Lionsgate's "Michael" has officially become the studio's highest-grossing film ever, crossing $897.9 million globally after its seventh weekend. The Michael Jackson biopic surpasses previous record-holders like "The Hunger Games" franchise entries and "Twilight" sequels that long dominated the Lionsgate catalog.
The film's $23.1 million global seventh weekend haul demonstrates sustained audience interest across markets. Universal is distributing in most territories, while distributor Volga handles non-Universal regions including Russia, where the picture has earned close to $10 million. Japan represents the next major market for the biopic's theatrical push.
The milestone reflects the cultural gravitational pull of the Jackson estate's official film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop. The movie tapped into both longtime Jackson fans and general audiences curious about the icon's life narrative. Production timing proved advantageous, arriving when music biopics remain bankable after successes like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Elvis."
This record-breaking performance fundamentally reshapes Lionsgate's box office hierarchy. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (2013) previously held the studio's record at $865 million globally. The "Twilight Saga" films, which built Lionsgate into a major studio player, now rank below "Michael" in the company's earnings history.
The achievement carries particular weight given theatrical market challenges since the pandemic. "Michael" proved that prestige music biopics with established IP and cultural weight still command global box office attention. The film's ability to sustain audience momentum through seven weekends, moving into significant Asian markets, underscores the Jackson legacy's enduring commercial appeal.
With Japan's release approaching and potential additional territories still ahead, "Michael