“Michael” has surpassed $1 billion in global ticket sales, becoming the first biopic to achieve the coveted box office milestone.
The crowd-pleasing film about Michael Jackson has generated $629.8 million overseas and $371.8 million domestically, bringing its global tally to $1.001 billion.
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‘Michael’ Surpasses ‘Oppenheimer’ as Highest-Grossing Biopic With $977 Million Worldwide
Despite noisy behind-the-scenes drama and a critical pile-on, “Michael” has been breaking records and shattering expectations since landing on the big screen in April. The movie opened to $97 million domestically and $217 million globally, shattering the opening weekend benchmark for musical biopics set by 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton” ($60 million). With positive word-of-mouth and audiences who returned a number of times, “Michael” remained a global box office powerhouse through the height of summer movie season.
Among its accolades, “Michael” stands as the highest grossing musical biopic, surpassing 2018’s Queen sensation “Bohemian Rhapsody” with $911 million worldwide, as well as the biggest film based on a real person, overtaking 2023’s “Oppenheimer” with $975 million. It’s also the largest film of all time for Lionsgate, as well as the studio’s first movie to ever reach $1 billion. Prior to “Michael,” Lionsgate’s highest-grossing releases were 2013’s “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” with $865 million and 2012’s “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2” with $850 million. Lionsgate produced “Michael” and handled the rollout in North America, while Universal distributed the movie at the international box office.
“Audiences have embraced the film from the beginning, turning it into a unique cultural phenomenon in theatres around the world,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson. “Their passion speaks to the enduring appeal of one of the greatest recording artists of all time, and it underscores the continued strength and vitality of the theatrical moviegoing experience.”
Only one other film, Universal’s animated “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” with $1.008 billion, has hit the billion-dollar mark in 2026 so far. Disney’s “Toy Story 5” has earned $879.1 million to date and should soon be the third of the year.
Antoine Fuqua directed “Michael,” which chronicles the performer’s journey from the Jackson 5 to his status as the King of Pop. Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s real-life nephew, portrays Michael Jackson in his acting debut, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long as parents, Joe and Katherine. Lionsgate is expected to greenlight at least one more film about Jackson’s life.
“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,” Fuqua said in a statement. “This achievement belongs to everyone who came together with a shared vision to honor one of the greatest artists the world has ever known. 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.”
