'Michael' Surpasses $1 Bln Globally, Becomes 1st Biopic to Reach Box Office Milestone

The Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" has officially surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the first biographical film in cinema history to reach the milestone.

The Lionsgate production has earned $1.001 billion globally, including $371.8 million in North America and $629.8 million from international markets, following its theatrical debut in April.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael has broken several box office records during its run, including becoming the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time after surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody ($911 million), and the highest-grossing film based on a real person, overtaking Oppenheimer ($975 million).

The film also became Lionsgate's biggest release ever and the studio's first movie to cross the $1 billion mark. Before Michael, the company's highest-grossing films were The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($865 million) and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 ($850 million).

"Michael" stars Jaafar Jackson, the late singer's nephew, in his feature film debut as the King of Pop, alongside Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Joe and Katherine Jackson.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson credited audiences for the film's success, describing it as "a unique cultural phenomenon in theaters around the world."

Fuqua also celebrated the achievement, calling the milestone "a testament to the enduring power of cinema" and thanking audiences worldwide for embracing the story of one of music's greatest icons.

Michael is only the second film to surpass the $1 billion mark worldwide in 2026, following The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, while Toy Story 5 is expected to become the year's third billion-dollar release.