Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' nears $1 billion after Japan surge

Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, has held the number‑one spot at Japan’s box office into its second weekend. The film opened with roughly $2.3 million on its first Friday, the second‑largest Hollywood opening day of the year in the market, and amassed about $13.6 million in total Japanese earnings, bringing its cumulative gross in the country to around $9 million.

Globally, the movie has earned approximately $911.9 million, making it the highest‑grossing music biopic ever and positioning it to cross the $1‑billion threshold. Crossing that mark would make it only the second film to reach a billion dollars at the 2026 worldwide box‑office, after Universal’s Super Mario Galaxy movie. Analysts note that Japan’s strong historic affinity for Michael Jackson projects, such as the $57 million contribution to the 2011 concert film This Is It, is helping drive the film’s momentum.

If the Japanese run continues at its current pace, the film could become one of the top‑grossing Hollywood releases of the year in Japan and secure its place among the few billion‑dollar titles worldwide.