"Michael," the biopic chronicling Michael Jackson's rise from the Jackson 5 to global superstardom, has crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the first biographical film of any kind to reach the milestone. Lionsgate confirmed the film hit $1.001 billion globally over the weekend, with $371.8 million earned domestically and $629.8 million from international markets.
The achievement puts "Michael" ahead of every music biopic that came before it, surpassing "Bohemian Rhapsody's" $910.8 million and even outpacing "Oppenheimer's" $975 million as a biography of any kind. It's also the first release in Lionsgate's history to cross the billion-dollar mark, topping the studio's previous record-holder, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." Only Universal's "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" has crossed $1 billion earlier in 2026.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Michael Jackson's real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in his acting debut, the film opened in April to a genre-record $217 million worldwide weekend and has kept drawing audiences through the summer on strong word of mouth. "Reaching this extraordinary $1 billion milestone with 'Michael' is a deeply humbling moment," Fuqua said in a statement, crediting the film's producers, cast, and crew.
The box office run has fueled a broader Jackson revival. His Spotify monthly listeners have climbed from roughly 68 million before the film's release to about 105 million now.
Three months after release, "Michael" isn't just breaking box office records. It's putting Jackson's full story, faith included, back in front of a new generation.
Related Article: "Michael" Becomes Highest-Grossing Music Biopic of All Time
