Courtesy of Lionsgate
Less than two months after it premiered on April 24, Michael has become the highest-grossing biopic on a musician of all time. Deadline reports that the Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael Jackson biopic, which stars the late star’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the titular role, has brought in $911.9 million worldwide, surpassing 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Both films, notably, were produced by the same man, Graham King.
Per Deadline, Michael has also set a number of other records, including securing the largest global opening weekend sales ever for a music biopic. It’s the second-highest grossing film of 2026 thus far, following Universal, Illumination and Nintendo’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and it’s also the second-highest grossing biopic ever, behind Christopher Nolan’s 2025 film Oppenheimer.
Michael, which has been approved by the Jackson estate, was originally slated for a 2025 release. But that date was postponed due to a clause in a settlement with Jordan Chandler, who accused Jackson of sexual abuse in 1993. His deal with the Jackson estate contained a stipulation forbidding any depiction of him in a future film. Michael’s original ending reportedly focused on Chandler’s allegations, and the process of rewriting and reshooting a new third act, which follows the singer as he prepares for a massive solo tour in support of 1987’s Bad, cost between $10 million and $15 million.
Read Paul Thompson’s review Michael Review: Bad.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
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