The Michael Jackson biopic Michael has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring the late singer’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, achieved this milestone on July 12, 2026, after 12 weekends in theaters. With this achievement, Michael becomes the first biopic in cinema history to enter the billion-dollar club. It has surpassed previous record-holders Bohemian Rhapsody ($911 million) and Oppenheimer ($975.8 million) to claim the title of the highest-grossing biopic ever made.
A Historic Box Office Run
Michael opened in theaters on April 24, 2026, with a massive $97.2 million domestic debut and $217 million globally. These numbers broke the opening weekend record for a musical biopic, previously held by Straight Outta Compton ($60.2 million). The film’s steady performance through the summer kept it in theaters and pushed it past several key milestones. On June 14, it surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody to become the highest-grossing music biopic. By June 28, it had overtaken Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biopic overall.
The film’s global earnings now stand at $1.001 billion, with $371.8 million from North America and $629.8 million from international markets. The release in Japan, one of Michael Jackson’s strongest markets, played a key role in pushing the film past the billion-dollar mark. Distributed by Kino Films, the movie has collected $35.7 million in Japan so far. The film also continues to generate revenue in Russia.
A First for Lionsgate
Michael is now the highest-grossing film in Lionsgate’s history. It surpassed the studio’s previous record-holder, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which earned $865.2 million during its theatrical run. This is also Lionsgate’s first film to ever cross the $1 billion mark. The film is the second release of 2026 to achieve this milestone, following The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which remains the year’s highest-grossing film with over $1.009 billion.
The Cast and Creative Team
Jaafar Jackson, the real-life nephew of Michael Jackson, makes his feature film debut in the title role. His performance has been widely praised by audiences. The supporting cast includes Nia Long and Colman Domingo as Michael’s parents, Katherine and Joe Jackson. Miles Teller plays lawyer-manager John Branca, and Laura Harrier and Mike Myers also appear in key roles. Juliano Krue Valdi portrays a younger version of Michael Jackson.
Antoine Fuqua directed the film from a screenplay by John Logan. Graham King, who previously produced Bohemian Rhapsody, produced Michael alongside John Branca and John McClain. For Fuqua, Michael is now his highest-grossing film, comfortably surpassing his previous best, King Arthur, which earned $203 million worldwide. For King, the film surpasses Bohemian Rhapsody to become his biggest production overall.
“Reaching this extraordinary $1 billion milestone with Michael is a deeply humbling moment that celebrates the tireless dedication of our incredible producers, cast, crew and partners. This achievement belongs to everyone who came together with a shared vision to honor one of the greatest artists the world has ever known.” – Director Antoine Fuqua
“I am profoundly grateful to the audiences around the globe who embraced this film, showed up in theaters, and connected with this story across generations and cultures. This historic milestone is a testament to the enduring power of cinema to bring us together, and it is a chapter in movie history I will never forget.” – Antoine Fuqua
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson also praised the film’s success.
“Audiences have embraced the film from the beginning, turning it into a unique cultural phenomenon in theatres around the world. Their passion speaks to the enduring appeal of one of the greatest recording artists of all time.” – Adam Fogelson
Behind-the-Scenes Challenges and Controversy
The path to Michael‘s release was not smooth. The production underwent significant reshoots reportedly costing between $40 million and $50 million. These changes came after the Jackson estate flagged a legal issue tied to a past settlement. That settlement barred the film from depicting one of Jackson’s accusers, Jordan Chandler. The original script reportedly included scenes about the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson and a police search of Neverland Ranch. Those scenes were removed during editing, and the film’s ending was reworked to focus on the 1988 Bad tour.
The film has faced sharp criticism for omitting major parts of Jackson’s life. It does not mention the child sexual abuse allegations that emerged starting in 1993, his 2005 criminal trial (where he was acquitted), his struggles with prescription drugs, his marriages to Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe, or his death in 2009. Critics have also noted that the film does not address the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland. Despite this, audiences have responded positively, giving the film strong word of mouth.
Fan Reactions and Audience Response
While critics gave largely mixed-to-negative reviews, audiences have embraced the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 97 percent fan approval rating but a critical score of just 38 percent. Moviegoers have shared overwhelmingly positive reactions on social media, with many describing Michael as one of the year’s most memorable cinematic experiences.
One X user wrote, “VERDICT LIED, HATERS CRIED” in response to the film’s success. Another fan commented, “There shouldn’t have been any doubt that this film would do a billion, I went to see the film twice and I’ve rarely seen cinema audiences so diverse”. A third fan shared, “Seen it now four times in the theater. Jaafar’s portrayal of his uncle is top notch. He really became Mike. The performances were the best part”.
The official Michael movie account on X celebrated the milestone, posting: “1 legend. 1 story. $1 billion at the box office. To every fan who bought a ticket, sang along, dressed up, and returned to the big screen again and again: thank you. This milestone belongs to you”.
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Sequel in Development
Lionsgate announced in May that a sequel covering Jackson’s later life is now in development. The follow-up may not follow chronologically from the end of the first film and looks set to address the child sexual abuse allegations that were removed from the original screenplay. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson told The New York Times that he expects to have “an update on a Michael sequel later this summer”.
Michael is currently the second-highest-grossing film of 2026, trailing only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. It is one of only three films since 2021 that have earned over $1 billion without being a sequel or remake, the others being The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Barbie. The film’s physical media release on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD is scheduled for July 14, 2026.
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