Despite not being shown by one of West Africa’s largest cinema exhibitors, Filmhouse Group, the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, has crossed the ₦800 million milestone at the Nigerian box office, emerging as one of the country’s highest-grossing films.
According to Nairametrics, the film crossed the milestone after earning ₦11.98 million during the week of June 26 to July 2, taking its cumulative box office earnings to ₦790.96 million before subsequently exceeding the ₦800 million threshold.
The achievement is considered remarkable because Michael was not shown by Filmhouse Group, Nigeria’s largest cinema exhibitor by screen count. Industry analysts believe the film could have grossed between ₦950 million and ₦1 billion had it enjoyed a full nationwide release across all major cinema chains. Quoting industry observers, Nairametrics reported that the film’s performance demonstrates strong audience demand despite the absence of one of the country’s biggest exhibition networks. “Michael crossed the ₦800 million mark… Had all parties been involved, the film would likely be on course for ₦950 million to ₦1 billion,” industry observers told Nairametrics.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael chronicles the life and career of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, with his nephew Jaafar Jackson portraying the music icon. The film has attracted significant attention from audiences worldwide for its depiction of Jackson’s rise to global superstardom. The latest milestone further underscores the growing strength of Nigeria’s cinema industry, where Hollywood blockbusters and Nollywood productions continue to post record-breaking box office performances. According to Nairametrics, the success of Michael also highlights the commercial potential of the Nigerian theatrical market, even when a major release is unavailable across every cinema chain in the country.
