Lionsgate's biopic "Michael" opened with a record-breaking $39.5 million on its opening day in North American theaters. Early projections suggest the film could break records for best music biopic, surpassing 2018's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Straight Outta Compton". The film's $155 million production budget was heavily burdened by expensive music rights and extravagant concert sets, and the Jackson estate had to pay an additional tens of millions after the third act was deemed unusable due to a 1993 lawsuit accusing Michael Jackson of child sexual abuse. The film is the only major newcomer in the weekend's top five.