The biopic that distilled the controversial life of the King of Pop into its most sanitized highlights just set a major box-office record. Michael, which drew scrutiny for its omission of Michael Jackson’s child sexual abuse allegations in telling the story of the artist’s life, just became the first biopic in cinema history to hit the $1 billion mark. The two-hour-and-seven-minute film earned $371.8 million domestically and $629.8 million at the global box office. The movie stars Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, as his late uncle, from his days in the Jackson 5 through his successful solo career. However, the film, which was approved by Jackson’s estate, conveniently neglects to include events post-1988, when the singer was accused of child sexual abuse and kidnapping. “Michael is like if you made a cheery biopic of Bill Cosby that ended with his successful run on The Cosby Show, all while avoiding any mention of his notorious private proclivities," wrote Daily Beast entertainment critic Nick Schager in April in his review of the film.
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