The Michael Jackson biopic _Michael_ continues its unprecedented theatrical run, hitting a huge box office milestone as it closes in on the all-time top 100 highest-grossing films worldwide. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as his real-life uncle, the controversial music biopic debuted on April 24, 2026, and immediately shattered records with a $97 million domestic opening, the biggest debut in history for a music biopic. By the end of its sixth weekend, _Michael_ had amassed a cumulative global gross of $808.6 million, comprising $339.9 million from domestic theaters and $368.7 million from international markets. That figure pushed the film past the $800 million mark, making it only the second music biopic ever to do so, behind _Bohemian Rhapsody_ at $911 million worldwide.
The milestone also propelled _Michael_ to No. 113 on the all-time worldwide chart, not adjusted for inflation, surging past major blockbusters like _The Da Vinci Code_ at $801.3 million, _Jumanji: The Next Level_ at $801.7 million, and _Shrek the Third_ at $808.3 million. The film’s momentum has been remarkable since week one, when it delivered a record-setting $217 million global opening and quickly passed $400 million, then $700 million by its fourth weekend. Lionsgate reported that _Michael_ returned to No. 1 internationally in week four with over $57 million, bringing its total to $703 million worldwide before Japan’s June 12 release was even factored in.
Despite mixed reviews and criticism for ending its story at the 1988 Bad tour without addressing later allegations of child sexual abuse, audiences have embraced the film. It earned an A- CinemaScore and sparked a cultural resurgence for Jackson’s catalog. The week of May 8 through May 14, Michael Jackson became Spotify’s Top Global Artist, the first time he held that title. “Billie Jean” soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 more than 43 years after its release, and Jackson became the first artist in 2026 to simultaneously top music and box office charts. He also returned to No. 1 on Billboard’s Artist 100, only the sixth artist ever to reach the top of that chart posthumously.
With Japan still to open and strong holds week to week, industry analysts note that _Michael_ has a real chance of surpassing _Bohemian Rhapsody_ to become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time. Whether it crosses $900 million or even the coveted $1 billion mark, the film has already redefined the commercial ceiling for biopics, proving that Jackson’s global appeal remains a box office thriller nearly 17 years after his death.
