'Michael' Crosses $1 Billion, Becomes Highest Grossing Biopic Ever

Michael has officially entered the $1 billion club , becoming the first-ever Lionsgate film to achieve the historic milestone. The musical biopic reached the landmark after 12 weekends in theatres, making it only the second Hollywood film of 2026 to cross the billion dollar mark after Super Mario Galaxy .

The film has rewritten Lionsgate's record books by overtaking The Hunger Games: Catching Fire , which previously held the studio's highest worldwide total with $865.2 million . With an impressive $1.001 billion-plus global haul, Michael now stands as the biggest box office success in the studio's history.

The worldwide total includes $371.8 million from North America and $629.8 million from overseas markets. A strong launch in Japan , one of Michael Jackson's biggest fan bases, played a crucial role in pushing the film past the billion dollar mark, while the movie continues to perform in several international territories.

The milestone has also reshaped the record books for its creative team. Produced by Graham King , Michael has surpassed the worldwide earnings of Bohemian Rhapsody to become his highest grossing production. It has also overtaken Oppenheimer's $975.8 million global total, making it the highest grossing biopic of all time .

Director Antoine Fuqua has delivered the biggest hit of his career, while screenwriter John Logan now boasts his second highest grossing film after Skyfall .

Celebrating the achievement, Fuqua said reaching the $1 billion milestone was a deeply humbling moment and credited the producers, cast, crew and audiences worldwide for embracing the story of one of music's greatest icons. He added that the film's success reflects cinema's ability to unite people across generations and cultures.

Despite facing controversies and mixed reviews before and after release, Michael has emerged as one of the biggest theatrical success stories of the year. The film also recorded the highest opening weekend ever for a biographical film , proving that audience interest in Michael Jackson's life remains unmatched.

The film stars Jaafar Jackson in his feature film debut as his legendary uncle Michael Jackson . The cast also includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Mike Myers and Juliano Valdi .