Music biopic Michael has surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, becoming the first biopic to do so. It is also film studio Lionsgate’s first film to reach the milestone. According to a report from The New York Times, the major independent studio had faced its lowest ticket sales since 2024 prior to the release of the biopic.
The film has faced several controversies surrounding the late Michael Jackson and his children, particularly Paris Jackson, who denied any involvement with the project as production moved forward. She also criticized the biopic for pandering to a version of her father’s legacy that she believes exists only in fantasy.
“The narrative is being controlled and there’s a lot of inaccuracy and there’s a lot of just full-blown lies,” Jackson said on Instagram. “At the end of the day, that doesn’t really fly with me. Go enjoy it. Do whatever. Leave me out of it.”
When the film was released, Rolling Stone pointed out jumps in the timeline, historical inaccuracies, and the absence of key figures. Janet Jackson was completely written out of the film, Off the Wall was presented as Michael’s “debut” album, and Bubbles the chimpanzee appeared much earlier than he did in real life.
Despite the film’s controversies, Michael has continued to break records since its theatrical release. As of July 12, the biopic has earned $371.8 million domestically and $629.8 million overseas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Michael is a music biopic based on the life and career of the late pop icon Michael Jackson.
Michael became the first music biopic to surpass $1 billion at the global box office. It is also Lionsgate’s first film to reach the milestone.
As of July 12, Michael has earned $371.8 million domestically and $629.8 million overseas, bringing its worldwide total to more than $1 billion.
The film became Lionsgate’s first movie to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.
Rolling Stone noted timeline jumps and factual inaccuracies, including Off the Wall being presented as Michael Jackson’s debut album, Janet Jackson being omitted from the film, and Bubbles the chimpanzee appearing earlier in the story than in real life.
Recommended Video
