Michael becomes second highest-grossing biopic ever as it collects 577 million dollars, beats Elvis at global box office

Michael, the ambitious biographical drama based on the life of pop icon Michael Jackson, has officially become the second highest-grossing biopic of all time globally, overtaking Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, according to a report in Deadline.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, the film has continued to pull audiences worldwide despite strong competition at the global box office. The biopic has particularly benefited from nostalgia surrounding Jackson’s music and curiosity around Jaafar Jackson’s transformation into his late uncle.

Michael dominates box office globally

According to a report by Deadline published on May 11, Michael has earned a massive $577 million globally within just three weeks of release. Of this, $240.4 million came from the domestic box office, while international markets contributed $336.88 million. The film also pulled in an impressive $95 million during its third weekend alone, officially making it the second highest-grossing biopic ever made.

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With these numbers, Michael has overtaken Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which had finished its theatrical run with a worldwide total of $288.7 million, as per Billboard. However, the top spot still belongs to 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody. The Freddie Mercury biopic had earned $910.8 million globally, including $216.7 million domestically.

The film has been a top-grosser in several countries outside the U.S., including  including the U.K., Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Brazil and France.

Michael continues steady run in India

The film has also maintained a decent theatrical run in India. On Day 18, Michael collected a net of Rs. 1 crore across 1,442 shows, taking its total India net collection to Rs. 53 crore so far. The India gross currently stands at Rs. 63.48 crore.

The film had witnessed stronger momentum over its third weekend:

-Day 16 (Third Saturday): Rs. 3 crore net

-Day 17 (Third Sunday): Rs. 3.25 crore net

-Day 18 (Third Monday): Rs. 1 crore net

While the weekday drop was expected, the film’s ability to sustain collections into its third week reflects continued audience interest, particularly among fans of Jackson’s music and legacy.

A controversial but commercially successful biopic

Ever since its announcement, Michael has remained one of the most closely watched music biopics in recent years. The film attempts to chronicle Jackson’s rise from child stardom in The Jackson 5 to becoming one of the biggest global entertainers in history.

However, the project has also faced criticism and scrutiny over how it handles the more controversial chapters of Jackson’s life, including allegations of abuse that surrounded the singer for years. Despite the discourse, audiences have continued turning up in theatres globally.

Only one biopic stands above it now

With Michael now surpassing Elvis at the worldwide box office, the film currently stands behind only Bohemian Rhapsody in the list of highest-grossing biopics ever made globally.

Given its current theatrical momentum, the film may still continue adding to its already massive total in the coming weeks.