The new biopic “Michael” opened to a record-setting $97 million in domestic box office sales over the weekend, marking the largest debut ever for a music biopic and far exceeding industry projections.

The film, which chronicles the early life and rise of Michael Jackson, also performed strongly overseas, bringing in $120.4 million internationally for a global opening total of $217.4 million. Distributed by Lionsgate domestically, with Universal Pictures handling many international markets, the production quickly established itself as a major commercial success.

Pre-release expectations for the film had ranged between $50 million and $70 million domestically, making the final tally a significant overperformance. The opening surpasses previous top music biopic debuts such as “Straight Outta Compton” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

The project, co-produced with the Jackson estate, focused primarily on the performer’s early career and concluded its narrative before later controversies in his life. The film underwent substantial revisions during production, including reshoots and structural changes that reportedly increased costs but allowed filmmakers to refocus the storyline.

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, audience reception has been notably stronger, with favorable exit polling indicating broad appeal. Industry analysts pointed to strong engagement across multiple demographics and effective timing ahead of the summer movie season.

The film’s success adds momentum to a strong box office stretch for Hollywood, alongside other recent releases including “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” which brought in $21.2 million over the weekend, and “Project Hail Mary,” which continues to perform well globally.

With its strong debut, “Michael” is already being positioned as the start of a potential multi-film series, as studios look to capitalize on sustained audience interest in high-profile music biopics.