‘Michael’ Becomes the Highest-Grossing Musical Biopic Ever

The feature film “Michael,” about the life of Michael Jackson, has set a new global record and is now the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time. It has taken in $911.9 million worldwide, edging past “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which had earned about $911 million.

Produced by Graham King and directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film has made $358.6 million in the United States and $553.3 million in international markets. That performance also makes it Lionsgate’s most successful film ever and the highest-grossing biopic in the U.S.

The milestone came despite major production problems. The studio had to spend an extra $50 million on reshoots after the original John Logan screenplay included a reference to one of Jackson’s accusers, a character the singer’s estate insisted be removed from the story.

With the film arriving in Japan yesterday, Hollywood is already predicting that “Michael” could become the second film in 2026 to pass $1 billion in worldwide revenue. So far, it has set opening-weekend records in 65 markets and beaten “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 40 countries, including Mexico, Brazil and France, where it became the most successful biopic ever.