Movie 'Michael' surpasses $1 billion, the highest for a biopic
The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' has surpassed $1 billion in cumulative revenue, overtaking 'Oppenheimer' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' to become the highest-grossing biographical film of all time.
First Biopic to Reach the $1 Billion Milestone
The film 'Michael', which depicts the life of Michael Jackson, has become the first biopic in Hollywood history to surpass $1 billion in cumulative earnings.
As of July 12, the cumulative global revenue stands at $1,001,695,780. Released this past April, the film earned $371,854,578 in the North American market and recorded $629,836,000 in international markets outside of North America. International sales account for 62.9% of the total. The Korean market also saw a massive turnout, with cumulative domestic revenue reaching 17,900,68,780 KRW and a cumulative audience of 1,628,760.
It has also shattered all previous records. It surpassed the $975,811,333 record set by director Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' for the highest-grossing biopic of all time. It also overtook the $903,655,259 record held by 'Bohemian Rhapsody', the most successful musical biopic. Lionsgate, the distributor, has produced the first $1 billion film in the history of independent studios.
Jaafar Jackson's Passionate Performance and Recreation of the Jackson 5 Era
Directed by Anton Fuqua, 'Michael' captures the journey of Michael Jackson from his childhood as a member of the 'Jackson 5' to his growth into a global pop star.
While critical reviews were mixed, the high degree of resemblance and the passionate performance by Michael Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, drove the film's success by eliciting strong reactions from music fans worldwide. Lionsgate handled the North American distribution, while Universal Pictures was responsible for international distribution.
Second Highest Grossing Film Among 2026 Releases
Among the films released this year, only two have exceeded $1 billion in global revenue: 'Michael' and 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie'. Currently, the year's top-grossing film, 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie', leads 'Michael' by a narrow margin with a total of $1,009,590,000. 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' recorded $429,810,000 in North America and $579,780,000 overseas. Among the films released in 2026, 'Michael' currently ranks second in global revenue, following 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie'.
