“Michael” Officially Surpasses “Bohemian Rhapsody” to Become Highest-Grossing Music Biopic of All Time
“Michael” Officially Surpasses “Bohemian Rhapsody” to Become Highest-Grossing Music Biopic of All Time
Jack SmartFri, June 12, 2026 at 11:48 PM UTC
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Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'Credit: Glen Wilson/LIONSGATE -
Michael is now the highest-grossing music biopic of all time worldwide
The Jaafar Jackson-starring movie about the late King of Pop has surpassed 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody in that record and is still going strong
Other box office hits of 2026 include The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Project Hail Mary and The Devil Wears Prada 2
Michael Jackson's biopic has moonwalked all the way to a huge box office milestone.
Following its April 24 theatrical release, Michael is now the highest-grossing music biopic of all time with $911.9 million worldwide, per Deadline. It's also become the highest-grossing biopic ever domestically.
The film first surpassed 2022's music biopic Elvis, then 2018's Freddie Mercury biopicBohemian Rhapsody. The latter totaled $910.9 million worldwide; Michael is still in theaters.
'Michael'Credit: Lionsgate Movies/Youtube
One thing the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody and the new hit biopic have in common is producer Graham King.
Another record within reach for Michael: crossing the $1 billion mark at the global box office, a featThe Super Mario Galaxy Moviemanaged to pull off earlier this month. That animated sequel still tops the 2026 worldwide box office, with Michael, Project Hail MaryandThe Devil Wears Prada 2 trailing.
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The Antoine Fuqua-directed, John Logan-written Michael was developed with the blessing of many of the late Michael's family members, well after he died in 2009 at age 50. It stars Jaafar Jackson, the son of the King of Pop's brother Jermaine, in the titular role.
Juliano Krue Valdi plays a young Michael. Colman Domingo plays patriarch Joe, who managed Michael and his brothers in the Jackson 5 and daughters Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet from the family's breakout in the 1960s through Michael's ascent to superstardom in the '80s. Costarring are Nia Long as Jackson matriarch Katherine, Miles Teller as lawyer-manager John Branca, Laura Harrier as producer Suzanne de Passe and Mike Myers as CBS Records exec Walter Yetnikoff.
'Michael'Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate
A logline for Michael teased that it would bring an "honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated" singer, whose final years before his death were met with controversy. The film ends in 1988, leaving out any of the child sex abuse allegations made against him in the years following.
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Michael is in theaters now.
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