Michael, the Lionsgate biopic on Michael Jackson, has opened to $217.4 million globally, setting a new record for the biggest debut by a biographical film.
According to industry analyst Luiz Fernando, the film earned $97 million over its three-day domestic opening weekend across North America, alongside $120.4 million from a five-day rollout across more than 82 international markets. The combined total surpasses the $180.4 million global debut of Oppenheimer, establishing a new high for the genre.
Domestically, Michael now stands as the biggest live-action opening of 2026, overtaking Project Hail Mary’s $80.5 million debut. It also sets a new record for the highest opening weekend for a biopic, exceeding Oppenheimer’s $82.5 million, while surpassing Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour ($93.2 million) to become the biggest debut for a film centred on a pop star.
For distributor Lionsgate, the performance marks its strongest post-pandemic opening, ahead of John Wick: Chapter 4 ($73.8 million).
Internationally, the film’s $120.4 million opening is also the largest ever for a biopic, surpassing Oppenheimer ($98 million) and Bohemian Rhapsody ($91.7 million). Among 2026 releases, only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has opened higher globally.
The film also performed strongly on premium screens, earning $24.4 million from IMAX showings worldwide—the second-highest IMAX debut for a biopic behind Oppenheimer’s $35 million.
Written by John Logan, the film stars Jaafar Jackson in his feature debut as Michael Jackson. The cast also includes Nia Long, Colman Domingo, Laura Harrier, Miles Teller, Kendrick Sampson, Rhyan Hill, and Jessica Sula.