Michael/マイケル opens with record Japanese box‑office

The new biopic Michael/マイケル premiered in Japan on 12 June, with a launch event at Kinokuniya Shinjuku where former MTV host Michael Tomioka, Ayano Dagane and music journalist Yoshio Takahashi discussed the film’s portrayal of Michael Jackson and the history of MTV.

The movie drew 197,826 viewers on its opening day, generating 310 million yen (≈ $2.1 million) in box‑office revenue, the highest ever for a domestic biography film in Japan. Worldwide the film has surpassed $91 million, overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody’s total and becoming the top‑earning music‑biopic for Lionsgate. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, the film stars Michael Jackson’s nephew Jafar Jackson and features a cast that includes Coleman Domingo, Nia Long and Kendrick Sampson.