April 28, 2026 | 12:41 IST | Global and India — Michael earns $218M worldwide in 4 days, nears Rs 20 crore in India

The biographical drama Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, is showing strong box office momentum worldwide despite facing mixed-to-negative critical reception. The film, based on the life of Michael Jackson, has earned an impressive $218.83 million globally within just four days of its release and is now approaching the $220 million milestone.

Globally, Michael has already crossed approximately Rs 2,065 crore, placing it among the top-performing films of 2026. It currently ranks sixth worldwide this year and is trailing behind major releases such as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Pegasus 3, Project Hail Mary, Hoppers, and Wuthering Heights. However, given its current pace, the film is expected to climb higher in the rankings in the coming days.

In North America, the film opened strongly with $39.29 million on its first day. While collections showed a gradual decline over the weekend, earning $32.46 million and $25.45 million on subsequent days, the domestic total still reached a solid $97.20 million. The drop indicates typical post-opening trends rather than outright rejection, but the real test will be its weekday stability and long-term retention.

The film stars Jaafar Jackson, nephew of Michael Jackson, in the lead role, supported by a strong ensemble cast including Nia Long, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo. Made on a reported budget of $155 million, the film is already on track toward profitability, but sustaining audience interest remains critical.

In India, Michael is steadily approaching the Rs 20 crore mark. The film collected Rs 2.25 crore on Monday, bringing its total to Rs 18.75 crore. However, this figure reflects a sharp 61.54 percent drop from Sunday’s Rs 5.85 crore, signaling a typical weekday slowdown but also raising questions about its staying power in the Indian market.

Occupancy levels on Monday stood at 19.19 percent overall, with gradual growth from morning to night shows. While this indicates some level of audience engagement, the film will need stronger word-of-mouth to maintain momentum through the week.

Despite the dip, Michael continues to perform consistently on a global scale, balancing criticism with strong initial curiosity. The coming days will determine whether it can convert its opening buzz into sustained box office success or settle into a short-lived high-opening trend.