The recently released Michael has become the highest-grossing biographical film in history, earning an impressive $977 million (£739 million) at the global box office and overtaking Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.
The milestone adds to the film’s growing list of achievements, having already become the highest-grossing musical biopic after surpassing the 2018 Queen film Bohemian Rhapsody.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael chronicles the life and career of the late Michael Jackson, tracing his journey from a child performer with the Jackson 5 to becoming the globally celebrated King of Pop. The title role is played by Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, while Colman Domingo and Nia Long portray his parents.
The film made an explosive debut in April, generating $217 million worldwide during its opening week. It quickly outpaced previous musical biopics, including Straight Outta Compton and Bohemian Rhapsody, cementing its place as the genre’s most commercially successful release.
The blockbuster has also become the highest-grossing film in Lionsgate’s history, overtaking 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Its record-breaking performance is particularly notable as it surpassed Oppenheimer, which benefited from the massive “Barbenheimer” cultural phenomenon during its 2023 theatrical run.
Mixed Critical Response
Despite its commercial success, Michael has divided critics.
While audiences praised its recreation of Jackson’s iconic performances, music videos, and the emotional portrayal of his early life, several reviewers criticized the film for presenting what they described as a sanitized version of the singer’s story.
Much of the criticism centered on the film’s decision not to address the sexual abuse allegations that shadowed Jackson’s later years. Reports indicate that references to the allegations were removed following complications involving a historic non-disclosure agreement.
Some reviewers argued the omission weakened the film’s credibility. The Hollywood Reporter praised the production as a celebration of Jackson’s music for longtime fans, while other publications criticized it for avoiding one of the most controversial aspects of his life. Despite the mixed reviews, audience scores on review aggregation platforms significantly exceeded those of critics.
Backed financially by Michael Jackson’s estate, the film features Jackson’s original vocals throughout its musical performances, which form the centerpiece of the production.
According to industry reports, Lionsgate is expected to expand the story with at least one additional film exploring Jackson’s life and legacy.
Jackson’s Music Enjoys Streaming Revival
The success of Michael has also reignited global interest in the late superstar’s music.
Jackson has become the most-streamed artist on YouTube in the UK over the past month, recording roughly twice as many plays as his closest competitor, Canadian rapper Drake.
His signature hit Billie Jean has climbed to become one of Spotify’s most-streamed songs worldwide, while Jackson ranked as the UK’s most-listened-to artist on Spotify shortly after the film’s release and continues to remain among the platform’s top performers.
Meanwhile, The Essential Michael Jackson returned to the top of the UK Albums Chart, reclaiming the No. 1 position amid renewed interest in the singer’s catalogue following the film’s release
