Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' tops box‑office, becomes most profitable film ever

The biographical film "Michael" (also titled "Majkl"), directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as his uncle, premiered in April and has amassed $977 million worldwide, overtaking Christopher Nolan’s "Oppenheimer" and the previous music‑biopic record held by "Bohemian Rhapsody". The movie opened with $217 million globally, including $97 million in the United States, and already out‑grossed other notable titles such as "Straight Out of Compton". Critics note the film presents an overwhelmingly positive portrait of the pop star and largely omits the sexual‑abuse allegations that have shadowed his later career. The box‑office success has spurred a surge in streaming of Jackson’s catalog, with his tracks topping charts on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. Lionsgate, which distributed the film, has announced plans for a follow‑up Jackson project.

The achievement marks the highest‑grossing music biopic in history and underscores the enduring commercial appeal of Michael Jackson’s legacy.