Michael reclaims No.1 with $26.1M

Lionsgate’s “Michael” moved back to the top of the North American box office on May 17, taking in $26.1 million in its fourth weekend, according to studio estimates reported by Variety and the Associated Press. The Michael Jackson biopic had spent the previous two weekends behind Disney’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” but returned to No. 1 as newer releases opened below the holdovers. Worldwide ticket sales reached about $703.8 million to $703.9 million, according to Variety and AP, putting the film above $700 million globally. Domestic grosses stood at roughly $283 million through Sunday, box-office trackers showed. ### How did “Michael” get back to No. 1 in its fourth weekend? Variety reported that “Michael” earned $26 million to $26.1 million from North American theaters over the May 15-17 weekend, enough to overtake every newer wide release in the market. The film’s domestic total rose to $283 million, a figure also reflected in daily chart data from The Numbers. (variety.com) The Associated Press said the film had trailed “The Devil Wears Prada 2” for two weekends before reclaiming first place. The Sunday daily chart from The Numbers showed “Michael” at $8.18 million for May 17 alone, ahead of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” at $5.6 million. ### How far ahead was it of “The Devil Wears Prada 2”? Disney’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2” finished second with $18 million in its third weekend, according to Variety and AP. (variety.com) That left an $8.1 million gap between the two films for the weekend. Box Office Mojo listed “The Devil Wears Prada 2” at $175.9 million domestic and $546.2 million worldwide as of May 17. (wtop.com) Variety said the sequel fell 58% from the prior weekend in North America. ### What does the $703.8 million global total include? Variety said “Michael” had generated $703.8 million globally, including $283 million in North America, by Sunday. AP put the worldwide figure at $703.9 million, a rounding difference consistent with weekend estimate updates. (variety.com) Trade and tracking reports cited about $421 million from international markets, alongside the domestic total, to push the film past the $700 million mark. (boxofficemojo.com) Box-office outlets have also tied the run to the film’s $97.2 million domestic opening weekend in late April. ### Where did the rest of the weekend box office land? Focus Features’ “Obsession” opened to about $16 million to $16.1 million from 2,615 theaters, making it the top newcomer of the frame, according to Variety and AP. (variety.com) Variety said the film received an A- CinemaScore, while AP reported that Focus acquired it after Toronto for around $15 million and that writer-director Curry Barker made it for $750,000. (comingsoon.net) Warner Bros.’ “Mortal Kombat II” placed fourth with $13.4 million in its second weekend, AP said, while Amazon MGM titles including “The Sheep Detectives,” “Project Hail Mary” and “Is God Is” also remained in the top 10. ### How unusual is this run for a music biopic? Variety said “Michael” already ranks as the highest-grossing musical biopic in North America, ahead of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which made $216 million domestically. (variety.com) AP said “Bohemian Rhapsody” remains the worldwide leader in the musical-biopic category at more than $910.8 million. (wtop.com) Forbes, citing box-office data, said “Michael” was approaching that global benchmark after setting an opening-weekend record for a music biopic in April. Variety separately reported that overall ticket sales were running 16% ahead of last year, according to Comscore, as studios headed toward the summer corridor. (variety.com) ### What happens next at the box office? Memorial Day weekend is the next major test for the market. Variety and AP both said Disney’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” is due in theaters next weekend, a release expected to reset the domestic chart after a stretch led by “Michael” and “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” Box Office Mojo’s 2026 weekend calendar showed the May 22-24 frame as the next reporting weekend after the May 15-17 session. (forbes.com) The next round of studio estimates and box-office tallies will show whether “Michael” can hold premium momentum against Disney’s holiday launch. (boxofficemojo.com) (variety.com)