Michael Jackson's albums are on track for a resurgence in the UK charts following the massive box office success of the biopic Michael, despite its poor critical reception. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film stars the King of Pop's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, and earned $217m (£160m) globally in its opening weekend after its release on Tuesday, 21 April.
Chart Predictions
In the latest chart update on Monday, 27 April, the soundtrack Michael: Songs From The Motion Picture sits at number four. Jackson's 2003 compilation Number Ones is at number seven, while Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987) are at positions 18 and 22, respectively. The official chart will be announced on Friday, 1 May. Last week, Jackson's 2005 compilation The Essential reached number five.
Box Office Success Despite Criticism
Despite being panned by critics, Michael has become a box office smash, setting a new record for music biopics in its opening weekend. The film covers the early part of Jackson's life and career but has faced backlash for omitting references to the child abuse allegations that plagued the singer.
Early press releases indicated the film would show Jackson's “human side and personal struggles” alongside his “undeniable creative genius,” and was originally set to open in 1993, the year Jackson faced his first accusations of child sex abuse. Jackson consistently denied all allegations.
Reshoots and Narrative Changes
In early April, Variety reported that the film underwent 22 days of costly reshoots last summer to remove all references to the molestation allegations. Instead of depicting the scandal's impact, the film now ends with Jackson at the height of his fame during the Bad tour. This change reportedly followed attorneys for the Jackson estate discovering a clause in a settlement with Jordan Chandler, one of Jackson's accusers in 1993, that prohibited his depiction or mention in any film.
The Independent's critic Clarisse Loughrey gave the film a one-star review, describing it as “an act of allegiance” that “resists story in favour of content.” However, actor Colman Domingo, who plays Joe Jackson, defended the film, stating it focuses on “the makings of Michael” from the 1960s to 1988, offering an intimate portrait of the star.
