The biopic about Michael Jackson, Michael, has surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody to become the highest-grossing music biopic ever, amassing $911.9 million globally as the film featuring Jaafar Jackson continues its worldwide release.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and penned by John Logan, this Lionsgate and Universal co-production has outperformed Bohemian Rhapsody with $358.6 million at the domestic box office and $553.3 million internationally — Universal contributing $540.5 million of that international total after acquiring foreign theatrical and ancillary rights. The film debuts in Japan today, a market that could propel Michael past the $1 billion mark globally, making it only the second film to achieve this milestone at the global box office after Universal’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie in 2026.

In comparison, the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which won four Oscars including Best Film Editing and earned Rami Malek an Oscar for Best Actor, grossed $216.6 million domestically and $694.3 million internationally for a total of $910.9 million globally. Both films were produced by Graham King, who has now set a new all-time box office record for music biopics.

The film has achieved numerous records beyond its overall gross — including the largest global opening weekend for a music biopic, the highest-grossing domestic biopic ever, and the most successful biopic in France, surpassing La Vie en Rose. Forty international markets have exceeded Bohemian Rhapsody‘s lifetime gross, including Brazil, France, and Mexico. It is also Lionsgate’s highest-grossing theatrical release worldwide.

The journey to release was not without challenges. Lionsgate had to conduct $50 million in reshoots after concerns were raised by the Jackson estate regarding a plot point involving one of Jackson’s accusers who was not intended to be dramatized in the film. The title role is played by Jaafar Jackson — Michael Jackson’s nephew.

Michael Jackson remains one of the most commercially successful recording artists ever. He has sold approximately 350 million records globally, achieved 13 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist — including “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Black or White” — and holds the record for the best-selling album of all time with Thriller, which has sold over 70 million copies worldwide.

Thriller spent 37 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice — first as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1997 and again as a solo artist in 2001.