‘Michael’ moonwalks back to the top of the box office

Hello! Welcome to The Box Office Report for the weekend of May 15-17, 2026.

1. Michael

Weekend gross: $26.1M
Total domestic gross: $282.8M
Last weekend: 3rd
Percent drop: 31

The Michael Jackson biopic got an unexpected curtain call this weekend, jumping back to the No. 1 spot after spending the past two weekends behind The Devil Wears Prada 2. Michael didn’t suddenly start making more money than it previously had, instead falling only 31 percent from last weekend compared to The Devil Wears Prada 2’s 57 percent drop.

The biopic is a lock for crossing $300 million in North America now. Michael currently sits at $282.8 million, and it should soon join The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($481.6 million) and Project Hail Mary ($334.9 million) in the $300 million club.

Four of the five movies at the top of the box office chart this weekend were carryovers from last weekend. That’ll change when The Mandalorian and Grogu becomes the first Star Wars movie to hit theaters since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker next weekend.

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2. The Devil Wears Prada 2

Weekend gross: $18M
Total domestic gross: $175.9M
Last weekend: 1st
Percent drop: 57

Despite dropping down to No. 2, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is still closing on the $200 million mark in North America. The long-awaited sequel has already crossed the $500 million mark worldwide, effortlessly blowing past the final $326.1 million tally of the original Devil Wears Prada.

3. Obsession

Weekend gross: $16.1M
Total domestic gross: $16.1M
Last weekend: New release
Percent drop: NA

The buzz around Curry Barker’s Obsession has been super strong. I did myself a favor and read the film’s Wikipedia page, and I don’t think this’ll be one that I check out myself. But $16.1 million of you helped the horror film become the only new release to crack the top five this weekend!

4. Mortal Kombat II

Weekend gross: $13.4M
Total domestic gross: $62.2M
Last weekend: 2nd
Percent drop: 65

Mortal Kombat II crashed this weekend, tumbling 65 percent from its debut. That drop put the sequel behind Obsession in addition to letting Michael moonwalk back into the No. 1 spot.

There’s still good news for Mortal Kombat II. The film has now outgrossed its 2021 predecessor in every metric, going up $62.2 million to $42.3 million in North America and $101.2 million to $84.4 million worldwide.

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5. The Sheep Detectives

Weekend gross: $9.3M
Total domestic gross: $29.7M
Last weekend: 4th
Percent drop: 38

When I saw the trailer for The Sheep Detectives in theaters, I thought the film was a joke. But I’ve heard only wildly enthusiastic things about the movie. That strong word of mouth seems to have been enough to keep the Hugh Jackman film in the mix this weekend, dropping just 38 percent.

Beyond the Top Five

• Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D): The Billie Eilish concert film was the only film from last weekend’s top five to drop out of that cluster. And, wow, did it drop out hard. Despite still playing in 2,613 theaters, Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) plummeted 89 percent for a weekend total of $800,000.

Box office numbers via The Numbers based on Sunday estimates.

Popculturology is a publication of The Omnicosm.

Issue No. 452

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Popculturology is written and produced by Bill Kuchman.
Copyediting by Tim Kuchman.

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