‘Michael’ Becomes Highest-Grossing Biopic of All Time, Surpassing ‘Oppenheimer’

The Michael Jackson biographical drama Michael has officially become the highest-grossing biopic in cinema history, overtaking Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer to set a new global box office record.

According to distributor Lionsgate, the film has earned approximately $977.4 million worldwide, surpassing Oppenheimer, which finished its theatrical run with about $975 million. The milestone comes just two months after Michael premiered in cinemas, making it one of the biggest commercial successes of 2026.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film stars Jaafar Jackson; the nephew of the late “King of Pop” in his acting debut as Michael Jackson. The movie chronicles Jackson’s rise from his childhood with The Jackson 5 to his emergence as a global music icon, concluding with the singer’s landmark Bad Tour in 1988.

The film has broken multiple box office records since its release in April.

It opened with a staggering $217 million worldwide during its debut weekend, setting a new record for the biggest global opening ever for a biographical film. Earlier this month, it also surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody to become the highest-grossing music biopic before eventually overtaking Oppenheimer for the overall biopic record.

Industry analysts attribute the film’s remarkable success to Michael Jackson’s enduring global popularity, particularly in international markets where the singer continues to command a massive fan base decades after his death.

While North America contributed significantly to the film’s earnings, international audiences have driven much of its commercial success.

The movie has performed exceptionally well across Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa, with Universal Pictures handling overseas distribution while Lionsgate managed its domestic release. Analysts believe the film could soon surpass the $1 billion mark if its strong international momentum continues.

Despite receiving mixed reviews from film critics, Michael has been embraced by moviegoers.

Critics praised Jaafar Jackson’s performance and Antoine Fuqua’s direction but remained divided over the film’s decision to end its story before the allegations that overshadowed Michael Jackson’s later years. Supporters argued the film successfully celebrates Jackson’s musical achievements, while critics said it avoided some of the most controversial chapters of his life.

Nevertheless, audience enthusiasm has remained strong, fueling repeat viewings and sustained box office growth.

The record-breaking success of Michael further cements Michael Jackson’s enduring cultural influence nearly two decades after his death.

The achievement is also a significant milestone for Jaafar Jackson, whose portrayal of his uncle has introduced him to global audiences, and for director Antoine Fuqua, whose film has become the most commercially successful project of his career.

With the film still showing in many cinemas worldwide and additional international releases continuing, industry experts believe Michael could soon become one of the few biographical films ever to cross the $1 billion global box office milestone, extending its lead as the highest-grossing biopic in cinema history.