217 mmillion global dollars since release (April 22): this is the revenue figure record obtained by MichaelAntoine Fuqua’s film about life of the King of Pop. A resounding success that has already made the film the best debut ever for a biopicovercoming Bohemian Rapshody. But what are the reasons for such success, in light of the negative reviews and controversies on hypothetical abuses sexual relations that have re-emerged in recent years?
Michael: Michael Jackson film’s record breaking box office
The feeling of a certain boom was very clear right from the box office receipts of the previews: Michael it would have hit the box office. And so it was, the film with Jaafar Jackson has reached the top of the global box office. Divided thus: $120 million from 82 markets international (almost 7 million in Italy from 22/4), e 97 million from the USA.
Scary figures who demonstrated how Michael Jackson fans turned out en masse. And despite the criticism; theto a large majority of critics (except for Variety) in fact judged the film as a very cleaned up and too fairy-tale version of Jackson’s life.
Box office forecasts speak of at least 700 million dollars by the end of its programming. He will succeed Michael to do better than the 910 million raised by Bohemian Rapshody? The debut for now is in his favor, that of the biopic on Freddie Mercury and Queen – unlike Michael film not despised by critics – it stopped at 122 million.
Jaafar Jackson in a scene from “Michael”. (Photo by Glen Wilson)
The plot of the film with Jaafar Jackson, blockbuster at the cinema
The film tells the life of Michael Jackson (Jaafar Jackson) from childhood to consecration as a global star. As a child he knows the first successes with i Jackson 5a band created by his father Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo), where Michael and his brothers grow up among harsh discipline and violence. It grows with adolescence the desire for artistic independence, while his interrupted childhood pushes him to take refuge more and more in an imaginary world inspired by Peter Pan.
The meeting with Quincy Jones (Kendrick Sampson) marks the turning point of his career: Together they realize Off the Wall and above all Thrillerin 1982which turns him into a superstar. Michael becomes an icon capable of breaking down racial barriers on MTV and revolutionizing the language of video clips (the min ifilm Thriller directed by John Landis). After the last tour with his brothers in 1984, Michael definitively established himself as a soloistconquering the world with his talent and artistic vision.
The negative criticism and the shadow of the old accusations of pedophilia
«Hagiographic, superficial, unbalanced, sweetened and conventional”. These the main adjectives used by the press and critics For Michael. On Rotten Tomatoesthe film has an approval rating from critics around the world of 37%; while it can count on 97% positive votes from the public. Overwhelming numbers that demonstrate how much the low ratings from critics had no impact at all on the spectators’ decision.
Since his death in 2009 to the end of the following decade, Michael Jackson’s popularity has largely been at an all-time low. Even more after the release of Leaving Neverlanda 2019 documentary focusing on Wade Robson and James Safechuck’s account of abuse, alleged victims of the pop star’s sexual attentions when they were just children.
Jaafar Jackson in a scene from “Michael”. (Photo by Kevin Mazur)
Jackson’s musical on Broadway
The bombshell documentary does damage to which the Michael Jackson Estate is unable to respond immediately, perhaps with a counter-documentary to refute it errors and inconsistencies of the two accusers. Perhaps the decision to adopt was born at that moment fable-story strategy to be contrasted with the monstrous narrative. (Jackson has never been convicted by American justice of any crime related to child sexual abuse).
Thus, in 2021 it lands on Broadway MJ the Musical, theater show that tells the story of life and career of the pop star. Focusing in particular on evidence for the Dangerous World Tour of 1992. The box office results are sensational. In 4 years of reruns the show grossed over 300 million dollars. A fact that confirms how much the subjects of the King of Pop are still “fierce”, but above all impervious to any accusation made against the singer.
With all due respect to the journalist of Vanity Fair America Hillary Busis which he wrote just yesterday a very hard article in which he complains about how the record takings of the biopic are proof of how much the “world” doesn’t care about the evidence of guilt (in his opinion) regarding the accusations of pedophilia. A sensation also confirmed by the director of Leaving Neverland Dan Reed, interviewed by the journalist.
Michael: the reasons for success
So how do you explain the box office triumph? The film, in essence, is nothing more than a best of of the most iconic moments of Jackson’s career between the 70s and 80s. Since the first moonwalk performed in 1983 on the TV show Motown 25 to very famous video clips like Beat It And Thriller (video easily available everywhere and in very high quality – in the film meticulously reconstructed).
Evidentlythe rule of fan loyalty, rushed to review the life and works of your idol on the big screen – bringing the experience closer to the illusion of witnessing one of his concert, exorcising the idea that their favorite is dead – also applies to the rest of the public. Whether he’s just curious or just like he wants to see it for the first time. All this in one dimension live of cinematographic vision, so the replica is worth as an original show, more than the period footage, the document, the original video.
An ecstasy confirmed by countless numbers movies uploaded to various platforms. Films in which, in cinemas around the world, the people sing and dance together. Also organizing instant photos flash mob during the closing credits. The last time she was seen doing this was with Taylor Swift’s fans with her concert film The Eras Tour.