07/03/2026

How MICHAEL Surpassed The Passion of the Christ Domestically and Oppenheimer Worldwide to Become the Highest-Grossing Biopic in History

For two decades, the crown for highest-grossing domestic biopic sat atop a film about a man who died for humanity’s sins. Now, it rests on the shoulders of a man who lived to make humanity dance, and whose legacy of joy, unity, love, genius, and spectacle has proven even more transcendent.

Lionsgate’s MICHAEL, the Antoine Fuqua-directed masterpiece starring Jaafar Jackson in a breathtaking debut as his uncle, has officially surpassed The Passion of the Christ ($370.8 million) to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time domestically, if you count Mel Gibson’s epic as a biopic. And that’s the beautiful asterisk that makes Michael’s achievement even more remarkable.

Because here’s the truth: The Passion of the Christ is not universally classified as a biopic. To many, it’s a biblical passion play, a religious epic, a cinematic meditation on faith. To others, it is a biopic, since it dramatizes the life of a “historical” figure with narrative intent. Either way, for those who do consider it a biopic, Michael Jackson has now claimed the throne with a domestic gross of over $371 million and counting. And for those who don’t, Michael still stands as the highest-grossing music biopic and the most successful biographical dramas ever made.

Either way you slice it, the King of Pop has made history. And the debate over genre only underscores how extraordinary this victory is.

A Record for the Ages—and Then Some

Let’s celebrate the numbers, because they are staggering, not just domestically, but globally:

· Worldwide: MICHAEL has pulled in over $980 million to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time worldwide, and it’s still climbing toward the billion-dollar milestone.
· Domestically: The film has earned over $371 million to claim the domestic biopic crown.
· Internationally: MICHAEL has pulled in over $610 million from overseas markets.
· With a $218 million global debut, MICHAEL scored the biggest opening weekend in history for a biopic, while its $98 million domestic haul shattered the previous musical biopic record of $60 million set by Straight Outta Compton.
· It has become Lionsgate’s highest-grossing theatrical release ever worldwide, surpassing The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($865 million).
· It surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody ($911 million) to become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, then overtook Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biopic period.
· Forty international markets have already eclipsed Bohemian Rhapsody’s lifetime gross. In France, it is now the most successful biopic ever, surpassing even La Vie en Rose.
· And it achieved all of this with a 46-day theatrical window to PVOD—compared to Oppenheimer’s 123-day window, proving that audiences couldn’t wait to see Michael Jackson on the big screen.

This isn’t just a box-office win. It’s a cultural reset. A definitive statement that Michael Jackson’s legacy transcends time, genre, and geography. In an era of fractured attention spans and fleeting trends, Michael brought audiences back to theaters in droves, reminding us that greatness, true greatness, never fades. It only waits for the right moment to shine again and again.

Two Icons, One Historic Comparison—and a Beautiful Gray Area

The juxtaposition of these two films is fascinating, not because one is “better” than the other, but because they represent two different kinds of greatness.

The Passion of the Christ depicted sacrifice, faith, and suffering. It moved audiences through anguish and redemption. MICHAEL depicts genius, love, joy, unity, and the electrifying power of performance. It moves audiences through music, movement, and the sheer thrill of witnessing an artist growing into the peak of his powers.

One asks you to reflect on mortality. The other asks you to feel alive.

And in 2026, audiences around the world chose life, chose rhythm, chose Michael. That’s not a slight to The Passion at all, it’s a testament to the universal language of pop music and the enduring magic of the man who gave us the very best body of musical work in history.

The fact that some debate whether The Passion even belongs in the biopic category only makes MICHAEL’s victory more impressive. He didn’t just beat a competitor, he transcended the conversation altogether. For those who count it, he’s the new king. For those who don’t, he’s still the undisputed champion of cinematic biopics. Either way, Michael Jackson wins.

The Performance of a Lifetime—and a Family Legacy

At the heart of this historic run is Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, who delivers a performance that has been hailed as nothing short of miraculous. He embody his uncle’s every gesture, every step, every note, Jaafar he channels his uncle Michael in a way that perhaps no other actor in Hollywood is capable of.

Director Antoine Fuqua, known for Training Day and The Equalizer, brings a visual grandeur that matches the scale of Jackson’s artistry. The concert re-creations are breathtaking. The behind-the-scenes moments are intimate. The film captures the man behind the glove, the perfectionist, the dreamer, the son, the brother, with warmth, reverence, and unapologetic celebration.

This is a film made by people who love Michael Jackson. And that love is palpable in every frame.

Why This Moment Matters

What does it mean that a biopic about Michael Jackson, a Black artist from Gary, Indiana, who became the biggest entertainer in history, now holds both the domestic and global records?

It means that his music still matters. His message of love and unity is still felt. It means that his influence transcends generations, genres, and borders. It means that in a fractured world, we can still come together to celebrate a shared cultural treasure.

Producer Graham King, who also produced Bohemian Rhapsody, has now broken his own all-time box office record for music biopics. He understands that biopics are not just history lessons; they are experiences. They are invitations to fall in love with an artist all over again. And audiences around the world have accepted that invitation with open arms and dancing feet.

Driven by word of mouth and repeat viewings, MICHAEL remained a box office powerhouse through the competitive summer moviegoing season. When it passes $1 billion globally, it will cement what we already knew: the King of Pop is timeless.

A Victory for Joy

In an era of uncertainty, MICHAEL reminds us of the power of pure, unadulterated joy. It reminds us that music can heal. That performance can inspire. That one man’s vision can unite millions.

The film doesn’t shy away from the pressures Michael faced, the fame, the vitiligo, the loneliness, the weight of being the most famous person on the planet. But it frames those challenges as part of his heroic journey. It celebrates his resilience, his creativity, and his unwavering commitment to his craft.

And audiences have responded by making Michael the biggest biopic in history.

The Crown Fits

So whether you call The Passion of the Christ a biopic or not, one thing is clear: Michael Jackson now sits atop the mountain, not just domestically, but worldwide.

He didn’t get there by controversy or spectacle alone. He got there through decades of groundbreaking artistry, through songs that defined generations, through dance moves that rewrote the rules of performance, and through a film that honors his legacy with the dignity and brilliance it deserves.

The King of Pop has a new crown. And it shines brighter than ever.

MICHAEL is now playing in theaters nationwide. Go see it. Celebrate it. Dance to it.

Because history has been made, and it sounds like a Hee-Hee.

About the Author

Andrew Greene is a quality-obsessed, results-driven powerhouse with nearly two decades of experience transforming complexity into clear, actionable solutions. His secret weapon? A mix of analytical sharpness, problem-solving precision and a communication and leadership style that’s equal parts clarity and charisma. From Quality Assurance to political data analysis, you can think of him as the Swiss Army knife of operational excellence, minus the corkscrew (unless it’s a team celebration).