Michael remained the clear king of the domestic box office as the Michael Jackson biopic returned to No. 1 in its fourth weekend, outpacing newer releases and proving that its theatrical run still has strong momentum. The Lionsgate release earned an estimated $26.1 million from 3,560 theaters, dropping only 31 percent from the previous weekend.
The performance is another major sign of the film’s staying power. In a weekend filled with holdovers, franchise titles and new releases, Michael continued to tower over the competition. Its domestic total has now reached around $282.7 million, while its worldwide total has climbed to approximately $703.9 million.
That global number keeps the Graham King-produced film in serious conversation with Bohemian Rhapsody, one of the biggest musical biopics ever made. While Bohemian Rhapsody remains ahead worldwide, Michael has already surpassed it in North America. The film is now the highest-grossing musical biopic at the domestic box office, a major achievement for a title that has continued to expand its audience beyond opening weekend curiosity.
The fourth-weekend hold also shows that Michael is not behaving like a front-loaded fan event. Instead, it is playing like a true crowd-pleaser, helped by repeat viewing, premium formats and broad interest in Michael Jackson’s life and music. Industry estimates suggest that IMAX and premium large format screens are still giving the film an extra boost, helping it maintain scale even in its fourth frame.
The film is also nearing another domestic milestone for Lionsgate. With its current total, Michael is on course to move past The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, which ended its North American run at $281.7 million. That comparison matters because it places Michael among Lionsgate’s strongest domestic performers of the modern era.
At No. 2, The Devil Wears Prada 2 slowed down after two weekends at the top. The 20th Century Studios sequel earned $18 million from 3,830 theaters in its third weekend, falling around 57 percent. Its domestic total now stands at roughly $175.8 million.
The drop is sharp, but the film remains a strong overall performer. Globally, The Devil Wears Prada 2 has reportedly crossed $546 million, with international markets doing much of the heavy lifting. The sequel’s nostalgic appeal and strong brand recall have clearly worked worldwide, even if the domestic hold this weekend was softer than expected.
One reason for that softer domestic frame may be the arrival of Obsession. The Focus Features and Blumhouse romance-horror film opened much stronger than expected with $16.1 million from 2,615 theaters, landing in third place. Its opening was close enough to The Devil Wears Prada 2 to become one of the weekend’s most important stories.
Obsession appears to have benefited from a clear genre hook and strong audience response. The film reportedly received an A- CinemaScore, while critics have also responded positively. That combination gives it a real chance to hold well in the coming weeks, especially if word of mouth continues to grow.
The film’s audience profile is also interesting. Opening weekend crowds reportedly skewed 59 percent male, with 40 percent of viewers between 25 and 34. That suggests Obsession was not simply playing as a romance title, but as a genre film with crossover appeal. Focus reportedly acquired the R-rated thriller for $14 million at the Toronto Film Festival, making this opening a promising start.
The weekend was less encouraging for Mortal Kombat II. The Warner Bros. and New Line video game sequel fell to fourth place with $13.4 million from 3,534 theaters. That represents a steep 65 percent drop from its opening weekend.
The decline confirms that the film is playing heavily front-loaded. After two weekends, Mortal Kombat II has earned around $62.2 million domestically and approximately $101 million worldwide. With a reported production cost of $80 million, the sequel will need stronger international legs to improve its overall picture.
Amazon MGM’s Sheep Detectives rounded out the top five with $9.32 million in its second weekend. The Hugh Jackman-led mystery dropped only 38 percent, which is a solid hold compared with the sharper declines around it. The film has now reached around $29.7 million domestically and nearly $58.7 million worldwide.
The hold suggests that Sheep Detectives may have room to play through family and adult audiences looking for lighter theatrical options. Its second-weekend drop is healthier than many wide releases, although its reported $75 million production cost means it still has ground to cover.
Further down the chart, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie continued its long theatrical run with $4.45 million in its seventh weekend. The Nintendo and Illumination sequel has reached $418.6 million domestically and continues to move toward the $1 billion worldwide mark. It is expected to become the first 2026 release to cross that global milestone, though it may take a few more weeks.
Project Hail Mary also continued to show staying power in its ninth weekend. The Amazon MGM sci-fi film added $3.9 million, lifting its domestic total to $334.8 million. Its long run remains one of the stronger box office stories of the year, especially for an original-leaning science fiction drama.
Paramount’s Top Gun 40th anniversary re-release opened with $3.25 million over the weekend and $4.9 million since launch. The re-release performed respectably as a nostalgia-driven theatrical event, showing that classic titles can still bring audiences back when presented as limited big-screen experiences.
The weekend’s weaker new entries came from In the Grey and Is God Is. Guy Ritchie’s In the Grey, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill and Eiza González, opened at No. 9 with only $3 million from 2,018 theaters. Despite recognizable names, the film struggled to break through, likely hurt by weak reviews and a modest audience response.
Is God Is debuted in 10th place with $2.2 million from 1,510 theaters. The Amazon MGM revenge drama had a smaller footprint than the other wide releases, but its critical response appears stronger. Its long-term performance will depend on whether strong reviews and audience interest can help it find a more targeted audience.
Overall, the domestic box office weekend was estimated at $106.1 million, just 1 percent below the same weekend last year. That is a positive result for theaters, especially with the summer movie season about to enter a more competitive phase.
The broader industry picture also looks encouraging. Year-to-date box office is reportedly running 16 percent ahead of last year, helped by strong performers such as Michael, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Project Hail Mary. Theater owners will now look toward Memorial Day weekend, when Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is expected to give the summer season a major push.
For now, the weekend belongs to Michael. The biopic has not only reclaimed the domestic crown, but also strengthened its place among the biggest music-driven films ever released. While The Devil Wears Prada 2 remains a global hit and Obsession has emerged as a surprise breakout, Michael continues to lead the conversation with a run that is becoming more impressive with each passing week.
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