Los Angeles, May 11, 2026, 01:18 PDT
Lionsgate’s Michael has now climbed above $577 million worldwide after its third weekend, with the Michael Jackson biopic overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody in North America and passing American Sniper globally, looking at raw box-office numbers. According to Box Office Mojo, Michael sits at $240.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, $336.9 million from international markets, for a total of $577.4 million worldwide.
This time, the hold is the story. Michael posted around $36.5 million at theaters in the U.S. and Canada over the weekend—down 33% from the prior frame—even as The Devil Wears Prada 2 took the top spot with $43 million, and Mortal Kombat II debuted to $40 million, according to studio estimates reported by the Associated Press.
That’s a shot in the arm for theater owners as summer kicks off. “Pure, escapist entertainment” is what’s bringing people back for repeat showings, according to Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian, who tracks marketplace trends. “This is playing out very well for movie theaters right now,” he said. AP News
The film has now outpaced Bohemian Rhapsody in North American earnings, taking the crown from the 2018 Queen biopic that previously set the standard for music-driven movie biographies. Globally, though, Bohemian Rhapsody remains in a different league, boasting $911.0 million in total worldwide box office.
The latest milestone now pushes Michael past American Sniper, Clint Eastwood’s 2014 war biopic, which took in $547.7 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Koimoi, in a report picked up by IMDb’s news feed, pointed to the same third-weekend threshold and noted the film established a new North American record for music biopics.
Antoine Fuqua directed the film, with Jaafar Jackson playing his uncle. Michael hit theaters on April 24 in the U.S. and Canada via Lionsgate; Universal took charge internationally. The movie’s opening haul: $97 million across North America, $217.4 million worldwide—setting a new high for music biopic debuts, according to AP.
After the movie opened, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson remarked, “the audience spoke loud and clear.” According to AP, a sequel is already in the works, with Fogelson also commenting that a third installment is “not inconceivable.” AP News
But the streak has its complications. According to AP, the film’s production cost nearly hit $200 million, inflated by a revised third act and reshoots driven by legal restrictions around showing one accuser. Jackson and his estate have denied the abuse claims; back in 2005, Jackson was found not guilty in criminal court.
Reviews haven’t given the film much of a boost, but ticket sales tell a different story. Rotten Tomatoes data puts critics at just 39%, with verified audience scores soaring to 97%. That gap points to fans, not critics, driving the film’s momentum.
The finish line sits clear: $600 million globally. Michael still needs around $22.6 million to get there. Overseas audiences have carried about 58% of that haul, so there’s a buffer — unless repeat viewings tail off faster than expected.
