4IntermediateGeneralCulture

Michael Jackson Movie Breaks Box Office Records

A new movie about Michael Jackson has become the biggest music biopic ever in North America. The film earned $97 million in its opening weekend and has now passed Bohemian Rhapsody's domestic record. It proves that audiences still love the King of Pop.

1 min readLevel 4May 11, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

biopic

/ˈbaɪ.oʊ.pɪk/

noun

A movie that tells the true story of a real person's life

“The biopic about the famous singer was very popular.”

surpassed

/sərˈpæst/

verb

To go beyond something or become better or greater than it

“The new restaurant surpassed all others in the city.”

domestically

/dəˈmɛs.tɪ.kli/

adverb

Within one's own country, not in other countries

“The product sold well domestically but not overseas.”

sequel

/ˈsiː.kwəl/

noun

A movie or book that continues the story from a previous one

“Fans are excited about the sequel to their favorite film.”

boosted

/buːstɪd/

verb

Increased or made something stronger or more successful

“The good weather boosted sales at the outdoor market.”

globally

/ˈɡloʊ.bəl.i/

adverb

In all parts of the world; everywhere around the world

“The company sells its products globally in over fifty countries.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

A new movie called Michael is making history. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson's life. It opened with $97 million in North America. This was the biggest opening ever for a music biopic. The previous record belonged to Straight Outta Compton.

Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson plays the lead role. The film follows Jackson from the Jackson 5 days. It ends during the Bad tour in 1988. The movie earned $217 million worldwide in its first weekend. It has now passed $570 million globally.

The film has surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody in North America. That Queen biopic earned $216 million domestically in total. Michael has already earned over $238 million at home. Critics gave the film mostly negative reviews. However, audiences have loved it with very high scores.

Music biopics have become very popular in recent years. Films about Elvis, Bob Dylan, and Queen were all hits. Michael might even reach $1 billion worldwide eventually. The movie has also boosted Jackson's music streaming numbers. A sequel is already being planned by the studio.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
How much did the movie Michael earn in its first weekend in North America?
2
Which record did Michael break in North America?
3
Who plays Michael Jackson in the film?
4
When does the story in the movie end?
5
What effect has the movie had on Michael Jackson's music?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
How much money did the Michael Jackson movie earn in its opening weekend in North America?
2
Which music biopic held the previous domestic box office record before Michael?
3
Who plays Michael Jackson in the new biopic?
4
What time period of Jackson's life does the movie cover?
5
Why is a sequel being planned by the studio?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Have you ever watched a movie about a famous musician? What did you think of it?
2
Do you think movies should show the difficult parts of a celebrity's life, or only the good parts?
3
What musician would you most like to see a biopic about, and why?
4
Do you prefer watching movies at the cinema or at home? Why?
5
How has music changed your life or affected your feelings?