“Michael” told the rest of the domestic box office to “Beat It,” as Lionsgate’s biopic about the King of Pop easily secured the top spot on the Friday charts.

Antoine Fuqua’s “Michael” earned $39.5 million on opening day from 3,955 North American theaters. Early projections have the film grossing a staggering $90 million to $100 million by Sunday. That easily marks the best debut for a music biopic, legging out 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($51 million) and 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton” ($60 million).

Lionsgate needs “Michael” to deliver a massive payday because it carries a hefty $155 million production budget, a price tag weighed down by expensive music rights and extravagant concert sets. The Jackson estate also had to shell out additional tens of millions after the third act was deemed unusable. “Michael’s” third act dealt with a 1993 lawsuit that accused Michael Jackson of child sexual abuse, an allegation he vehemently denied. After the film was shot, producers uncovered a clause in the settlement with the accuser that barred the depiction or mention of them in film or TV projects.

Fuqua was forced to retool the movie to center on the relationship between Michael Jackson and his controlling father, Joe Jackson, played by Colman Domingo. Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew, Jafaar Jackson, plays the King of Pop. Other cast members include Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Tre’ Horton as Marlon Jackson, Rhyan Hill and Tito Jackson, Joseph David-Jones as Jackie Jackson and Jamal Henderson as Jermain Jackson.

“Michael” is the weekend’s only major newcomer. In second and third place were “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and “Project Hail Mary,” respectively. Universal’s videogame sequel added $4.5 million on Friday and should pull in $20.5 million by Sunday. By the end of the weekend, North American earnings for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” should hit $385 million. “Project Hail Mary” grossed $3.5 million on Friday. It’s projected to make $12.1 by Sunday, pushing its domestic total to $304 million.

Rounding out the Friday top five were “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy” and “The Drama.” “The Mummy” took fourth, with just $1.9 million in its second Friday in theaters. By Sunday, it is expected to earn approximately $5 million, bringing its North American total to $22 million. “The Drama” landed in fifth, grossing an estimated $810,000. Rival projections have it making $2.6 million by Sunday, boosting its North American tally to about $44 million. (Courtesy of Variety, but headline reworked)

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