According to Deadline, Michael has officially become the highest-grossing music biopic in cinema history, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody‘s long-standing worldwide box office record and adding yet another milestone to what has become one of the biggest theatrical success stories of 2026.
SHAMONE!!! It’s DONE!✅
No one above THE KING OF POP #MichaelJackson, as music biopic #MICHAEL officially became on THU the HIGHEST GROSSING MUSIC BIOPIC OF ALL TIME, beating #BohemianRhapsody’s 911M run at Global #BoxOffice, after reaching a 553.3M intl. cume overseas over 84… pic.twitter.com/SwS54A4yuC— Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) June 12, 2026
Deadline reported Friday that Michael reached an estimated $911.9 million worldwide, consisting of $358.6 million domestic and $553.3 million internationally, allowing it to overtake Bohemian Rhapsody‘s approximately $911 million global run. The achievement comes just days after industry trades reported the film had crossed the $900 million mark worldwide and was rapidly closing in on the record.
‘Michael’ Continues Historic Box Office Run
From the moment it debuted, Michael looked like it was headed for something special.
The film opened to a record-breaking $97 million domestic opening weekend and more than $217 million globally, becoming the biggest opening ever for a biopic. It quickly established itself as one of the year’s biggest box office draws and demonstrated that audience demand for a Michael Jackson film extended far beyond the United States.
Unlike many recent Hollywood releases that have seen front-loaded openings followed by steep declines, Michael displayed remarkable staying power. Week after week, the film continued adding substantial international revenue, eventually climbing past $850 million worldwide before making its push toward the music biopic crown.
The film’s success is particularly notable because it achieved these numbers before opening in Japan, one of Michael Jackson’s strongest international markets. The Japanese release launched Friday, giving the movie another potentially significant revenue stream as it continues its theatrical run.
Beating ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Was Once Considered Impossible
For years, Bohemian Rhapsody seemed untouchable.
The Queen biopic grossed roughly $911 million worldwide during its theatrical run and became one of the most successful music films ever released. The movie’s extraordinary performance set a benchmark that many analysts believed would stand for years.
Yet Michael not only challenged that record, it appears to have surpassed it.
An image from Michael – YouTube, Universal Pictures
What’s remarkable is that the film accomplished the feat despite arriving in a vastly different theatrical landscape. Since the pandemic, Hollywood has struggled to consistently produce billion-dollar hits, with many franchises seeing diminished audience interest. Meanwhile, Michael demonstrated that a compelling theatrical event tied to a globally recognized cultural figure can still generate massive turnout from audiences around the world.
The Next Target Is Oppenheimer
Now that the music biopic record appears to be secured, attention is turning toward an even bigger milestone.
Fernando noted that Michael could soon challenge Oppenheimer for the title of highest-grossing biopic of any kind. Oppenheimer saw a worldwide box office haul of $975.8 million. With Japan now contributing to the film’s international totals and the movie still generating revenue in multiple territories, some analysts believe a run toward the $1 billion mark is now a legitimate possibility. If this were to happen, Michael would become the first and only biopic to hit that historic landmark.
An image from Michael – YouTube, Universal Pictures
Just a few weeks ago, that would have sounded ambitious. Today, it looks increasingly realistic.
The film has already become Lionsgate’s biggest theatrical success in years and one of the defining box office stories of 2026. What began as a movie many expected to perform well has evolved into a genuine global phenomenon.
And if the momentum continues through Japan and the remaining international markets, Michael may not be finished breaking box office records.
Are you surprised that Michael has hit this box office milestone? Sound off and let us know your thoughts!
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