According to Variety, the Michael Jackson biopic has officially surpassed $1 billion at the global box office.
The achievement marks the latest in a string of records for the Antoine Fuqua-directed drama, which has consistently exceeded industry expectations—and defied critics’ negative reviews—since opening in April. Starring Jaafar Jackson in his feature film debut as his famous uncle, Michael has become one of the biggest theatrical success stories of 2026.
An image from Michael – YouTube, Universal Pictures
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By the numbers, the film has earned $371.8 million domestically and another $629.8 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to $1.001 billion. Michael is only the second film released this year to reach the milestone, following The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Michael Keeps Shattering Records
Michael opened to a record-breaking $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide, setting new opening weekend records for both music biopics and biographical films overall. Strong word-of-mouth helped fuel impressive staying power throughout its theatrical run. The film also demonstrated unusually small week-to-week declines, allowing it to continue setting box office milestones well beyond its opening month.
In June, Michael became the highest-grossing music biopic of all time. The record had previously been held by 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which finished its theatrical run with $911 million worldwide. Many analysts believed that pre-pandemic benchmark would be difficult—if not impossible—to surpass in today’s theatrical environment.
Unlike superhero franchises or long-running action series, biopics typically depend on adult audiences and have historically generated far less revenue overseas. That made predictions of a $1 billion finish seem especially ambitious when Michael first entered theaters.
An image from Michael – YouTube, Universal Pictures
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Once the film opened in Japan, the conversation largely shifted from whether Michael would reach $1 billion to when. With international markets accounting for nearly two-thirds of its worldwide gross, the King of Pop’s global appeal has once again proven to be a major box office force.
Now, the film has surpassed Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, which earned $975 million worldwide, becoming the first biopic in cinema history to cross the $1 billion mark.
A Huge Win for Lionsgate
Even after a turbulent road to theaters that included extensive reshoots and a one-year release delay, Michael has become a massive success for Lionsgate. It now stands as the studio’s highest-grossing release ever, surpassing every film in both The Hunger Games and Twilight franchises while delivering one of the biggest hits in the company’s history.
Antoine Fuqua on the set of Michael – Lionsgate Movies, YouTube
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During the studio’s quarterly earnings call in May, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson confirmed that a sequel is already in development.
“We are really excited about the progress we’re making with respect to a second Michael film,” he told investors. “All the conversations that we’ve been having with all of the appropriate parties continue to go exceptionally well.”
What’s Next?
Whether another biopic can eventually match—or surpass—Michael‘s record remains to be seen. Covering Jackson’s later years would require tackling some of the most controversial chapters of his life. However, before the sequel was officially greenlit, Fogelson expressed confidence that there was still plenty of compelling material to explore, noting that the period included not only the allegations but also “some of his greatest music.”
For now, the King of Pop has added another historic accomplishment to his legacy—this time at the worldwide box office.
Are you surprised that Michael has broken another record? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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