By Jemimah D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | July 03, 2026
The audience quiets down as the final trailer fades from the big screen and the theatre lights slowly dim. Popcorn rests untouched in eager hands as anticipation fills the room. The screen is brought to life, slowly rolling out the opening credits. Everyone knows what comes next. They know the songs, they know the headlines, they know the triumphs, and the tragedies. Yet they watch anyway…
The Show Must Go On: From Freddie to Michael
HIStory is being made at the box office. After eight years at the top, Bohemian Rhapsody has finally been dethroned. With $977.5 million in current global box-office revenue, Michael now stands as the highest-grossing musical biopic ever released, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody’s $910.8 million and even crossing Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer ($976.8 million). Michael will undoubtedly go on to gain more revenue, as it only recently made its theatrical release in Japan.
This staggering commercial achievement is particularly intriguing because both films share the exact same mastermind behind the scenes: producer Graham King. Both biopics follow a similar blueprint, centring on globally influential musical icons who have resonated across generations. Each was marketed around the artist’s most iconic performances while exploring the human side behind the music, creating a deeper emotional connection with audiences.
This raises an important question: if the formula remained largely the same, what enabled Michael to surpass Bohemian Rhapsody? Answering this requires examining the differences in their audiences, storytelling techniques, and broader cultural impact.
Bohemian Rhapsody: A Celebration of Queen’s Legacy
Bohemian Rhapsody primarily appeals to rock audiences, chronicling Queen’s rise from an emerging college band to one of the most influential rock acts in history. The film centres on Freddie Mercury, portraying how his extraordinary creativity and individuality shaped the band’s success through a classic ‘rise to fame’ narrative. Although Queen remains one of the world’s most recognisable bands, the film is rooted in a genre that is less dominant in contemporary popular culture than it was during the band’s peak.
A significant factor behind the film’s success was Rami Malek’s acclaimed portrayal of Freddie Mercury. From his physical appearance to his distinctive mannerisms and commanding stage presence, Malek delivers a performance that captures Mercury’s essence with authenticity. Combined with a soundtrack featuring Queen’s greatest hits, the film rekindled interest in the band’s music while introducing a younger generation to Freddie Mercury’s artistry, reinforcing Queen’s enduring cultural legacy.
Workin’ Day and Night: Michael’s Journey
Like Bohemian Rhapsody, Michael follows a familiar ‘unknown to unforgettable’ narrative. However, its scope is broader, tracing Michael Jackson’s evolution from his childhood with The Jackson 5, through The Jacksons, to his unparalleled success as a solo artist. Rather than focusing solely on fame, the film highlights the relentless discipline, innovation, and perfectionism that defined Jackson’s career from an early age. It also explores his ability to reinvent himself through music, fashion, and performance, demonstrating how each era of his career established a new cultural trend.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of his uncle. In his feature film debut, Jaafar convincingly recreates Michael Jackson’s voice, movement, expressions, and unmistakable stage presence. His meticulous recreation of Jackson’s performances allows audiences to suspend disbelief, creating the impression that they are witnessing Michael himself on stage once again.
The soundtrack, like that of Bohemian Rhapsody, features many of the artist’s greatest hits. However, Michael benefits from the exceptional, universal familiarity of Jackson’s cultural image. Even individuals who cannot name many of his songs can instantly recognise the moonwalk, the sequined glove, the fedora, and his signature dance style. These universally recognised symbols allow the film to connect with casual audiences that extend far beyond dedicated fans, contributing to its widespread commercial appeal.
A Night at ‘Live Aid’, A Day at Bad: The Wembley Connection
Despite their differences, both films are built around the cinematic recreation of an iconic performance at Wembley Stadium—transforming the venue into a symbolic destination within each artist’s journey. Interestingly, each film utilises the exact same narrative framing device: opening with its protagonist preparing backstage before the concert, and gradually building toward it as the film’s grand finale. For Bohemian Rhapsody, it is Queen’s legendary ‘Live Aid’ performance in 1985; for Michael, it is a definitive stop during the Bad World Tour in 1988.
The challenge for both filmmakers was to allow audiences to experience these widely documented events with the same excitement and emotional impact as if they were witnessing them for the first time. By revealing these performances at the beginning and slowly filling in the history behind them, both films reward viewers with a powerful emotional payoff.
The climaxes themselves reflect the contrasting identities of the two musicians. Freddie Mercury captivated audiences through spontaneity, charisma, and direct interaction with the crowd, making every performance feel unique. Michael Jackson, by contrast, transformed precision, choreography, and visual spectacle into an art form of their own. While their approaches differed, both performances represent defining moments where their influence was permanently etched into music history.
Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
Ultimately, the question remains: what truly attracts audiences to films whose stories they already know? The appeal of a musical biopic lies in experiencing the journey behind it. Audiences are not paying to find out whether Freddie Mercury or Michael Jackson achieved success—they already know the outcome. Instead, they come to understand the sacrifices, struggles, and creative processes that transformed gifted musicians into global cultural icons. Through music, performance, and storytelling, these films allow viewers to emotionally reconnect with artists whose influence extends far beyond their recordings.
Both films successfully recreate the atmosphere of a ‘live’ concert, but Michael arguably takes this experience a step further. For viewers who never had the opportunity to witness Michael Jackson perform ‘live’, the film offers perhaps the closest experience possible to attending one of his concerts. As someone who never saw Michael Jackson perform in person, I watched the film three times and still wanted to experience it again. That reaction illustrates one of the film’s greatest achievements: it recreates not only the performances themselves, but also the excitement, spectacle, and emotion that made them unforgettable.
Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson were far more than successful musicians; they became global cultural phenomena whose influence transcended musical genres, geographical boundaries, and generations.
By tapping into an artist whose very image is uniquely embedded in global consciousness, producer Graham King has generated an even broader emotional and commercial response than his previous record-breaking biopic. He is now raking in the moolah, with Queen and Michael securely by his side.
Also Read
How John Lennon Marketed Peace Like a Holiday Miracle!