Published: 10:24 AM, 15 June 2026
‘Michael’ becomes most successful music biopic of all time
Michael Jackson has officially surpassed Freddie Mercury, not in music charts but at the box office. The biopic titled Michael, which chronicles the life of the late pop icon, has become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, eclipsing the previous record held by Bohemian Rhapsody. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael has grossed over $911 million globally since its release on April 24, 2023, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody, which earned $910.9 million during its theatrical run.
The success of Michael follows its earlier achievement of overtaking the 2022 Elvis Presley biopic, Elvis. Industry experts predict that the film is on track to reach the billion-dollar milestone before its theatrical run concludes later this month. If it achieves this feat, Michael will become the first biopic to join the billion-dollar club, marking a significant milestone in the genre.
As Michael continues to climb the box office ranks, it is now setting its sights on becoming the highest-grossing biopic of all time. That title is currently held by Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which tells the story of J Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. Released in 2023, Oppenheimer has grossed $975 million worldwide, making it a formidable competitor for Michael.
This year, only one film has crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which currently leads the worldwide rankings for 2026. The success of Michael adds to the competitive landscape of the box office, showcasing the enduring appeal of biographical films.
