The King of Pop has officially claimed the throne at the box office. On July 12, data service Rentrak confirmed that Michael, the highly anticipated biographical film about Michael Jackson, officially crossed the $1 billion milestone globally.
The achievement is historic on multiple fronts: it is the first film in Lionsgate’s history to reach the billion-dollar mark, the highest-grossing biopic of all time (surpassing Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer), and the highest-grossing musical biography ever made (dethroning Bohemian Rhapsody).
Furthermore, it stands as the first time an independent studio has owned a billion-dollar film, marking an unprecedented corporate comeback for Lionsgate.
The path to $1 billion wasn’t built on a standard domestic blockbuster rollout; instead, it was fueled by a mix of monumental international endurance, a historic opening weekend, and multi-generational global fandom.
The film kicked off its theatrical run with immense momentum, pulling in a record-breaking $217.4 million worldwide during its opening weekend, instantly setting the record for the biggest opening ever for a biopic. Domestically, the film ultimately racked up over $371 million in North America, consistently driving high theater attendance in its initial weeks.
While domestic ticket sales provided a sturdy baseline, the true engine behind the $1 billion milestone was the international box office, which accounted for more than $620 million of the total gross.
The film found phenomenal “legs” across Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe, where Michael Jackson’s cultural legacy has strongly endured across multiple generations. A massive, highly anticipated theatrical release in Japan served as a critical final catalyst, pushing the film across the finish line.
Upon release, Michael faced incredibly mixed reviews from mainstream critics who questioned how the film would balance Jackson’s complex personal life and controversies.
However, general audiences and dedicated fans universally rejected the critical skepticism. General moviegoers swarmed theaters multiple times, driving a highly profitable theatrical run that wasn’t disrupted by heavy box office competition or the film’s subsequent release on premium digital platforms.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie stars Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in his literal feature film acting debut. Delivering a powerhouse performance that deeply resonated with global audiences, the young actor now shares the distinct honor of leading a billion-dollar hit right out of the gate.
With the first film covering the earlier portions of his career and his explosive rise to solo superstardom, the commercial success of Michael has opened the floodgates for what’s next.
Lionsgate is reportedly already looking toward late summer to provide an official update regarding a highly anticipated sequel.
