Director Antoine Fuqua's film based on Michael Jackson's life and career has opened to many negative reviews from critics. However, the criticism has not stopped the film, titled Michael, from minting millions from both theatres in India and elsewhere around the world.
According to an India Today report, the film, starring the iconic pop singer's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the titular role, has earned around $220 million over the first four days of its release. On the other hand, it has been having a solid run at theatres in India as well. According to the tracker Sacnilk, it has earned 24.20 crore from theatres across the country. In India, the film has earned 1.44 crore from theatres so far this Tuesday. According to Sacnilk, Hyderabad has the highest number of shows for Michael (220 shows) in India so far, whereas Kochi has the least shows for the film (34).
Recently, the film broke the record of being the highest-grossing Hollywood musical in India, beating the previous record held by 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody.
It chronicles Michael Jackson's life, from his participation in the band Jackson 5 back in the 1960s to his solo performances in the early parts of his career.
Many viewers and celebrities have been using the film's tremendous box office run as proof that criticism does not always mean poor commercial returns for films. For example, Anupam Kher, a longtime admirer of the King of Pop, questioned critics' take on the film. "Life is never perfect. It has its ups and downs, its struggles and its shadows. But if a life can inspire millions across generations, across countries, across languages… then it is nothing short of magical. Sometimes I feel critics forget that. They judge moments, not journeys. And journeys are messy, beautiful, unpredictable… just like life itself," Anupam wrote in his Michael review.
