The Michael Jackson biopic continues to prove a major drawcard for Australian audiences, pulling in another $4.66 million in its fourth week in cinemas.
The strong result pushes Michael to a local total of $32.86 million, cementing its status as one of the year’s biggest releases at the Australian box office. Internationally, the film has mirrored that success, delivering the biggest opening weekend ever for a musical biopic with US$217 million globally.
It also marked the second-biggest worldwide debut of the year, behind Universal’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which opened to US$372.5 million.
Despite the impressive haul, Michael once again landed just behind The Devil Wears Prada 2, which kept the Australian box office crown in its third week with $4.92 million. The sequel starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci has now grossed $32.49 million locally.
The Sheep Detectives, starring Hugh Jackman, jumped to third in its second week, grossing $1.49 million. It was followed by Mortal Kombat II, which features Kiwi actor Karl Urban and Australians Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson, with $1.17 million. Both films debuted last week, with their totals sitting at $3.68 million and $3.95 million, respectively.
Curry Barker’s new horror-thriller Obsession debuted in fifth with $809,000, followed by Guy Ritchie’s In the Grey, starring Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal, which debuted with $593,000.
Project Hail Mary sat in seventh with a further $441,000, followed by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with a further $327,000. In ninth was a special 40th anniversary screening of Top Gun (with #TopGunDay falling over the weekend), which grossed $264,000.
Love Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
Rounding out the top ten was new Tamil film Karuppu, which debuted with $233,000.
