en.malanginspirasi.com – The Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic film ‘Michael’ has crossed the coveted $1 billion mark, securing its place in cinema history as the first-ever biographical film to achieve this milestone.
Despite weathering behind-the-scenes drama and a wave of critical skepticisms prior to its April release, the film has proven to be an unstoppable juggernaut.
The film’s path to $1 billion was paved by explosive ticket sales both at home and abroad.
It reaches domestic box office for $371.8 million, international box office $629.8 million with total global tally as much as $1.001 billion
“Michael” shattered records with a $97 million domestic and $217 million global debut, easily surpassing the previous musical biopic record holder, Straight Outta Compton ($60 million).
In reaching the billion-dollar threshold, Michael has dethroned several cinematic giants to claim multiple titles.
It officially surpassed the 2018 Queen sensation Bohemian Rhapsody, which brought in $911 million worldwide.
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The film becomes the biggest film based on a real person as it overtook Christopher Nolan’s 2023 epic Oppenheimer, which topped out at $975 million.
Meanwhile, it also becomes Lionsgate’s biggest film of all time.
It is the studio’s first movie to ever reach $1 billion, overtaking previous studio record holders The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($865 million) and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 ($850 million).
“Audiences have embraced the film from the beginning, turning it into a unique cultural phenomenon,” said Adam Fogelson, Chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.
The Elite 2026 Billion-Dollar Club
So far in 2026, only one other film has crossed the ten-figure mark: Universal’s animated ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ ($1.008 billion).
However, Disney’s ‘Toy Story 5’ is hot on their heels, currently sitting at $879.1 million and expected to join them shortly.
The film follows Michael Jackson’s journey from his childhood days in the Jackson 5 to his meteoric rise as a solo global icon.
The project was uniquely a family affair, starring Jackson’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in a critically noticed acting debut.
The film also features heavyweights Colman Domingo and Nia Long as patriarch and matriarch Joe and Katherine Jackson.
Following this historic success, Lionsgate is reportedly already planning to greenlight at least one more film exploring Jackson’s life.
Reflecting on the historic achievement, director Antoine Fuqua expressed his gratitude:
“Reaching this extraordinary $1 billion milestone with ‘Michael’ is a deeply humbling moment. This achievement belongs to everyone who came together with a shared vision to honor one of the greatest artists the world has ever known,” he said.
“This historic milestone is a testament to the enduring power of cinema to bring us together, and it is a chapter in movie history I will never forget,” Fuqua concluded.
