Published: : July 13, 2026, 10:24 AM
The musical biopic Michael has officially earned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office, marking an unprecedented achievement for the biographical-film genre. Reports published on July 12, 2026, place its global earnings at approximately $1.001 billion, including about $371.8 million from North America and $629.8 million from international markets.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the film stars Jaafar Jackson as his uncle, Michael Jackson. It follows the singer’s journey from his childhood performances with the Jackson 5 to his transformation into one of the world’s most influential entertainers.
Released internationally on April 24, 2026, Michael attracted enormous audience interest from its opening weekend. Its success was powered by Jackson’s worldwide fan base, famous musical performances recreated for the screen and strong ticket sales outside the United States.
The film has now passed Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biographical film of all time. It has also overtaken Bohemian Rhapsody, the previous record holder among musical biopics.
The achievement represents another important milestone for Lionsgate, as Michael is reportedly the studio’s first movie to enter the billion-dollar box-office club. Its extraordinary commercial performance demonstrates both the continuing global popularity of Michael Jackson’s music and the growing potential of biographical films to compete with major franchises and superhero productions.
Although the movie received mixed reactions from critics, audiences responded enthusiastically. Its historic earnings have made Michael one of the defining box-office stories of 2026 and established a new financial standard for future music biopics.
