AceShowbiz - The biographical film Michael, centered on the life of Michael Jackson, has grossed over $1 billion globally, marking a historic milestone as the first biopic to reach this level of box office success. This achievement also makes it the first film from Lionsgate to cross the billion-dollar threshold in theatrical revenue.

Michael earned $371.8 million in the United States and $629.8 million internationally, with strong ticket sales across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and a significant late surge from Japan pushing it past the billion-dollar mark. The film opened with the largest worldwide debut ever for a music biopic and set records for biopics in over 30 territories, as well as musical biopics in more than 50 markets. Despite mixed critical reviews, audience response remained very positive, reflected in an A-minus CinemaScore and consistent repeat viewings.

The movie was directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, chronicling Michael Jackson’s rise to stardom through the Bad era. Jaafar Jackson, the late pop icon’s nephew, made his feature film debut starring as Michael Jackson. The cast also includes Nia Long and Colman Domingo as Katherine and Joe Jackson, respectively. Produced by Lionsgate after other studios declined due to concerns about controversies surrounding Michael Jackson’s legacy, the film saw Universal Pictures partner with Lionsgate for international distribution, aiding its strong overseas performance.

This milestone not only cements Michael as the highest-grossing music biopic ever—surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody—but also the highest-grossing biopic overall, overtaking films like Oppenheimer. It represents a significant comeback for Lionsgate as an independent studio, highlighting enduring global interest in Michael Jackson’s life and career. Lionsgate has already confirmed development of a sequel covering later chapters of Jackson’s story, capitalizing on the film’s unprecedented box office run.