A little more than two months after its premiere, Michaelthe film about the life of Michael Jacksonbecame the highest-grossing biographical film of all time.
The production, released on April 23, 2026already totals US$977 million raised worldwidewhich surpassed Oppenheimerby director Christopher Nolan, which held the record among films based on real people, with US$975 million grossed worldwide, according to Variety.
Michael It had already been emerging for weeks as the highest-grossing musical biographical film, after surpassing Bohemian Rhapsodyabout Queen, released in 2018, which generated US$911 million worldwide and is now in third place by box office.
Even though Film critics have complained that it offers a sugarcoated view of Jackson’s life, while omit sexual abuse accusations against the singer during the last stage of his careerthe feature film has grossed US$607.2 million outside the United States and US$370.2 million in that country.
The success came from its premiere, when it obtained US$97 million in the United States and US$217 million worldwide.breaking the box office record for musical biopics set by Straight Outta Comptonfrom 2015, which had achieved US$60 million.
The production about the author of Thriller It is distributed by Lionsgate in the United States and by Universal in international markets. It has remained a box office success during the competitive release season, according to the specialized magazine.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael narrates the artist’s career since his participation in the group The Jackson 5made up of four of his brothers, until becoming the “King of Pop”.
Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, made his acting debut to play the singer. The cast also includes Colman Domingo and Nia Long as his parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson.
Among other records, Michael is already Lionsgate’s highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), from 2013which raised US$865 million, without adjusting for inflation.
According to Varietythe studio is expected to greenlight at least one more film about Jackson’s life.