More than 17 years after his death, Michael Jackson is still breaking records. Antoine Fuqua’s Michael, led by Michael’s nephew Jafar Jackson in his big-screen debut, has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office, making history as the highest-grossing biopic of all time. In the process, the film has overtaken some of the genre’s biggest blockbusters, proving that the King of Pop’s legacy continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
Michael has become the biggest biopic in history
Before making history with the $1 billion milestone, Michael had already overcome two major hurdles. It first surpassed the 2018 Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which finished its theatrical run with $911 million worldwide. Soon after, it overtook Christopher Nolan’s 2023 hit Oppenheimer to hold the title of highest-grossing biopic of all time with global collections of $977 million.
Lionsgate has perhaps emerged as the film’s biggest winner. At a time when several major Hollywood studios reportedly passed on the project, independent studios decided to back Michael with Universal Pictures and Kino Films. It was a bold move and it delivered results that far exceeded expectations.
According to The New York Times, the film became the first billion-dollar film to be owned and released by an independent studio. In addition to its massive success for the Jackson estate, the record-breaking run also marked a historic moment for Lionsgate, proving that taking the risk was worth it.
Critics were divided, audiences were not.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, Michael received overwhelming support from audiences. The film has a critics score of a modest 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, but fans tell an entirely different story, giving it an excellent audience score of 97%.
A big reason behind that reaction has been Jafar Jackson’s performance as his famous uncle. His portrayal impressed audiences, many of whom returned to theaters to experience the film again. This excitement translated into a massive opening weekend gross of $217 million worldwide, the largest ever for a musical biopic. Instead of fading after its debut, Michael continued to draw crowds week after week through strong word-of-mouth promotion, eventually crossing the $1 billion mark after about three months on the big screen.
What’s Michael about?
Along with Michael Jackson’s personal and professional development, the story explores the relationships, conflicts, and ambitions that defined the family’s early years. Jafar Jackson played the role of young Michael, while Juliano Cru Valdi portrayed the younger version.
Colman Domingo played Joe Jackson, Nia Long played Katherine Jackson, while Jessica Sula appeared as Michael’s older sister, La Toya Jackson.
The story of The Jackson 5 is also central to the film. Different actors portrayed the brothers at different stages of their lives, with Jamal R. Henderson and Jaden Harville playing Jermaine Jackson, Trey Horton and Jaylen Lyndon Hunter playing Marlon Jackson, Ryan Hill and Judah Edwards playing Tito Jackson, and Joseph David-Jones playing Jackie Jackson alongside Nathaniel Logan McIntyre. Interestingly, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter played the role of young Marlon in the first national tour of MJ: The Musical.
The film also introduced several influential figures who helped shape Jackson’s illustrious career. Miles Teller stars as longtime entertainment lawyer John Branca, while Kendrick Sampson plays producer Quincy Jones, the creative force behind landmark albums like Off the Wall and Thriller.