‘Michael’ Biopic Beats ‘Oppenheimer’ in Japan as Michael Jackson’s Legacy Takes Over the Box Office
The King of Pop is continuing to rule the box office. The music biopic Michael has officially passed Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer in Japan, reaching a major milestone only seven days after its release.
According to box office tracking reports, Michael finished its first full week in Japan with an estimated $12.5 million in total earnings. The film added around $1.2 million on Thursday alone, showing strong audience interest even after the opening period. That performance pushed it ahead of Oppenheimer’s $12.2 million Japanese box office total.
The film’s momentum has continued thanks to strong word of mouth from audiences. With fans continuing to show up, projections suggest Michael could pass $15 million in Japan by its second Saturday and potentially become one of the biggest Hollywood releases of 2026 in the country.
The success is especially notable because the film is not benefiting from a major holiday period in Japan, a time when movie attendance usually gets a big boost. The fact that a Hollywood music biopic is performing this well outside a holiday season has made its achievement even more impressive.
Michael has already become a worldwide phenomenon. As of June 17, 2026, the film has earned an estimated $935.6 million globally, including $364.5 million from the United States and Canada and $571.2 million from international markets.
The film’s worldwide performance has broken several records. It is now the highest-grossing movie in Lionsgate history, passing The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which previously held the studio record with around $865 million. It has also become the biggest music biopic ever, overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody’s $911 million global total.
The movie had a powerful opening in North America as well. After earning $12.6 million from preview screenings, Michael opened with a $39.5 million first day, becoming the biggest opening day ever for a biographical film. It also recorded the strongest opening weekend for a musical biopic, earning $97.2 million and beating the previous record held by Straight Outta Compton.
International audiences have also responded strongly. The film earned $18.5 million across several overseas markets early in its run, setting opening-day records for a musical biopic in multiple countries. Its international debut eventually reached $121.6 million, bringing its worldwide opening total to more than $218 million.
One reason behind the film’s success appears to be the continued global popularity of Michael Jackson’s music and legacy. The movie has attracted longtime fans while also introducing a new generation to the story of one of the most famous performers in history.
The film’s strong performance also highlights the current popularity of music-based movies. While some genres have struggled at the box office, films centered around legendary artists continue to draw large crowds when they connect with audiences.
With its Japan run still growing and worldwide numbers continuing to climb, Michael is proving that the King of Pop’s influence remains as powerful as ever. What started as a biographical film has now become a record-breaking global event.
