Lionsgate’s Michael Becomes Highest-Grossing Biopic Ever, After Tenth Weekend at Global Box Office

Lionsgate’s Michael continued its run through its tenth weekend at the global box office, crossing $977.4 million in total grosses and becoming the highest-grossing biopic of all time, Deadline reported on June 28.

In the same comparison, the outlet said the new total places Michael ahead of Universal’s Oppenheimer, which previously held the top biopic benchmark. The development highlights how a long theatrical run can accumulate outsized returns when cross-border distribution and release timing align.

Deadline also reported that Universal handled the foreign release of Michael without Japan and Russia, while noting that the Antoine Fuqua-directed film is still in theatrical release in other markets. The distinction matters for interpreting where the remaining international upside may come from, because the absence of two large territories limits the degree to which grosses in other countries can be directly compared to releases that were launched on the same schedule everywhere.

The report ties the milestone to the film’s position in its continuing international run, rather than to a single weekend surge. By referencing the tenth weekend specifically, Deadline’s accounting suggests Michael’s performance is sustained across multiple weeks, not solely driven by an early-release spike.

For industry observers, the number also carries implications for how studios and distributors evaluate biographical titles, particularly when those films reach beyond a domestic market and maintain momentum through successive international windows.

The theater pipeline and distribution strategy remain central to what happens next. With Universal’s foreign release described as excluding Japan and Russia, future international results and any remaining box office trajectory for the film would likely depend on when and whether those territories still have separate release plans or staggered runs.

No additional figures beyond Deadline’s headline comparison were provided in the report, including breakdowns by country or the specific gross contribution from individual markets. The next published box office reports from the trade typically will clarify how the worldwide total changes as the film continues to screen in theaters.