Musicbusinessworldwide.com
“Michael,” the biographical film chronicling the life of Michael Jackson, has become the first biopic in cinema history to surpass the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office.
According to Lionsgate, the film has generated $1.001 billion globally, with $371.8 million earned in North America and an additional $629.8 million from international audiences. The achievement also makes “Michael” the highest-grossing release in Lionsgate’s history and the first film from an independent studio to cross the billion-dollar threshold.
The film had already broken records earlier in its theatrical run, overtaking “Bohemian Rhapsody” to become the highest-grossing music biopic ever before surpassing “Oppenheimer” as the top-earning biographical film of any genre. Released on April 24, Michael also posted the strongest opening weekend ever for a music biopic, earning $217 million worldwide.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, the film has resonated far beyond the box office. Its release has sparked a dramatic resurgence in interest across Jackson’s music catalog, with streaming numbers climbing to career highs.
Jackson’s Spotify monthly audience has grown from roughly 68 million listeners before the film’s debut to approximately 105 million, while his top songs have collectively surpassed 1.2 billion monthly plays. Classics including “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and “Human Nature” all experienced significant increases in streaming, with “Thriller” returning to the upper reaches of the Billboard 200 chart.
The renewed attention has also benefited Sony Music Group, which owns a 50% stake in Jackson’s recorded music and publishing catalog. Alongside increased streaming activity, the company stands to benefit from higher music consumption and licensing revenues tied to the film’s global success.
With ‘Michael” now available through premium video-on-demand ahead of its physical release, industry attention has already shifted toward the possibility of a sequel. Reports indicate Lionsgate is expected to move forward with a second installment exploring Jackson’s life.
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