'Michael' Breaks Box Office Ceiling for Music Biopics, Surpasses $1 Billion Globally

The Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" has crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, becoming the first biographical film to reach that milestone, according to Variety. The film earned $371.8 million domestically and $629.8 million overseas, as reported by Variety and Deadline. It is Lionsgate's first title ever to clear $1 billion, surpassing the studio's previous highest-grossing film, "Hunger Games: Catching Fire" ($865.2 million), Deadline noted.

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Variety'Michael' Becomes First Biopic to Cross $1 Billion at Global Box OfficeDeadline'Michael' Becomes Lionsgate's First Film to Cross $1 Billion at Global Box Office

The achievement came after 12 weekends in release, making it the second movie in 2026 to hit the billion-dollar threshold after "Super Mario Galaxy," according to Deadline. Media Play News reported that the film's successful theatrical run in Japan helped push it over the top, with Lionsgate distributing domestically and partnering with Kino Films in Japan, while Universal Pictures International handled most other international markets.

Media Play NewsLionsgate/Universal’s ‘Michael’ Music Biopic Tops $1 Billion at Global Box Office

Music biopics typically struggle to generate blockbuster numbers, making "Michael" an outlier. As Comic Basics observed, "Music biopics rarely find themselves mentioned in the same breath as summer’s biggest blockbusters, let alone competing directly with them at the top of the annual box office charts." :: Comic Basics The film opened strongly in April with $97 million domestically and $217 million globally, shattering opening weekend records for musical biopics, Variety reported.

Despite its box office success, the film has faced critical backlash and behind-the-scenes controversies, according to Variety. MJVibe noted that the achievement would cement "Michael" as not only the highest-grossing music biopic of all time but also the first film in Lionsgate's history to reach the billion-dollar milestone. The Antoine Fuqua-directed movie’s global haul underscores the enduring appeal of the King of Pop, even as it navigated mixed reviews and ongoing scrutiny.