Michael Jackson’s biopic Michael has officially rewritten the record books. According to Billboard, the film has surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody to become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, earning US$911.9 million worldwide and counting.
The film, which stars Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, has taken in US$358.6 million in North America and a further US$553.3 million internationally. With its release now reaching Japan, industry watchers are closely watching to see whether Michael can become only the second film of 2026 to cross the US$1 billion mark globally.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the Lionsgate and Universal production has proved to be a major draw with audiences around the world. Its success has pushed past the previous record held by Bohemian Rhapsody, which finished its theatrical run with US$910.9 million worldwide.
The box-office achievements do not stop there. Michael delivered the biggest global opening weekend ever for a music biopic, became the highest-grossing biopic in the US, and broke records in markets including France. It is also now Lionsgate’s highest-grossing theatrical release worldwide.
The road to the big screen was not entirely smooth. The production underwent US$50 million in reshoots after the Jackson estate raised concerns about a storyline included in the original screenplay. Despite the costly revisions, the film has maintained strong box-office momentum and continues to draw audiences around the world.
The film’s success is also a reminder of Michael Jackson’s lasting cultural impact. One of the best-selling artists in music history, he sold an estimated 350 million records worldwide and scored 13 solo US No. 1 singles, including hits such as “Billie Jean”, “Beat It” and “Black or White”.
Furthermore, he remains one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice — first as a member of the Jackson 5 and later as a solo performer.
