# 2026’s Latest Billion-Dollar Blockbuster Officially Overtakes ‘The Dark Knight’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/2026s-latest-billion-dollar-blockbuster-officially-overtakes-the-dark-knight/
- Published: 2026-07-19T16:15:15+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-19T17:13:12+00:00
- Original publisher: Collider
- Original article: https://collider.com/michael-box-office-overtakes-the-dark-knight-worldwide-1-billion/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- Michael Jackson biopic Michael passes $1 billion worldwide, overtaking The Dark Knight.
- Critics gave it 38% on Rotten Tomatoes; audiences rated it 97%.
- Nolan's The Odyssey posted his biggest-ever global opening this same week.

## Summary

Michael, Antoine Fuqua's biopic of Michael Jackson, has passed $1 billion (£790 million) at the worldwide box office, overtaking Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight on the all-time chart. The milestone is notable given the film's troubled path to release, including a reported overhaul of its third act, controversy over how it portrays its subject, and a mixed critical reception, yet it has proved a major draw with audiences.

The film currently holds just 38% on Rotten Tomatoes' critics' score, with the site's consensus praising star Jaafar Jackson's portrayal while criticising the film for playing like a "greatest hits" package lacking real insight. Audiences have responded far more warmly, however, giving it a 97% score on the same platform. The news comes as Nolan enjoys a career-best global opening for his own new film, The Odyssey, offsetting the demotion of two of his previous hits down the all-time worldwide rankings.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.