The Michael Jackson biopic Michael, starring Jaafar Jackson, has ended its worldwide theatrical run with a staggering $1.028 billion global haul, making it the highest-grossing biopic of all time and the first film based on a real person to cross the billion-dollar mark.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film opened in cinemas in April and proved its commercial appeal immediately — a domestic opening of around $97.2 million and an opening weekend of over $217 million worldwide. The momentum carried through the following months, pushing it past the $1 billion line and into the record books.
By the numbers
According to Box Office Mojo figures cited by Times Now, Michael grossed $1,028,706,645 worldwide — approximately $372.3 million domestically and $656.4 million from international markets. Overseas audiences contributed roughly 64 per cent of the final worldwide total.
The film had already overtaken Bohemian Rhapsody to become the biggest music biopic at the international box office, and its final run saw it beat Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer for the all-time biopic record.
A rare billion-dollar year
Michael finishes as one of only a handful of 2026 releases to cross $1 billion worldwide, alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day (about $2.49 billion), Nolan's The Odyssey (about $1.75 billion), Toy Story 5 (about $1.15 billion) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (about $1.012 billion).
Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of the legendary singer, plays the lead, charting the story from his childhood days in the Jackson 5 to his status as one of the most influential entertainers in music history. The cast also includes Colman Domingo as Joseph Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson. The project was created in partnership with the Michael Jackson estate, with Lionsgate handling domestic distribution and Universal much of the international release.
Sources: Michael Lifetime Collection: Jaafar Jackson Film Ends Box Office Run At Massive $1 Billion
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film opened in cinemas in April and proved its commercial appeal immediately — a domestic opening of around $97.2 million and an opening weekend of over $217 million worldwide. The momentum carried through the following months, pushing it past the $1 billion line and into the record books.
By the numbers
According to Box Office Mojo figures cited by Times Now, Michael grossed $1,028,706,645 worldwide — approximately $372.3 million domestically and $656.4 million from international markets. Overseas audiences contributed roughly 64 per cent of the final worldwide total.
The film had already overtaken Bohemian Rhapsody to become the biggest music biopic at the international box office, and its final run saw it beat Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer for the all-time biopic record.
A rare billion-dollar year
Michael finishes as one of only a handful of 2026 releases to cross $1 billion worldwide, alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day (about $2.49 billion), Nolan's The Odyssey (about $1.75 billion), Toy Story 5 (about $1.15 billion) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (about $1.012 billion).
Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of the legendary singer, plays the lead, charting the story from his childhood days in the Jackson 5 to his status as one of the most influential entertainers in music history. The cast also includes Colman Domingo as Joseph Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson. The project was created in partnership with the Michael Jackson estate, with Lionsgate handling domestic distribution and Universal much of the international release.
Sources: Michael Lifetime Collection: Jaafar Jackson Film Ends Box Office Run At Massive $1 Billion
