POP NEWS DIGITAL

Michael Jackson’s biopic, Michael, has surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody to become the highest-grossing music biopic ever, earning over $911.9 million worldwide as the Jaafar Jackson-led film continues its international release, according to Billboard.com. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the Lionsgate and Universal co-production achieved $358.6 million at the domestic box office and $553.3 million internationally, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody’s total gross. Universal contributed $540.5 million to the international total after acquiring foreign theatrical and ancillary rights. The film launches in Japan today—a key market that could push Michael past the $1 billion mark worldwide. If it does, it will be only the second film in 2026 to reach this milestone, following Universal’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie. For comparison, the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody—which won four Oscars, including Best Film Editing, and earned Rami Malek the Best Actor award—grossed $216.6 ...

  Fans of Michael Jackson and moviegoers who grew up with his music may have reason to head back to theaters this week, after the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board approved Michael, a biographical film about the life of the King of Pop. The film, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, received a PG classification. According to the MTRCB, a PG rating means younger viewers may watch with parental guidance. The film traces Jackson’s journey from child star with The Jackson 5 to one of the most recognizable entertainers in modern history. For many Filipino fans who came of age in the 1980s and 1990s, Jackson’s music formed part of radio playlists, dance contests, and pop culture moments. He became known worldwide for albums such as Thriller, Bad, and Dangerous, as well as songs like Billie Jean and Beat It. Also included in this week’s lineup is Decadence, a drama-romance film exclusive to Megaworld Cinemas, which received an R-18 rating for mature themes that may not b...