The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' has officially become the first biographical film in cinema history to generate more than $1 billion at the global box office.
The milestone marks a major achievement for Lionsgate, with the studio celebrating its biggest theatrical release to date and its first film to reach the billion-dollar mark. The film has earned $371.8 million across North America, while international audiences have contributed a further $629.8 million, pushing its worldwide total beyond the historic figure.
'Michael' arrived with serious momentum, opening to $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide. Those figures set a new benchmark for the genre, overtaking the opening weekend record previously held by 2015's 'Straight Outta Compton'. Since then, the film has continued its impressive run, surpassing the $911 million global total of 2018's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' to become the highest-grossing musical biopic ever released.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film follows Michael Jackson's rise from his early years with the Jackson 5 to becoming one of the biggest entertainers the world has ever seen. Backed by the Jackson family, the project stars Jaafar Jackson, the late singer's nephew, in his first acting role, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long portraying Joe and Katherine Jackson.
The story focuses on his ascent to global superstardom and concludes in 1988, before the controversies that would later define much of the public conversation surrounding the artist. The result is a portrait centred on his musical legacy, cultural influence and record-breaking career.
