Box Office: The King of Pop Just Took Down Miranda Priestly

*The box office is officially a two-monster showdown, and neither the King of Pop nor the Queen of fashion is backing down. “Michael,” the Michael Jackson biopic from Lionsgate starring Jaafar Jackson, has officially crossed the $700 million mark globally. As of May 18, 2026, the film has grossed approximately $703 to $707 million worldwide. […] The post Box Office: The King of Pop Just Took Down Miranda Priestly appeared first on EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More.

May 18, 2026 - 22:00

Box Office: The King of Pop Just Took Down Miranda Priestly

Michael - Devil Wears Prada2 — Michael – Devil Wears Prada2

*The box office is officially a two-monster showdown, and neither the King of Pop nor the Queen of fashion is backing down.

“Michael,” the Michael Jackson biopic from Lionsgate starring Jaafar Jackson, has officially crossed the $700 million mark globally. As of May 18, 2026, the film has grossed approximately $703 to $707 million worldwide. That makes it one of the biggest hits of the year, despite mixed-to-negative critical reviews that have dubbed the film “sanitized” and overly protective of its subject.

Meanwhile, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is closing in on the $550 million milestone. The sequel, which brings back Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt, has already surpassed 546 million dollars globally and continues to perform strongly in its third and fourth weekends.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Let’s break down the math.

“Michael” currently sits at approximately $283 million domestically and a massive $420 million internationally. The film opened to a record-shattering $97.2 million domestically and $217 million worldwide in its first weekend — the biggest opening ever for a biographical film. It beat “Oppenheimer” and “Straight Outta Compton” with room to spare.

In its fourth weekend, “Michael” returned to No. 1 domestically with 26 million dollars and only a 31 percent drop. That is what studios call “legs.” Audiences have given the film a 97 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, proving that fans are showing up for Jackson’s music regardless of what critics say.

On the other side of the runway, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” has pulled in approximately 176 million dollars domestically and 370 million dollars internationally. The sequel cost significantly less than “Michael” — reportedly around 80 million dollars — meaning it is already highly profitable for 20th Century Studios and Disney.

Devil Wears Prada2 - Michael — Devil Wears Prada2 – Michael

Who Is Winning?

That depends on how you define winning.

“Michael” has the higher worldwide gross and the bigger opening weekend. It is currently the highest-grossing biographical film domestically of all time, already beating “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the United States. However, “Bohemian Rhapsody” finished with 911 million dollars worldwide on a tiny $52 million budget. “Michael” cost $200 million after expensive reshoots that reportedly removed controversial elements related to child abuse allegations.

“The Devil Wears Prada 2,” by contrast, is the surprise story of the year. No one expected a sequel to a 2006 comedy to nearly cross $550 million. It has already surpassed every Marvel film released in 2025 and shows no signs of slowing down.

What Happens Next

Both films are proving to be major commercial successes for their studios, especially in a year where many big-budget releases have struggled. “Michael” is on track to finish with 800 to 850 million dollars worldwide, though surpassing “Bohemian Rhapsody” remains unlikely. “Prada 2” could realistically hit 600 million dollars before leaving theaters.

The real winner? Movie theaters, which desperately needed two reliable hits to keep the box office alive.

For audiences, the choice is simple: Do you want to watch Michael Jackson moonwalk across the screen, or do you want to watch Miranda Priestly eviscerate someone over a cerulean belt? Either way, bring your wallet. These films are making bank.