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Michael Tops Box Office to Become Highest‑Grossing Musical Biopic

Late overseas openings and strong audience demand pushed global receipts past $911.9 million, prompting Lionsgate to advance a sequel.

Overview

  • Michael crossed $911.9 million worldwide on June 12, 2026, overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody to claim the title of the highest‑grossing musical biopic.
  • The film’s total is driven by outsized international receipts, with roughly $358.6 million domestic and $553.3 million from overseas markets, and Japan’s late rollout cited as a key boost.
  • Lionsgate began premium video‑on‑demand release in early June and has confirmed that development of a second Michael film is progressing.
  • Production required about $50 million in reshoots tied to a disputed scripted portrayal of an accuser, and the movie has drawn criticism for omitting later abuse allegations even as audience scores remain very high.
  • Critics and audiences sharply diverge: the film holds low critic ratings but near‑universal audience approval, a split that underscores how global fan demand can drive big studio returns and shape future biopic projects.