Los Angeles — The Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua has officially crossed the $1 billion mark globally, making it the highest-grossing film of 2026 worldwide. According to industry tracking, the film’s global total reached $1.012 billion, overtaking The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. This is also Lionsgate’s first-ever $1 billion film, a major milestone for the studio. Box Office Breakdown Worldwide Total: $1.012 billion North America: $372.3 million International: $640.2 million across 85 markets Projected Final: $1.02B – $1.05B globally The final push came from Japan with $1.4 million and Russia with $550,000 between Monday and Thursday, pushing it past _Mario_’s $1.011 billion total. Critics vs Audience: A Huge Divide The film received only a 38% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences responded very differently. It earned an A- CinemaScore on opening day, and strong word-of-mouth kept it running for months after its April 24 release. The reason is clear: Michael Jackson’s global fanbase turned out in massive numbers. Many fans watched more than once, waiting decades for a definitive big-screen portrait of the King of Pop. Jaafar Jackson’s Breakout Debut The film stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew, in his acting debut as the pop icon. Casting a family member was risky, but audiences embraced him. His performance has been widely credited for the film’s emotional connection and positive audience reception. Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew, in his acting debut as the pop icon Records Broken With this run, Michael has set two major records: Highest-grossing musical biopic ever — surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody Highest-grossing biographical film ever — surpassing Oppenheimer Both milestones highlight the massive audience demand for large-scale stories about cultural icons. What’s Next Lionsgate has reportedly greenlit a sequel covering more chapters of Jackson’s life. The studio will now face the challenge of handling the more controversial periods of his story, which critics felt the first film addressed unevenly. For now, the $1B milestone stands. A film critics largely dismissed, led by a first-time actor, and released by a studio that had never hit $1B before, has become the defining box office story of 2026. Post navigation Marvel Studios Announces ‘Ghost Rider’ Movie With Ryan Gosling
