Cinema Attendance Surges in Jeddah as Biopic Nears Billion‑Dollar Box Office

In 2026 movie‑going has rebounded, highlighted by a packed theatre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where audiences watched Antoine Fuqua’s biopic "Michael" about Michael Jackson. The film has become the highest‑grossing biopic of all time, overtaking "Oppenheimer" and moving toward the billion‑dollar milestone worldwide.

The revival also shows that modest, original productions can succeed on the big screen. Independent drama "Obsession", made for under $1 million, has earned more than $400 million globally, demonstrating that imaginative storytelling can outperform big‑budget blockbusters.

The surge has sparked debate over the biopic’s portrayal of Jackson’s life, with some critics and family members questioning omitted details, but the strong audience response underscores a renewed appetite for shared cinematic experiences.