In its tenth weekend at the global box office, Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson movie Michael continues to make history, becoming the highest grossing biopic ever with $977.4 million, ahead of Universal’s Oppenheimer. Uni also handled the foreign release of Michael sans Japan and Russia where the Antoine Fuqua directed movie is still in theatrical release.

The amaze-amaze here is that Oppenheimer got to $975.8M off an Oscar season run, which notched 7 wins including Best Picture and Best Director for Christopher Nolan, but also a final territory boost from Japan which went very late on March 29, 2024, eight months after the pic’s July release.

Michael made $9.2M at the global box office this past weekend ($905K domestic via Lionsgate, foreign juiced by Kino in Japan where Lionsgate has a co-partnership deal). Running cume domestic is $370.2M and foreign stands at $607.2M from all territories (Universal tabulating $559.7M of that figure from their own markets). The anticipation is that the movie, which stars Jackson’s nephew, Jafar Jackson in the title role, will get to a billion worldwide. If it does, it will be the second film to do so in 2026 after Universal/Illumination’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Already, Michael is the highest grossing musical biopic ever, having surpassed producer Graham King’s own (he also produced Michael), Bohemian Rhapsody ($911M WW).

Interesting to note at least stateside that Michael pulled off its latest record while being on a 46-day theatrical window to PVOD. Oppenheimer was on a 123-day theatrical window to PVOD/DVD, and well over six month theatrical window before it landed on streaming service Peacock in the U.S.

Although John Early dons a wig and fake boobs for Maddie’s Secret, he doesn’t consider his titular role to be drag.

The writer, director and star of the Magnolia Pictures comedy, which is now in theaters, admitted he’s “not strong enough” to attempt proper drag, despite playing a woman in his directorial debut.

“When I’m asked about if I classify this as drag, I don’t think I do,” he explained to Queerty. “I love drag—I worship drag! I’ve done drag once, in a bar setting, and I was awful at it. It’s a different skill, and I’m not strong enough!”

Early noted that while drag calls for exaggerated gender performance, the character of Maddie Ralph is “humble and small” in comparison.

And while it was “hot and heavy” under the layers of Maddie’s physical appearance, Early found it easy slipping into character.

In Maddie’s Secret, Early plays food influencer Maddie, who finds online stardom while working for a trendy company, only for the mounting pressures of her newfound success to reawaken a secret from her troubled past.

The ensemble cast also includes Kate Berlant, Eric Rahill, Kristen Johnston, Claudia O’Doherty, Conner O’Malley, Vanessa Bayer and Chris Bauer.

Comedy The Invite from A24 is eyeing a stellar limited opening with the highest per screen average of the weekend and one of the best of the year. The film by Olivia Wilde grossed $379k on just 7 screens in New York and LA for a $54k PSA. Enthusiastic crowds sold out shows in both markets with exceptional exits and word of mouth. The ensemble cast includes Wilde and Seth Rogen as couple on thin ice hosting a dinner for their upstairs neighbors, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. Will roll out selectively into top markets next weekend ahead of a nationwide expansion on 7/10.

Fathom Entertainment event Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity is looking at a standout $1.95 million weekend at 943 theaters for a domestic cume through Sunday of $3 million. The film packages the final three episodes of the iconic Japanese anime series as destruction looms at the end of the Thousand-Year Blood War.

Neon’s Australian horror Leviticus grossed $929k on 965 screens in week 2 for a $5.37 million cume.

WWII drama Lucky Strike from Roadside Attractions opened to $777k on 772 screens.

Vertical debuted Couture starring Angelina Joliewith an estimated $135k on 235 screens. The film played best on the Coasts with top locations AMC Lincoln Square, AMC Empire, Angelika (NYC); AMC Century City, AMC Burbank (LA), AMC UTC (San Diego) and TIFF Lightbox in Toronto.

Limited: Janus Films opened Carla Simón’s acclaimed Cannes competition film Romería at Film Forum and Film at Lincoln Center in NYC to $18.5k, a top limited opening for the director, who was in New York for sold-out Q&As. Expands to LA, DC, Boston and Philadelphia next week before going nationwide throughout July.

Rose of Nevada from 1-2 Special grossed $37.2k from 11 theaters in week 2 for a cume to date of $71k. Expands further in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco and opens new in Atlanta, Nashville, Portland and other markets the week of 7/3 with a national expansion through July. 

Documentary Peter Asher: Everywhere Man from Greenwich Entertainment is eyeing $27.5 k on 16 screens in week 2 for a $38k cume.

After a successful event launch last week, Subtext’s release of Gregg Allman: The Music Of My Soul continued encore engagements this weekend, grossing an estimated$26.7k on 33 screens for a new cume of $408k –– largely on single showtimes. The doc will continue encore engagements throughout the week leading into a VOD release July 3.