Michael rocks the box office to deliver the second biggest opening ever for a biopic in Australia.

Sydney, Australia – The King of Pop’s legacy continues to transcend generations, with Michael delivering a standout opening weekend. Across its Wednesday to Sunday opening, the film grossed $9.3 million at the Australian box office – securing the second biggest opening ever for a biopic behind 2023’s Oppenheimer.

The film attracted 390,000 admissions nationwide and demonstrated its strong appeal across hard-to-reach demographics, with 52% of the total audience falling within the P14-39 demographic with a high female skew.

Guy Burbidge, Managing Director of Val Morgan Cinema, commented, “Q2 is off to a roaring start, with Michael proving just how much audiences are loving and craving high-calibre content. The film has secured an ‘A’ CinemaScore alongside an impressive 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, setting it up for strong word-of-mouth momentum in the weeks ahead.

“Cinema is showing no signs of slowing down, as audiences eagerly await one of the most anticipated female films of the year, The Devil Wears Prada 2, landing in cinemas just this week.”

The year is just getting started, with a diverse slate of content for every audience on the horizon from Mortal Kombat II, to Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, Masters of the Universe, Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day and the return of Scary Movie. Looking ahead to the winter school holidays, Toy Story 5, Minions & Monsters and Moana will have family audiences flocking to cinemas to witness the next instalment in these iconic franchises.

Burbidge added, “Our latest family research underscores the power of cinema as one of the last places where families can truly connect. When families spend time together, decisions are often made together too. With a trifecta of family IP set to release this winter school holiday period, it presents an unmissable opportunity for brands to leverage the cinema experience, where conversations spark and influence real household decisions and spending.”

The Cinema Is Famous For Families research and whitepaper are available via the Val Morgan Cinema Famous Hub at www.valmorgan.com.au/famous. 

Source: CineTAM 2026, Numero.