(FILES) US pop star and entertainer Michael Jackson preforms before an estimated audience of 60,000 in Brunei on July 16, 1996. The release of a new Michael Jackson biopic -- 16 years after his death -- highlights a robust franchise seemingly immune to the child sex abuse claims that still haunt the "King of Pop." Film studio Lionsgate is banking on making $700 million in global box office receipts for the feature-length "Michael," which has its world premiere in Berlin on April 10, 2026. (Photo by FRANCIS Sylvain / AFP)
The release of a new Michael Jackson biopic — 16 years after his death — highlights a robust franchise seemingly immune to the child sex abuse claims that still haunt the “King of Pop.”
Film studio Lionsgate is banking on making $700 million in global box office receipts for the feature-length “Michael,” which has its world premiere in Berlin on Friday.
That figure would far surpass other productions in the same genre except for the Freddie Mercury-inspired “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which took in $910 million.
“Michael” is just the latest instalment of a flourishing economic empire in Jackson’s name.
“MJ: The Musical” opened on Broadway in 2022 and has been staged in other countries, while the Cirque du Soleil production “Michael Jackson ONE” has been running in Las Vegas since 2013.
Mychael Darklighter, a fan who lives in Australia, said he has twice seen the musical and recalled a consistently enthusiastic audience.
“A crowd of all ages was going nuts for it each time I attended,” he said.
