Michael Thrills With New Major Box Office Record Ahead of Digital Debut - MCE Notices | California State Portal

Michael, Lionsgate’s music biopic for the iconic Michael Jackson, continues to set new records. The film has reached a major new milestone right as its digital debut approaches.

Deadline reports that Michael will officially become Lionsgate’s highest-grossing movie ever with its new box office haul this weekend, with the film lasting an impressive seven weeks in theaters. The film, which stars Jaafar Jackson and is directed by Antoine Fuqua, currently has $346.6 million domestically through Thursday, and over $508 million abroad for a jaw-dropping $854.6 million globally.

It’s a number worthy of the King of Pop, and as the new weekend numbers roll in, it seems all but inevitable the film will pass Lionsgate’s other top titles: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($865 million worldwide) and Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 ($868.5 million lifetime worldwide, $829.7 million initial).

Michael’s Digital Release Approaches as Biopic Continues Landmark Box Office Run

Fuqua’s Michael biofilm follows the early life of the legendary Michael Jackson, from his involvement in the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to his Bad World Tour in the late 80s. Jackson’s own nephew, Jaafar, portrays him as an adult, while Juliano Valdi also makes his acting debut in the film, playing Jackson as a child. The film’s supporting cast includes Nia Long, Miles Teller and Colman Domingo, among others.

While Michael has certainly taken the box office by storm, the film is soon eyeing to capture an even bigger worldwide audience with its digital debut. Lionsgate recently confirmed it will be available for purchase on June 9, with a physical media release following on July 14. Fans of the film will also be able to enjoy a bevy of bonus content with their digital purchase, including behind-the-scenes featurettes and more.

Michael‘s continued box office dominance bodes well for the film’s upcoming digital debut. It currently sits as the second-highest-grossing film of 2026, though it may not be able to surpass The Super Mario Galaxy Movie‘s $994 million gross anytime soon for the top spot there. Still, it also holds the record for the third-highest-grossing biopic of all time, trailing 2023’s Oppenheimer ($975 million) and 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody ($911 million).

Michael‘s worldwide dominance is just one testament to the King of Pop’s continued grasp over pop culture as a whole. The film has been able to thrive despite negative reviews from critics; it is deemed ‘Rotten’ on Rotten Tomatoes with a mere 39% approval rating from nearly 300 critics’ reviews. Audiences have overwhelmingly loved the film — it has a 97% user score from over 25,000 verified watchers, who have praised its stellar performances.

Lionsgate Confirms A Michael Sequel Is On The Way

Kevin Mazur / © Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection

While Michael remains a standalone film that takes an in-depth look at a specific period in Jackson’s legacy, fans have still been left wondering if a sequel might follow that covers the rest of his career. Thankfully, Michael‘s record-breaking box office run has seen the stars align, and on May 21, Lionsgate confirmed that a sequel is officially in development.

“We can go forwards and backwards in telling this story,” Lionsgate Studios Motion Picture Chair Adam Fogelson said, according to Deadline. “There are so many other events that happened, even in the timeframe of the original movie, that weren’t touched upon. So we’re very, very confident that we’ve got an incredibly entertaining movie that will appeal once again to a global audience as the pieces come together.”

Michael makes its digital debut on June 9, and the sequel does not have a release date at this time.