Office Record

• 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.

Michael Jackson biopic has shrugged off controversy, bad reviews and a troubled production to take $217m worldwide, including $97m in North AmericaMichael, the big-budget Michael Jackson biopic, has shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with a $97m opening in North American theaters, contributing to its enormous $217m (£160m, A$303m) worldwide box office and shattering the record for the biggest biopic opening of all time.The film, a highly authorised portrayal of the “king of pop” that was co-produced by the Jackson estate and stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, took $120.4m internationally and $97m domestic – combining to surpass Oppenheimer’s $180.4m worldwide opening weekend in 2023 and Bohemian Rhapsody’s $124m in 2018. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Emails and internal memos reveal concerns immigration enforcement is interfering with police workLaw enforcement and local government officials across the US have over the last year expressed concerns that immigration operations were interfering with police work and leading to threats to officers, according to internal emails and briefings shared with the Guardian.The development comes as the US public has become afraid and distrustful of officers in their communities due to the Trump administration’s aggressive and at times indiscriminate immigration crackdown. Continue reading...

• Amazon MGM's 'Project Hail Mary,' starring Ryan Gosling, debuted at number one with $80.5 million in North American ticket sales, marking the best opening for a non-franchise film since 'Oppenheimer.' • The sci-fi epic, centered on Gosling's amnesiac astronaut racing to save the sun, drew about 5 million ticket buyers, with premium large format screens accounting for 56% of the gross and IMAX at 24%. • Amazon MGM Studios head Kevin Wilson stated, 'What we’re seeing in theaters — the energy, the exit scores, the word-of-mouth — is everything we believed this film would deliver.'