"Michael" surpasses "Oppenheimer" to become the highest-grossing biopic ever with $977.4 million worldwide

Box office milestone

Michael, the biopic of pop icon Michael Jackson, has amassed $977.4 million in global ticket sales after 10 weekends in theaters, according to Deadline. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, has earned $370.2 million from North American audiences and $607.2 million from international markets. Key overseas territories include the UK ($70 million), France (over $55 million and 5.4 million admissions), and more than $30 million each in Mexico, Brazil, and Australia. This haul eclipses the previous record-holder, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which ended its run with $975.8 million worldwide in 2023. Michael had already passed Bohemian Rhapsody ($911 million) earlier in June to become the highest-grossing music biopic.

From stage to screen

The film chronicles Michael Jackson's ascent from childhood fame with the Jackson 5 to his peak as the "King of Pop," covering landmark albums like Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, and concluding with the Bad World Tour in the late 1980s. Jaafar Jackson, the singer's nephew, was cast in his first acting role after a secret year-long preparation, as he revealed in an interview. Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer, Training Day) directs, with a supporting cast that includes Colman Domingo and Nia Long as parents Joe and Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller and Laura Harrier. Producer Graham King, who also shepherded Bohemian Rhapsody to box office success, adds another hit to his resume.

No one in my family knew anything for a whole year. I kept it quite secret until I felt comfortable enough to share it.

Critical scorn, audience embrace

Despite its commercial triumph, Michael has faced a harsh critical reception, registering a meager 38% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Many reviewers have faulted the film for its sanitized, hagiographic portrait of Jackson, notably omitting the child abuse allegations and the more turbulent aspects of his life. The film's narrative focuses tightly on his artistic genius, from the Jackson 5's early Motown hits to the record-shattering success of Thriller, without confronting the controversies that later engulfed him. Still, the public has turned out in massive numbers, driving the film to break multiple box office records. In France, it has already become the most-attended music biopic, surpassing La Môme. The disconnect between critic disdain and audience enthusiasm has become a defining feature of its run.

The path to $1 billion

Michael opened in April 2026 to a $97 million domestic weekend and a $217.4 million global launch, the biggest ever for a music biopic. After a 46-day exclusive theatrical window (much shorter than Oppenheimer's 123 days), it continued to draw crowds, eventually overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody's record earlier this month. On June 29, it passed Oppenheimer to claim the overall biopic crown. The film's staying power has been bolstered by a late boost from its Japan release, which contributed to a $9.2 million international weekend. Industry observers now expect Michael to cross the $1 billion threshold, a feat achieved only by Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie in 2026 so far. For Lionsgate, it has become the studio's highest-grossing release ever.