From the moment Michael was announced, many critics and members of the entertainment press appeared eager for it to fail.
Long before audiences had the opportunity to judge the film for themselves, headlines questioned every aspect of the production. The critical reception reflected that atmosphere, with the film receiving a noticeably lukewarm score on Rotten Tomatoes despite overwhelmingly positive audience reactions. Much of the early press coverage focused on controversy rather than the film itself, creating the impression that Michael would struggle both critically and commercially.
Then something happened that no review, headline or social media debate could stop.
Audiences showed up.
And they kept showing up.
Over the past three months, Michael has systematically dismantled one box office milestone after another. Two weeks ago, it surpassed Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time. The week before that, it climbed above The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug on the all-time worldwide chart. On July 1, it overtook Disney’s beloved 1994 animated classic The Lion King, whose lifetime global total of $979 million had stood untouched for decades.
Now another extraordinary achievement is within touching distance.
With a worldwide gross of $1,001,752,482, Michael sits less than $8 million behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, currently the highest-grossing film released in 2026.
| Rank | Film | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | $1,009,599,439 |
| 2 | Michael | $1,001,752,482 |
If Michael can close that small gap, it will become the biggest global release of 2026—a remarkable outcome considering where expectations stood just a few months ago.
A Victory Nobody Predicted
The journey makes the achievement even more impressive.
Prior to release, industry tracking estimated a domestic opening somewhere between $65–70 million. Instead, Michael exploded to $97.2 million across fewer than 4,000 North American theatres, instantly setting a new opening-weekend record for a musical biopic, comfortably surpassing Straight Outta Compton‘s $60.2 million debut from 2015.
Combined with international markets, the film opened to more than $218 million worldwide, an astonishing result for a biographical drama.
Yet the opening weekend ultimately became only the beginning of the story.
The true measure of a blockbuster isn’t simply how many people buy tickets on opening weekend, it’s how many continue buying tickets weeks later.
While many modern blockbusters experience steep second-weekend declines before fading quickly, Michael displayed exceptional staying power. Word of mouth became its greatest marketing campaign. Fans returned with friends, families and even those who had initially been sceptical after reading early reviews.
That kind of longevity cannot be manufactured.
It has to be earned.
David Versus Goliath
What makes this race particularly fascinating is the enormous difference between the two films.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrived with one of the most recognisable entertainment brands on the planet. Nintendo’s iconic characters have entertained generations, while Universal and Illumination deployed one of Hollywood’s largest marketing machines. Family audiences, gamers and animation fans were all built into the equation before a single ticket went on sale.
Michael, by comparison, had none of those traditional advantages.
There was no billion-dollar gaming franchise. No cinematic universe. No animated family appeal. Instead, it faced months of relentless scrutiny, controversial headlines and scepticism from sections of the media before audiences had even seen the finished film.
Its greatest asset was simply the story of Michael Jackson himself.
And that has proven to be enough.
In many ways, the film’s success demonstrates that compelling storytelling, extraordinary music and genuine emotional connection can still compete with, even surpass, the biggest intellectual properties in modern cinema.
International Audiences Continue to Lead
One particularly striking aspect of Michael‘s box office performance has been its global appeal.
Of its $1 billion worldwide total, approximately 63% has come from international markets, with overseas audiences contributing nearly $630 million.
By comparison, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie earned around 57% of its revenue outside North America.
That reflects something Michael Jackson fans have always known: his legacy remains truly global.
Across Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa and beyond, audiences continue embracing the film in remarkable numbers, reinforcing Jackson’s unique status as perhaps the world’s most internationally recognised entertainer.
Can Michael Reach No. 1?
The answer appears to be yes.
With fewer than $8 million separating the two films, Michael is well within striking distance of claiming the 2026 worldwide crown.
Several international markets continue to generate revenue, premium-format screenings remain available in selected territories, and the film has continued demonstrating exceptional resilience week after week. While its theatrical run is naturally beginning to slow after months in cinemas, the gap has become so small that overtaking The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is no longer a distant possibility, it is a realistic outcome.
Whether it happens this week or in the weeks ahead, the conversation itself says everything.
Just months ago, many expected Michael to disappoint.
Instead, it has become the highest-grossing biopic in cinema history, entered the exclusive billion-dollar club, climbed into the upper reaches of the all-time worldwide box office chart and now stands on the brink of becoming the highest-grossing film released in 2026.
Not bad for the movie so many had already written off before the opening credits had even rolled.
Sebastian for MJVibe
