Michael makes box office world record: Jaafar Jackson starrer becomes first ever biopic to cross $1 billion milestone

Michael, the biographical drama based on the life of pop legend Michael Jackson, has created box office history by becoming the first biopic ever to cross the $1 billion mark globally. Led by Jaafar Jackson in his acting debut, the film has continued its strong theatrical run since its April release and has now entered a milestone that no film in the genre had achieved before.

According to Variety, the film has earned $629.8 million from international markets and $371.8 million in North America, taking its worldwide total to $1.001 billion. Apart from becoming the first biopic to reach the billion-dollar club, Michael has also become the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time.

Michael beats long-standing biopic records

The film has been setting records from the day it arrived in cinemas. It opened with $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide, surpassing the previous opening weekend record for a musical biopic held by Straight Outta Compton (2015), as reported by Variety.


Its latest achievement also means Michael has overtaken Bohemian Rhapsody, which finished its theatrical run with around $911 million worldwide, to become the highest-grossing musical biopic ever made.

The success is equally significant for Lionsgate. Michael is now the studio's biggest film of all time and the first Lionsgate release to cross the $1 billion mark globally. Before this, the studio's biggest worldwide hits were The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($865 million) and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 ($850 million), according to Variety.

Jaafar Jackson leads the story of the King of Pop

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, known for films such as Training Day and The Equalizer series, Michael traces the journey of Michael Jackson from his early years performing with the Jackson 5 to becoming the King of Pop.

Jaafar Jackson, the late singer's real-life nephew, plays Michael Jackson in his first acting role. The cast also includes Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Michael's parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson.

The film was developed with the support of several members of the Jackson family years after the singer's death in 2009 at the age of 50.

According to the film's official description, Michael offers an "honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated" music icon. As reported by People, the story ends in 1988 after Jackson's Bad era and focuses on his rise to worldwide superstardom. It does not cover the allegations that emerged against him in later years.

Sequel already confirmed

The film ends with a concert sequence at Wembley Stadium and the message, "His Story Continues," hinting at what comes next.

A sequel has already been confirmed. Reports suggest the follow-up may not continue directly from where the first film ends and is expected to explore a different period of Michael Jackson's life. According to multiple reports, the sequel could address the child sexual abuse allegations that were originally part of the screenplay before changes were made during production following legal issues involving the Jackson estate.