer,” and “Southpaw.”
For “Michael,” it’ll be interesting to see how mainstream audiences react to its portrayal of Jackson. I don’t think most moviegoers will care much about the accusations that surrounded him later in his career.
Critics will likely be tough on this film. Belloni read the script and said that with the Jackson family estate’s approval, the film tries hard to convince viewers that Michael is innocent and downplays the controversies.
“Michael,” set to hit theaters worldwide on April 18, 2025, just finished its five-month production in California.
