According to Variety , Michael grossed $977 million at the global box office, including $607.2 million internationally and $370.2 million in North America. With this achievement, the film officially surpassed Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biographical film of all time.
Previously, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer held the record with a global revenue of $975 million – a spectacular achievement for a historical drama film nearly three hours long and rated R.
In addition to breaking Oppenheimer 's record, Michael also became the highest-grossing musical biopic in history, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) - which grossed $911 million worldwide .
Michael Jackson is nearing the $1 billion revenue mark. Photo: Lionsgate .
Michael premiered in April, opening with $97 million in the US and $217 million worldwide. Thanks to positive word-of-mouth and repeat audiences, the film has maintained strong appeal even as it enters the competitive summer movie season. It is currently still in theaters.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael recreates Michael Jackson's journey from his days with the Jackson 5 to becoming the King of Pop. The main role is played by Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's nephew.
However, the film also faced mixed reviews from critics for being considered too "clean" about Michael Jackson's life. By omitting controversial aspects, Lionsgate focused on promoting the film's entertainment value, particularly the elaborate recreations of the famous singer's iconic concerts and music videos.