"Michael" Crosses $900 Million Worldwide — The King of Pop Biopic Is About to Make History

"Michael" Crosses $900 Million Worldwide — The King of Pop Biopic Is About to Make History

If you haven't seen Michael yet, you're running out of excuses. Lionsgate's Michael Jackson biopic has officially crossed $900 million worldwide, and it's now just $11 million away from overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody ($911 million) as the highest-grossing music biopic of all time. Let that sink in — a movie about the King of Pop is about to become the king of music biopics.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King (the same producer behind Bohemian Rhapsody), Michael has been dominating theaters since its April 24 premiere. The film is now available on digital streaming via PVOD on platforms like Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and YouTube Movies for $24.99 — but the real story is how this film has become a cultural phenomenon.

Jaafar Jackson Steals the Show — And Might Just Win an Oscar

The biggest surprise? Jaafar Jackson — Michael's actual nephew — delivers a performance that has critics and audiences alike buzzing about Oscar season. He's not doing an impersonation; he's embodying his uncle from age 10 (played by young Juliano Valde) through the Jackson 5 era, all the way to the Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad years. The film ends in 1988 as Michael embarks on his Bad world tour.

The supporting cast is stacked too: Colman Domingo and Nia Long play parents Joe and Katherine Jackson, while Miles Teller portrays Michael's longtime manager John Branca. It's the kind of casting that makes a biopic feel alive rather than formulaic.

Why This Biopic Hits Different

Music biopics are a dime a dozen in Hollywood, but Michael stands apart for a few reasons. First, the family involvement — having Jaafar in the lead role adds a layer of authenticity that no outside actor could replicate. Second, Graham King clearly knows the formula: after winning four Oscars with Bohemian Rhapsody, he's applying the same blueprint to even greater commercial success.

• Box office: $346.6 million domestic, $554+ million international = $900M+ worldwide
• Record chase: Just $11M from dethroning Bohemian Rhapsody as the #1 music biopic ever
• Sequel already planned: Lionsgate is reportedly developing Michael 2 to cover the later years
• Streaming now: Available on PVOD for $24.99 purchase or ~$19.99 rental

The film's PG-13 rating also helped broaden its audience — families can watch it together, which explains the strong international numbers. In India alone, it's become the second-biggest Hollywood film of 2026.

The Bottom Line

Whether you're a die-hard Michael Jackson fan or just someone who appreciates a well-crafted biopic, Michael is worth your time. It's rare for a music biopic to be both a critical darling and a box office juggernaut — and even rarer for it to potentially break a record held by Bohemian Rhapsody for six years.

With Michael 2 already in the works and Oscar buzz building for Jaafar Jackson, this might just be the beginning of the next great Hollywood musical franchise. The King of Pop's legacy is in very capable hands.