Michael Jackson’s legacy continues to captivate new generations, now also on the big screen. The film *Michael*, based on the life of the so-called “King of Pop,” has just achieved a historic milestone by becoming the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time.
According to figures confirmed by Lionsgate, the film had grossed a total of $932.2 million worldwide as of June 14, 2026, officially surpassing *Bohemian Rhapsody*, the blockbuster film inspired by Freddie Mercury and Queen, which had held the record since 2018 with $911 million.
The historic overtaking was sealed over the weekend of June 14, when the film starring Jaafar Jackson, nephew of the legendary singer, added another $4.1 million at the North American box office and made a successful debut in Japan with $6.7 million following its release there on June 12.
Michael Jackson’s movie makes history: The audience responded more positively than the critics
Although the film received mixed reviews from critics—and was even largely panned—the public’s enthusiasm ultimately propelled it to record-breaking numbers.
Several critics pointed out that *Michael* presents an overly favorable portrayal of the artist’s life, leaving out some of the most controversial episodes that marked his career. However, virtually all of them agreed in highlighting Jaafar Jackson’s performance, who received praise for his portrayal and for his striking physical and artistic resemblance to his famous uncle.
The public’s response was completely different. Since its release, the film has sparked enormous interest among Michael Jackson fans, who flocked to movie theaters in droves.
In its first weekend in the United States alone, *Michael* grossed $97 million, setting a new record for a musical biopic. The previous record was held by *Straight Outta Compton*, which had opened with approximately $60 million.
The road to success was not without its complications. During production, Lionsgate had to make costly changes to the project after discovering a legal issue related to the script’s content.
According to Deadline, the studio spent about $50 million on reshoots after discovering a legal clause that prevented the film from dramatizing the story of one of Michael Jackson’s main accusers.
The original screenplay, written by John Logan, included references to the complaint filed in 1993 by Jordan Chandler, who accused the singer of abuse when he was 13 years old. However, due to legal restrictions, the producers decided to modify the story to focus solely on the period between 1966 and 1988—several years before those allegations became public.
This decision led some experts to question the film’s approach, as they felt it omitted an important part of the artist’s life.
International support boosts fundraising
One of the factors behind Michael’s impressive commercial performance has been his success outside the United States.
According to data published by Billboard, 61.1% of worldwide revenue comes from international markets, confirming the enormous global reach that Michael Jackson continues to have decades after the height of his popularity.
Currently, the film ranks second among the highest-grossing movies released in 2026, trailing only *Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie*. It also far outperforms recent productions such as *Project End of the World*, *The Devil Wears Prada 2*, and *Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu*.
Behind this commercial phenomenon is a producer who had already found success in the musical biopic genre.
Graham King, who produced *Michael* alongside John Branca and the late John McClain, was also responsible for bringing *Bohemian Rhapsody* to the big screen.
With this latest triumph, King not only reclaims the title of the most successful musical biopic in history, but also breaks its own record set eight years ago.
Will it become the first biographical musical film to gross over a billion?
Despite setting a historic record, Michael still has one goal left to achieve.
Although it is already the most successful musical biopic ever made, it has not yet become the highest-grossing biopic of any genre. That distinction still belongs to *Oppenheimer*, directed by Christopher Nolan, which grossed an impressive $975.8 million worldwide.
Now all eyes are on the film’s performance in international markets, especially in Japan, where its release has gotten off to a promising start.
Industry experts believe that if it maintains a steady pace over the next few weeks, Michael It could become the first musical biopic in history to surpass the $1 billion mark at the box office, an achievement that would definitively cement the film’s commercial impact and reaffirm the enduring relevance of Michael Jackson’s artistic legacy.