‘Michael’ Aims to Surpass ‘Oppenheimer’ as Highest-Grossing Biopic Ever
When the film about the King of Pop debuted in April, discussions centered on whether it could rival the success of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ which released nearly a decade ago. That question has been decisively answered. The Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael,’ directed by Antoine Fuqua and featuring Jaafar Jackson as his iconic uncle, has not only matched but surpassed the Freddie Mercury story. Now, the film is setting its sights on an even loftier goal.
Eight weekends into its global theatrical release, ‘Michael’ continues to defy the typical trajectory of most blockbusters. After seven weeks, it has amassed an impressive $932.2 million worldwide, with international audiences contributing $569.5 million, accounting for 61.1% of the total, while domestic earnings have reached $362.8 million. Remarkably, its momentum has not waned; in several key markets, it has actually accelerated.
The eighth weekend yielded figures that astonished analysts. According to film analyst Luiz Fernando, the film added an estimated $19.1 million overseas during its eighth weekend, with a near-zero percent drop, a result he attributes to Japan’s wide theatrical debut finally joining the global tally. In contrast, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ experienced a 15% drop internationally at the same point in its run, while ‘Oppenheimer’ saw a 60.8% decline. This context reframes ‘Michael’ not just as a commercial success but as a genuine phenomenon.
If ticket sales continue to rise and exceed $975 million, ‘Michael’ will surpass ‘Oppenheimer’ to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time, having already dethroned ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ at $911 million as the biggest music biopic ever. This achievement places the film in an elite category, currently ranking as the second-highest-grossing biopic overall, trailing only ‘Oppenheimer’ at approximately $975.8 million.
With Japan maintaining strong performance and other international markets like Russia still contributing to the total, industry experts believe ‘Michael’ has a genuine chance of reaching $1.05 billion before its theatrical run concludes. This would not only make it the highest-grossing biopic ever but also the second film of the year to hit the billion-dollar milestone globally, following ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.’
The significance of late-opening markets in ‘Michael’s success cannot be overstated. Japan, which only received a wide release on June 12, has provided the necessary fuel for this final surge. Lionsgate collaborated with Kino for the Japan release, while Russia, managed separately through Volga, had already contributed $10 million to the overall total even before Japan’s opening weekend figures were included.
The film generated over $44 million worldwide in just one week during this period, demonstrating that its theatrical run still has considerable momentum. For a film with a reported production budget close to $200 million, its sustained performance across eight weekends and 85 markets validates both the subject matter and its execution.
This achievement means producer Graham King has now set a new all-time record for music biopics twice. He produced both ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Michael,’ making him the only producer in history to simultaneously hold the top two spots in this category. The Lionsgate and Universal co-production has allowed Universal to generate $540.5 million of the international total after acquiring foreign theatrical and ancillary rights, a deal structure that has proven immensely profitable for both parties.
What started as a film facing years of delays, contentious reshoots due to legal disputes over its original script, and uncertainty about audience turnout has transformed into one of the defining theatrical events of recent memory. The King of Pop’s influence on global popular culture remains as potent as ever, and the box office figures are making that case more compelling than any argument could.
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