The $900 million milestone nears

The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' is rapidly approaching the $900 million global box office milestone ,with a major release in Japan pending and a sustained international momentum.

According to the report, the film has already earned $533.8 million in Universal territories and a total international gross of $543.685 million when including Volga markets, surpassing 'Bohemian Rhapsody's foreign earnings in comparable markets.

The domestic tally stands at $354.3 million after seven weekends, with the film earning $7.7 million domestically (down 35%) and $15.4 million internationally (down 29%) in its seventh frame.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 box office

The film's path to overtaking 'Bohemian Rhapsody' appears nearly certain, given the pending Japan release and sustained international momentum.

This echoes the 2019 box office, where music biopics like 'Rocketman' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' dominated the charts, with 'Bohemian Rhapsody' eventually becoming the highest-grossing music biopic of all time.

However, the success of 'Michael' raises questions about the longevity of the music biopic genre and whether it can sustain itself beyond the initial hype.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The production, budgeted near $200 million with financing shared by Lionsgate , Universal, and the Jackson estate, stars Jaafar Jackson as his uncle Michael, with Colman Domingo as Joseph Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson.

The film's production costs and financing structure have been scrutinized,with some auditors flagging concerns about the distribution of profits and the potential for future disputes between the parties involved.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The film's success has also sparked interest in the unnamed buyer, who is expected to provide a significant boost toward the $1 billion mark with the major release in Japan.

However, the identity of the buyer remains unknown, and it is unclear what their motivations are for investing in the film.