More than 17 years after Michael Jackson’s death, the King of Pop is once again making entertainment history. Michael, the long-awaited biographical drama directed by Antoine Fuqua, has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office, becoming the highest-grossing biopic ever made. The milestone cements Jackson’s lasting global influence while giving Lionsgate one of the biggest commercial victories in the studio’s history.
The achievement is even more remarkable considering the intense competition the film faced before release. While some major Hollywood studios reportedly decided not to move forward with the project, Lionsgate partnered with Universal Pictures and Kino Films to bring the story to cinemas. That gamble has now paid off in spectacular fashion, turning Michael into one of the biggest theatrical success stories of the year.
Michael Overtakes Every Major Biopic at the Box Office
Before reaching the billion-dollar milestone, Michael steadily climbed past several box office giants. It first surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody, the Freddie Mercury biopic that earned $911 million worldwide during its theatrical run. Soon after, it moved ahead of Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, which had previously held the record as the highest-grossing biographical film with $977 million globally.
According to The New York Times, the film has also achieved another significant milestone by becoming the first billion-dollar movie released and owned by an independent studio. That accomplishment has placed Lionsgate in an exclusive position within Hollywood, showing that independent studios can still compete with the industry’s biggest players when the right project connects with audiences.
The strong theatrical run also highlights Michael Jackson’s unmatched cultural impact. Decades after transforming music, dance and pop culture, his life story continues to attract audiences across multiple generations, from longtime fans who grew up with his music to younger viewers discovering his legacy for the first time.
Audiences Embraced the Film Despite Mixed Reviews
While critics were divided over the film, moviegoers delivered a completely different verdict. Michael currently holds a 40% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences responded with an impressive 97% audience score, reflecting overwhelmingly positive reactions from fans around the world. That gap between critics and viewers became one of the film’s biggest talking points throughout its theatrical run.
Much of that praise has been directed at Jaafar Jackson, who makes his feature film debut by portraying his famous uncle. Many viewers praised his performance for capturing Michael Jackson’s stage presence, voice, movement and emotional journey without feeling like a simple imitation. Positive word of mouth helped the film maintain strong box office momentum long after opening weekend, proving that audience support remained its biggest strength.
The film launched with an impressive $217 million worldwide opening weekend, setting a new benchmark for musical biopics. Instead of slowing down after its debut, ticket sales remained steady over the following weeks, eventually pushing the film beyond the historic $1 billion milestone after nearly three months in cinemas.
Inside Michael Jackson’s Life and the Jackson Family Story
Rather than focusing only on Michael Jackson’s rise to superstardom, the film explores the family relationships and personal challenges that shaped his early years. The story follows his journey from childhood through global fame while also examining the pressures, sacrifices and ambitions that surrounded the Jackson family. Jaafar Jackson portrays the adult Michael, while Juliano Krue Valdi appears as the younger version of the future music icon.
The supporting cast brings several important figures from Jackson’s life to the screen. Colman Domingo stars as Joe Jackson, while Nia Long plays Katherine Jackson. Jessica Sula portrays La Toya Jackson, adding another layer to the family’s complex story as it follows their rise through the music industry.
The film also spends significant time exploring the history of The Jackson 5, introducing different actors to portray Michael’s brothers across multiple stages of their lives. Jamal R Henderson and Jayden Harville play Jermaine Jackson, Tre Horton and Jaylen Lyndon Hunter portray Marlon Jackson, Rhyan Hill and Judah Edwards appear as Tito Jackson, while Joseph David-Jones and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre take on the role of Jackie Jackson. Interestingly, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter previously portrayed young Marlon in the national tour of MJ: The Musical, adding another connection between the stage production and the film.
Several influential figures who helped shape Michael Jackson’s legendary music career also appear throughout the story. Miles Teller plays longtime entertainment lawyer John Branca, while Kendrick Sampson portrays legendary producer Quincy Jones, whose collaborations with Jackson resulted in iconic albums including Off the Wall and Thriller. As Michael continues its record-breaking theatrical run, the film has not only rewritten the box office history books but also reminded the entertainment world why Michael Jackson remains one of the most influential artists popular culture has ever produced.
