Michael Becomes Second Biggest Music Biopic Ever Globally

The Michael Jackson biopic continues its record-breaking box office run after surpassing Elvis worldwide

Michael Passes Major Box Office Milestone

May 12, 2026 – Michael continues dominating theaters worldwide after officially becoming the second highest-grossing music biopic of all time.

The film recently surpassed the global box office total earned by Elvis, pushing Michael into second place behind only Bohemian Rhapsody among music biopics worldwide.

The milestone marks another major achievement for the Michael Jackson film, which already became one of 2026’s biggest theatrical success stories within just a few weeks of release.

Fans online quickly celebrated the accomplishment, particularly because of the movie’s enormous international performance across multiple territories.

Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'.

Credit: Lionsgate

The Film Continues Dominating Globally

According to recent box office estimates, Michael has now earned well over $500 million globally during its early theatrical run.

The movie’s success has been driven heavily by international audiences, reflecting Michael Jackson’s lasting worldwide popularity decades after his commercial peak. Strong overseas numbers reportedly helped the movie overtake Elvis faster than many industry analysts originally expected.

The film also maintained unusually strong momentum after opening weekend, benefiting from repeat viewings, social media discussion, and strong audience reactions to the musical performances.

Its continued theatrical success positioned the movie as one of the year’s defining entertainment events.

Jaafar Jackson’s Performance Drew Major Attention

A major reason behind the film’s success has been audience fascination surrounding Jaafar Jackson portraying his uncle Michael Jackson.

Fans and critics frequently praised how closely Jaafar resembles the pop icon physically while also capturing many of his vocal rhythms, body language, and stage movements.

Before release, curiosity surrounding the casting generated enormous online attention. After the movie premiered, reactions suggested many audiences felt the performance exceeded expectations.

Clips featuring dance recreations and concert sequences quickly spread across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram throughout the film’s release period.

The performance itself became one of the movie’s biggest selling points globally.

Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate

Elvis Previously Held the No. 2 Position

Before Michael’s latest achievement, Elvis remained the second-highest-grossing music biopic globally following its hugely successful 2022 theatrical run.

Directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Austin Butler, Elvis earned critical praise and major commercial success while helping revive audience interest in large-scale musical biographical dramas.

The film also became a significant awards-season contender and helped establish Austin Butler as a major Hollywood star.

Michael now surpassing Elvis further demonstrates the extraordinary global commercial strength surrounding Michael Jackson’s legacy specifically.

The King of Pop’s international cultural reach remains almost unmatched within music history.

Bohemian Rhapsody Still Holds the Top Spot

Despite Michael’s massive success, Bohemian Rhapsody still remains the highest-grossing music biopic globally.

The Queen film starring Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury became a worldwide phenomenon following release in 2018.

However, industry analysts now speculate Michael could potentially challenge that record depending on how strongly the film continues performing internationally over the coming weeks.

The current momentum suggests the biopic still has substantial commercial life remaining in theaters.

That possibility has already become a major topic of discussion within box office circles online.

Music Biopics Continue Thriving in Hollywood

The success of Michael further confirms that music biopics remain one of Hollywood’s most commercially reliable genres.

Over the last decade, audiences strongly supported films centered around famous musicians including Elvis, Rocketman, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Studios increasingly view music biopics as valuable theatrical events because they combine nostalgia, recognizable music, emotional storytelling, and multi-generational audience appeal.

Michael especially benefited from Michael Jackson’s unmatched catalog of globally recognizable songs and iconic performances.

That worldwide familiarity significantly strengthened the movie’s commercial potential from the beginning.

Debate Around the Film Continues

Despite the enormous commercial success, Michael also continues generating controversy and debate online.

Some critics argued the movie avoids deeper exploration of allegations and controversies connected to Michael Jackson’s later personal life, while supporters defended the film as a celebration of his artistic achievements rather than a documentary-style examination of every aspect of his legacy.

The divided conversation, however, has not significantly impacted audience enthusiasm or ticket sales so far.

In fact, the ongoing debates may have further increased public curiosity surrounding the movie itself.

Regardless of critical disagreements, the commercial performance clearly demonstrates Michael Jackson’s continuing global cultural influence.

Final Thoughts

Michael surpassing Elvis to become the second highest-grossing music biopic ever represents another extraordinary milestone for one of 2026’s biggest theatrical successes. Fueled by global nostalgia, Jaafar Jackson’s widely discussed performance, and Michael Jackson’s enduring worldwide popularity, the film continues outperforming expectations internationally.

While Bohemian Rhapsody still holds the top position for now, Michael’s ongoing momentum suggests the race may not be over yet. Regardless of where the final numbers land, the movie already proved the King of Pop’s cultural and commercial impact remains almost unmatched decades later.