The Michael Jackson biopic Michael has officially become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody and setting a new benchmark for the genre at the global box office.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, the film has earned an impressive $911.9 million worldwide. The total includes $358.6 million from domestic markets and $553.3 million internationally, placing it ahead of Bohemian Rhapsody, which concluded its theatrical run with approximately $910.9 million globally.
The film’s release in Japan is expected to provide an additional boost, with industry observers suggesting that Michael could become only the second film of 2026 to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide, following The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The success represents a major achievement for producers and distributors, including Lionsgate and Universal. Producer Graham King, who also backed Bohemian Rhapsody, has now surpassed his own previous record with the Jackson biopic. The film’s journey to release was not without challenges, however. Reports indicate that significant reshoots were required after concerns emerged regarding the depiction of one of Jackson’s accusers, leading to substantial script and production revisions.
Beyond its overall box-office performance, Michael has broken several industry records. It now stands as the highest-grossing music biopic worldwide, the largest domestic music biopic of all time, and Lionsgate’s most successful theatrical release globally. The film also delivered the biggest opening weekend ever for a music biopic and achieved record-breaking performances in numerous international territories.
In countries such as Brazil and France, Michael set new milestones for both the biopic genre and studio releases. More than 40 international markets exceeded the lifetime earnings of Bohemian Rhapsody, highlighting the global appeal of Michael Jackson’s story and enduring cultural legacy.
With Japan now joining its release schedule, Michael continues its remarkable march toward the billion-dollar milestone.
