'Michael' becomes first biopic to surpass $1 billion at global box office

The milestone comes weeks after the film surpassed 'Oppenheimer' to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael has made box office history by becoming the first biographical film ever to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide, setting a new benchmark for the genre.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's real-life nephew, in his feature film debut, Michael has now earned more than $1 billion globally, overtaking every biopic that came before it. The milestone comes just weeks after the film surpassed Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time.

The film has enjoyed extraordinary success since its April release, opening to a record-breaking $217.4 million worldwide, including a $97 million domestic debut, the biggest opening weekend ever for a biographical film.

Michael chronicles the life and career of the King of Pop, following his rise from child star with the Jackson 5 to one of the most influential and best-selling artists in music history. Alongside Jaafar Jackson, the cast includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson and Miles Teller as longtime attorney John Branca.

The achievement is a major victory for Lionsgate, with Michael now standing as the studio's highest-grossing release ever. The film's performance has also fuelled renewed interest in music biopics, with several major studios accelerating projects centred on iconic recording artists.

Industry analysts have credited the film's broad appeal to Michael Jackson's enduring global fanbase, positive audience word of mouth and strong international performance. The biopic has consistently delivered robust ticket sales across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America throughout its theatrical run.

The historic milestone comes as Hollywood continues to embrace the biopic genre, though none has previously reached the billion-dollar threshold. Before Michael, the record belonged to Oppenheimer, which grossed approximately $977 million worldwide before being overtaken by the Jackson film earlier this summer.

With Michael continuing its theatrical run in several markets, its global total is expected to climb even higher, further cementing its status as one of the biggest cinematic successes of 2026 and the most successful biographical film in box office history.