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\n\tEXCLUSIVE: <\/strong>The walk-up business for Lionsgate\u2018s Michael Jackson biopic, Michael,<\/strong> <\/em>is doing significantly more than just easing down the road. Combined previews from yesterday\u2019s Imax\/PLF fan 6PM showtimes as well as showtimes which began today at 12noon are between $12.5M-$13.5M<\/strong> per sources, which is easily the best ever for a musical biopic (Straight Outta Compton<\/em>\u2018s preview cash was $4.96M, which translated into a $60.2M record start for the subgenre). <\/p>\n \n\tWe told you earlier today that we heard presales for the Antonie Fuqua directed, Graham King produced, John Logan written movie were exceeding that of Project Hail Mary. <\/em>And here we are with Michael <\/em>showing better moves than Ryan Gosling and alien Rocky. That pic made $12M in combined previews which led to an $80.5M opening. <\/p>\n \n\tBut there\u2019s more: Michael<\/em>\u2018s previews buries that of John Wick: Chapter 4<\/em> ($8.9M) which was the biggest opening for Lionsgate post Covid debuting to $73.8M. Arguably, Michael<\/em>\u2018s preview cash is the best for Lionsgate since 2015\u2019s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 <\/em>($16M). <\/p>\n \n\tThere\u2019s a slew of other previews which Michael <\/em>is beating, i.e. Dune: Part Two <\/em>($12M), Toy Story 4 ($12M), A Minecraft Movie<\/em> ($10.55M) and Oppenheimer <\/em>($10.5M) to name a few. <\/p>\n \n\tA great sign for business: Michael <\/em>is 96% with Rotten Tomatoes audiences, burying its 40% critical score (film reviewers have clutched their pearls as Michael <\/em>doesn\u2019t delve into the accusations leveled against the King of Pop). However, if you\u2019re a smart moviegoer, you\u2019ll notice the groundwork which Fuqua is laying for part two. <\/p>\n