Michael Becomes Highest Grosser Of 2026 At $1 Billion Worldwide, Overtakes The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Michael, starring Jaafar Jackson, has achieved an incredible box office milestone. The Antoine Fuqua directorial has officially become the top-grossing film of 2026 after surpassing the worldwide earnings of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The Michael Jackson biopic has now cleared the coveted $1 billion mark worldwide, cementing its status as one of the year's biggest successes at the theatres. The film tells the story of MJ's life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world.According to Luiz Fernando's latest industry tracking report, Michael's latest box office estimates

stand at a total collection of over $1.01 billion worldwide, including about $372 million in North America and more than $640 million in overseas markets. It also marks the first-ever billion-dollar release for Lionsgate, setting a historic benchmark for the studio.

Box office triumph after early doubts

The movie's path to the top has, however, been far from typical. Early trackers indicated Michael would do well, but few predicted it would go on to eclipse one of the year's biggest family blockbusters. The film continued to gain momentum as international markets embraced it, especially in countries where Michael Jackson's legacy remains very strong. Michael only needed a little push from late releases in markets such as Japan and Russia to overtake The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at the world chart.And the film's success has been fuelled by the international market, which has made up nearly two-thirds of the film's earnings.

Audience support over mixed reviews

Despite critics being divided on the film, the audience was enthusiastic. Though the biopic received mixed reviews, with many questioning the film's depiction of Jackson's personal controversies, it was embraced by moviegoers for its emotional storytelling and musical performances, which helped Michael maintain a good pace at the box office long after its first weekend.Word of mouth and fan support proved more powerful than reviews, and positive audience reactions meant sustained sales for several weeks.

Jaafar Jackson's impressive debut

The film has been the subject of much discussion, particularly the casting of Michael Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who is making his feature film debut as the King of Pop. Initially touted as a big gamble to cast a close family member in such a high-profile role, the tables turned when viewers loved his performance, with many praising his ability to capture Jackson's iconic stage presence and deliver an emotionally resonant portrayal. His performance has been one of the main reasons for the film's continued popularity.

More accomplishments for the genre

The biopic has also reached several major milestones. It became the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, beating Bohemian Rhapsody. It defeated Oppenheimer to emerge as the highest-grossing biographical film of all time. Michael is also the first Lionsgate movie to hit $1 billion in worldwide gross.As per reports, Lionsgate is considering doing a sequel that would pick up where the first movie left off in Michael Jackson's life. However, no official production timeline has been announced as yet.