Michael Jackson Movie 'Michael' Becomes Highest-Grossing Biopic Of All Time
In its tenth weekend at the global box office, Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson movie Michael continues to make history, becoming the highest grossing biopic ever with $977.4 million, ahead of Universal’s Oppenheimer. Uni also handled the foreign release of Michael sans Japan and Russia where the Antoine Fuqua directed movie is still in theatrical release.
The amaze-amaze here is that Oppenheimer got to $975.8M off an Oscar season run, which notched 7 wins including Best Picture and Best Director for Christopher Nolan, but also a final territory boost from Japan which went very late on March 29, 2024, eight months after the pic’s July release.
Michael made $9.2M at the global box office this past weekend ($905K domestic via Lionsgate, foreign juiced by Kino in Japan where Lionsgate has a co-partnership deal). Running cume domestic is $370.2M and foreign stands at $607.2M from all territories (Universal tabulating $559.7M of that figure from their own markets). The anticipation is that the movie, which stars Jackson’s nephew, Jafar Jackson in the title role, will get to a billion worldwide. If it does, it will be the second film to do so in 2026 after Universal/Illumination’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Already, Michael is the highest grossing musical biopic ever, having surpassed producer Graham King’s own (he also produced Michael), Bohemian Rhapsody ($911M WW).
Interesting to note at least stateside that Michael pulled off its latest record while being on a 46-day theatrical window to PVOD. Oppenheimer was on a 123-day theatrical window to PVOD/DVD, and well over six month theatrical window before it landed on streaming service Peacock in the U.S.
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So it is better to have a shorter theatrical window before streaming? Films don’t want to make all they can in theatre before it doesn’t count at streaming?
They better keep this film in theaters as long as possible so it can earn over a billion dollars.
Easily could’ve hit a billion without rushing to digital. Ugh. Reminder: do NOT go negative in the sequel. Keep it a celebration of Michael.
It will hit 1 billion by mid July. Japan will keep it in theaters well into September, probably even October.
Can’t wait, MJ still breaking records even though he’s no longer here. I hope it’s next week, SHAMONE MICHAEL YOU CAN DO IT, ONE BILLION COMING SOON!!