The Michael Jackson biographical drama Michael has officially become the highest-grossing biopic ever released, overtaking Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer after earning an estimated $977 million at the worldwide box office.
The film edges past Oppenheimer, which previously held the record with a global gross of approximately $975 million, making Michael the most commercially successful biographical film in cinema history.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie has also become the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody, which concluded its theatrical run with more than $911 million worldwide.
Record-Breaking Global Performance
Since arriving in cinemas in April, Michael has generated roughly $607.2 million from international markets alongside $370.2 million in North America.
The film also delivered one of the strongest debuts ever for the genre, opening with $97 million domestically and approximately $217 million worldwide during its first weekend.
Those figures established a new opening-weekend record for a musical biopic, comfortably exceeding the previous benchmark set by Straight Outta Compton.
Bringing the King of Pop to the Big Screen
The film follows Michael Jackson’s journey from his childhood as a member of the Jackson 5 to his rise as one of the most influential entertainers in music history.
Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, makes his feature-film acting debut in the lead role, portraying the legendary performer.
The cast also includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson.
Mixed Critical Reception
While audiences have embraced the film, critics have offered more divided opinions.
Some reviewers praised its performances, music and large-scale recreations of Jackson’s iconic concerts and music videos.
Others, however, argued that the film presents an incomplete portrait of the singer by omitting the child sexual abuse allegations that surrounded Jackson during his lifetime.
The filmmakers instead chose to focus primarily on his artistic legacy and career achievements.
Lionsgate’s Biggest Box Office Success
The film’s record-breaking performance has also made it the highest-grossing release in Lionsgate’s history, overtaking The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which previously held the studio’s box office record with approximately $865 million in global ticket sales.
Industry reports suggest Lionsgate is now considering expanding the project, with at least one additional film exploring different chapters of Michael Jackson’s life expected to move forward following the movie’s unprecedented commercial success.
