The Michael Jackson biographical drama Michael has achieved a historic milestone at the global box office, becoming the first biopic in film history to earn more than $1 billion worldwide. The film’s remarkable commercial success has also established it as one of the biggest movies of 2026.
According to reported box office figures, the film has earned $371.8 million in North America and $629.8 million from international markets, bringing its worldwide total to $1.001 billion.
Historic Achievement for Biographical Films
With this milestone, Michael has redefined expectations for biographical films. It is now one of only two films released in 2026 to surpass the $1 billion global box office mark, joining The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The film has also broken multiple industry records, including:
- First biopic to cross $1 billion worldwide.
- Highest-grossing music biopic of all time.
- Highest-grossing film based on a real-life person.
- Biggest box office success in Lionsgate’s history and the studio’s first billion-dollar film.
- Largest opening weekend ever for a music-based biopic.
Surpasses ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
The film has overtaken Oppenheimer, which earned approximately $975 million globally, to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time, regardless of genre.
It has also surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed around $911 million, making Michael the most successful music biopic ever released.
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The movie debuted with an impressive $217 million worldwide during its opening weekend, breaking the previous record for a music biopic that had been held by Straight Outta Compton.
Strong Audience Interest Before Release
Audience anticipation for the film was evident even before its release. The teaser trailer attracted more than 116 million views within its first 24 hours, setting a new record for both Lionsgate and any music biopic trailer.
The film was released in theaters on April 24, 2026, and is directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Cast and Sequel Plans
Michael stars Jaafar Jackson in the lead role as Michael Jackson, alongside Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.
Following the film’s record-breaking performance and strong audience response, a sequel is already in development, signaling that the story of the King of Pop will continue on the big screen.
