'Michael' Jackson biopic shatters music biopic box office record with $97 million opening
AI SummaryWWAY TV33h agoUnited States
Image: WWAY TV3
•The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' launched with a massive $97 million opening in U.S. and Canada theaters, breaking the previous music biopic record of $60.2 million set by 'Straight Outta Compton' in 2015.
•Co-produced by the Jackson estate and distributed by Lionsgate, the film overcame negative reviews and production troubles to achieve strong international performance with $120.4 million overseas.
•
The film's $217.4 million global opening marks a new high-water mark for music biopics, significantly outpacing 'Bohemian Rhapsody' which earned $51 million in its 2018 debut.
• Allison Janney and Andrew Rannells star in 'Miss You, Love You', which had a secret screening at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and is now set for HBO premiere on May 29.
• The film lands at HBO after festival buzz, marking a key acquisition for the streamer in upcoming releases.
• This deal highlights HBO's push into indie dramas amid competition from Netflix and Apple TV+.
• Marie Osmond publicly addressed the death of her brother Alan Osmond, sharing emotional reflections amid family grief.
• The Osmond family matriarch spoke out in a Us Weekly feature on the loss.
• This revelation adds to ongoing celebrity family tragedies, impacting music legacy discussions.
• At age 80, Cher announced her "Final Farewell Tour," featuring 120 dates across North America and international venues spanning 2027 through 2029.
• The tour will celebrate Cher's 60-year career with a multimedia production featuring her iconic performances, unreleased footage, and special guest appearances.
• Ticket sales begin April 24, 2026, with Cher stating this represents her definitive goodbye to touring, though she plans to continue recording music.
• Taylor Swift announced a 53-date North American tour beginning in March 2027, with tickets going on sale April 20, 2026 through her official fan club and Ticketmaster.
• The "Eras Tour: North American Leg" will visit 28 cities across the United States and Canada, with nightly production featuring elaborate stage designs and costume changes.
• Industry analysts project the tour could generate over $2 billion in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time.
• Apple TV+ acquired exclusive streaming rights to a four-part documentary series chronicling Serena Williams' legendary tennis career and post-retirement business ventures.
• The series will premiere in June 2026 and features intimate interviews with Williams, her family, fellow athletes, and business partners, spanning her 30-year career and current role as a venture capitalist.
• Williams executive produces alongside acclaimed director Marina Zenovich, known for her Oscar-nominated documentary "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired."
• The Weeknd announced a massive 75-date world stadium tour spanning North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia, beginning September 2026.
• Ticket pre-sales for North American dates begin April 19, 2026, with general sales starting April 25 through Live Nation's ticketing platform.
• The tour supports his upcoming fifth studio album "Midnight Requiem," expected to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in May.
• Netflix's new limited series "Echoes of Tomorrow," starring Kristen Stewart and Oscar Isaac, premiered April 17 and garnered 68 million views in its first 24 hours.
• The eight-episode psychological thriller explores alternate timelines and has already been renewed for a second season despite its standalone narrative structure.
• Critics praised the series' cinematography and performances, with The New York Times calling it "a haunting meditation on choice and consequence."
• Director Denis Villeneuve confirmed production on "Dune: Part Three" has officially begun, with filming taking place in Morocco and Jordan through October 2026.
• Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Oscar Isaac are set to return, with newcomers Rebecca Ferguson and Austin Butler joining the expanded cast for the concluding installment.
• Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have greenlit a 2027 release date, with Villeneuve stating this final chapter will "definitively conclude Frank Herbert's epic saga."
• Disney+ revealed "Marvel: Secret Wars," a six-part miniseries event bringing together characters from the MCU, Sony's Spider-Man Universe, and Fox's X-Men franchise in an unprecedented crossover.
• Production is set to begin in summer 2026, with Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield all confirmed to return as versions of Spider-Man within the multiverse storyline.
• The series will premiere in early 2027 and serve as a major reset point for Marvel's cinematic universe, introducing the Fantastic Four and Professor X to the MCU proper.
• Beyoncé won seven Grammy Awards on April 17, breaking the previous record for most wins by a female artist in a single night, surpassing Georg Solti's 31-year-old record.
• Her wins included Album of the Year for "Renaissance Reimagined," Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Music Video, cementing her legacy as one of music's greatest achievers.
• The Recording Academy held the delayed 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles following a scheduling conflict, with Beyoncé's performance of her new single "Renaissance Eternal" opening the show.
• The Academy announced Oprah Winfrey will host the 79th Academy Awards ceremony on March 27, 2027, marking her first time hosting the Oscars in 16 years.
• Winfrey previously hosted the 2011 Academy Awards and has become one of the most celebrated hosts in Oscar history, winning praise for her humor and audience engagement.
• The 2027 ceremony promises a reimagined format with emphasis on celebrating filmmaking achievements and engaging younger demographics through digital integration.