Michael creates box office history

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael has become the highest-grossing biographical film in history, earning more than USD 977.5 million at the worldwide box office. The film has overtaken Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, which finished its theatrical run with USD 975 million, to claim the record.

Released on April 24, the film stars Jaafar Jackson, nephew of the King of Pop, in his feature-film debut. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael follows Jackson’s extraordinary rise from his early years with the Jackson 5 to the record-breaking Bad World Tour during the late 1980s.

The biopic has also become the highest-grossing musical biopic ever, surpassing 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which earned USD 911 million worldwide. 

Top grossing biopics

Rank Film Worldwide Gross

1 Michael (2026) USD 977.5M+

2 Oppenheimer  USD 975M

           (2023)

3 Bohemian           USD 911M

Rhapsody (2018)

4 American Sniper USD 547.4M

(2014) 

5 The Passion of the USD 612M

Christ (2004)

6 The Blind Side          USD 309.2M

(2009) 

7 The Wolf of          USD 406.9M

Wall Street (2013)

8 Catch Me If          USD 352.1M

You Can (2002) 

9 Rocketman (2019)  USD 195.3M

10 Elvis (2022)          USD 288.7M