AceShowbiz - The Michael biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua has made a remarkable comeback to the No. 1 position at the box office in its fourth weekend, generating an impressive $27 million domestically. This resurgence follows the film surpassing the $600 million mark globally just days earlier, solidifying its status as a record-breaking success in the music biopic genre.

Michael has now become the highest-grossing music biopic in North America, overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody in unadjusted gross revenues. The film, produced by Graham King and distributed by Lionsgate, has been buoyed by strong attendance in premium formats such as Imax, which has played a crucial role in its sustained box office dominance.

The film's rise to the top comes amid the underperformance of the recent video game adaptation Mortal Kombat II. Despite initially capturing nearly all Imax screens last weekend, Mortal Kombat II has failed to expand its appeal beyond its core fanbase and is expected to see a steep decline of up to 67 percent in its second weekend, with projected domestic earnings of $12 million to $13 million.

Meanwhile, the 40th-anniversary celebration of Tom Cruise’s Top Gun franchise, featuring screenings of both the original film and Top Gun: Maverick, has also benefited from premium large-format presentations. This double feature is anticipated to earn approximately $2.6 million, contributing to the strong weekend box office landscape.

Another major player in the box office race is David Frankel’s The Devil Wears Prada 2, which continues to perform well despite slipping to second place behind Michael domestically. The sequel recently crossed the $500 million global milestone, becoming the top-grossing female-led film since Barbie, not adjusted for inflation.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is projected to bring in around $20 million domestically during its third weekend, pushing its North American total to an estimated $178 million by Sunday. Though it has access to a variety of premium large-format screens, it was not formatted for Imax screenings. However, Disney’s upcoming Memorial Day tentpole, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, is expected to dominate all premium large-format auditoriums worldwide upon its release.

Emerging director Curry Barker’s supernatural horror film, Obsession, is another title making waves in the current box office environment. After a strong opening, Obsession is set for a third-place finish with $15 million this weekend, an impressive feat given its modest $750,000 production budget. This figure surpasses the initial projections of $10 million to $12 million for the film’s debut.

Both critics and audiences have embraced Obsession, which holds a rare 94 percent approval rating from each group on Rotten Tomatoes as of midday Saturday. Barker, who has cultivated a dedicated following through his YouTube sketch comedy channel That's a Bad Idea, previously directed the viral found-footage serial killer feature Milk & Serial. His rising profile led to a deal with UTA, further fueling anticipation for his work.

Obsession, acquired by Focus Features at TIFF for approximately $15 million, stars Michael Johnston as a young man hopelessly in love with his friend Nikki, portrayed by Inde Navarrette. The plot centers on a mystical One Wish Willow that grants a single wish when split in half, which Johnston’s character uses to wish for Nikki’s love, leading to unforeseen and disastrous consequences. The cast also includes Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter.

Amazon MGM’s family-friendly animated comedy-mystery The Sheep Detectives is projected to round out the top five with around $10 million in its second weekend. The film features a flock of talking sheep determined to solve the suspicious death of their shepherd, played by Hugh Jackman. The shepherd regularly reads detective novels to the sheep, unaware they understand him. Notably, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, directors of the 2026 hit Project Hail Mary, serve as executive producers on this project.

In summary, the box office this weekend reflects a dynamic mix of strong holdovers and emerging hits. Michael leads the pack with a strong showing fueled by premium formats, while The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Obsession continue to attract audiences across genres. Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat II faces a significant drop, and family fare like The Sheep Detectives provides a steady draw. The upcoming release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is poised to further reshape the premium large-format landscape in the weeks ahead.