Michael biopic hits $1 billion worldwide first in genre

The biographical film "Michael," chronicling the life of pop icon Michael Jackson, has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, becoming the first biopic in cinematic history to achieve the milestone. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson in his acting debut, reached the benchmark as of Sunday, July 12, 2026, after 12 weeks in theaters.

The film's journey to $1 billion began with its release on April 24, 2026, when it opened to a record-breaking $217 million worldwide, the largest debut ever for a music biopic. It has since shattered multiple records, first surpassing "Bohemian Rhapsody" to become the highest-grossing music biopic and then overtaking "Oppenheimer" to become the highest-grossing biopic of any kind. The film's final push past the billion-dollar threshold was aided by a recent opening in the Japanese market, which contributed an additional $35.7 million to its international grosses. The global total stands at $1.001 billion, with $371.8 million from North America and $629.8 million from overseas.

The achievement marks a historic first for its primary studio, Lionsgate, which had never before...