Even though it can now be streamed from home, Michael continues to surpass significant theatrical revenue benchmarks.
Jaafar Jackson, who is actually Michael Jackson’s nephew, portrays the iconic entertainer in this popular biographical film. The movie enjoyed a stellar debut, earning $217 million worldwide and $97 million in the U.S. during its opening weekend alone. Since then, it has maintained strong performance in cinemas, recently crossing the $800 million mark globally and setting a record as the highest-grossing film ever for Lionsgate.
According to Deadline, Michael has now amassed $900 million worldwide, with $554.8 million from international markets and $355.2 million from domestic ones, and these numbers are still climbing. This achievement coincided with the day the film was made available for digital rental or purchase across various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. With this, Michael is now just $11 million shy of overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody, which currently holds the title of the highest-grossing music biopic at $911 million.
It is anticipated that Michael will soon surpass the record set by Bohemian Rhapsody. The real question now is whether it will be able to reach the $1 billion mark worldwide before its theatrical run concludes. So far, the only other film from 2026 to hit this milestone is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which achieved it after two months in theaters and a digital release on May 19. Michael, having launched on April 24, has been in theaters for a shorter period.
The film not only boasts remarkable box office figures but also enjoys a “Verified Hot” 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating widespread viewer approval. This strong positive response has contributed to its sustained success both in theaters and now digitally. Despite receiving a modest 39% score on the Tomatometer, the film received high praise in a review by Liz Declan from ScreenRant, who awarded it nine out of ten stars and heralded it as “a masterclass in what a biopic should be.”
The cast of Michael includes notable names such as Colman Domingo playing Joseph Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as John Branca, KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Bill Bray, and Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe. The film was directed by Antoine Fuqua, penned by John Logan, and produced by Graham King alongside Branca and John McClain, with King having also produced Bohemian Rhapsody.
Given the film’s numerous box office achievements, discussions about a sequel to Michael have begun. In an interview with ScreenRant, Jaafar Jackson expressed his keen interest in once again stepping into his uncle’s shoes to further explore Michael Jackson’s life and career in a potential follow-up film.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
