The Michael biopic has become the highest-grossing biographical film of all time after earning $977 million worldwide. The milestone surpasses the previous record held by Oppenheimer, which grossed $965 million. The achievement marks a major commercial success for the film based on the life of the late pop icon Michael Jackson.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, in the lead role. It also set a record for the highest-grossing music biopic after generating $217 million during its opening weekend in April. The strong performance has made it the third highest domestic-grossing release for Lionsgate.
The film follows Jackson’s journey from his early years with the The Jackson 5 through his record-breaking career, ending with his 1988 Bad Tour. It concludes by teasing a sequel that is expected to cover the remaining years of his life. However, the filmmakers have not confirmed what events the follow-up will include.
The production faced criticism for omitting child sexual abuse allegations made against Jackson. Reports indicated the filmmakers were legally restricted from portraying allegations involving accuser Jordan Chandler. According to Rolling Stone, those legal limitations reportedly forced major changes to the film’s third act and delayed its release by approximately one year.
Despite the controversy, Michael has attracted large audiences worldwide and established a new commercial benchmark for biographical films. Its record-breaking box office performance underscores the enduring global interest in Michael Jackson’s life, music, and cultural legacy.