Is ‘Michael’ About to Cross the $1 Billion Mark at the Box Office?
Antoine Fuqua’s biopic ‘Michael’ has been steadily rewriting box office records over the past two months, showing no signs of slowing down even as the summer movie season heats up.
Initially facing production challenges, including costly reshoots due to legal concerns flagged by the Jackson estate, ‘Michael’ has transformed into one of the year’s most compelling box office narratives.
The film has already surpassed ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to become the highest-grossing music biopic ever, and it recently overtook Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ to claim the title of the highest-grossing biopic across all genres. These records, once thought nearly impossible for a film focused on a single musician’s life, have been shattered thanks to Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of his uncle.
Current box office tracking shows ‘Michael’ has grossed $977,864,221 worldwide, placing it just about $22 million shy of the coveted billion-dollar milestone. Japan has contributed significantly, with a reported $24,407,087, and projections suggest the territory could add between $55 million and $60 million as its theatrical run continues.
The Japanese release window is crucial, as industry analysts believe it could be the key factor in helping ‘Michael’ cross the billion-dollar threshold. With Lionsgate’s Kino distribution partnership ensuring the film remains in Japanese theaters well into the fall, estimates suggest that the milestone could be achieved by mid-July, allowing for a straightforward path to the record without needing a re-release.
Domestically, ‘Michael’ has already become Lionsgate’s highest-grossing release ever, surpassing ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ with a total of $370.2 million in North America and $607.2 million internationally as of the latest update. The film has impressively maintained daily grosses above a million dollars for 52 consecutive days in the U.S., a remarkable feat for a film centered around a single historical figure.
Interestingly, the film’s box office success contrasts sharply with its critical reception. ‘Michael’ holds a critics score in the high thirties on Rotten Tomatoes, primarily due to its omission of the child sexual abuse allegations that marred Jackson’s later years, while it boasts a 97 percent audience score. This disparity highlights the differing responses from critics and viewers regarding the film’s focus on Jackson’s rise rather than the more controversial aspects of his life.
If ‘Michael’ manages to cross the billion-dollar mark, it will be only the second film to achieve this in the 2026 global box office, following Universal’s ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie.’ It would also mark the first biopic in cinema history to reach this milestone, a feat that neither ‘Oppenheimer’ nor ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ accomplished despite their record-setting runs.
The film’s success extends beyond ticket sales, as streams of Jackson’s back catalog have surged since its release in April. Sony Music’s stake in his catalog, valued at up to $1.5 billion, is directly benefiting from this renewed interest. Additionally, Lionsgate is reportedly considering at least one more film that will explore further chapters of Jackson’s life, including his later years and his iconic 1993 Super Bowl halftime performance.
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