The Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" continued its record-breaking global run on Wednesday, with distributors Lionsgate and Universal reporting steady midweek receipts after the film became the first music biopic to pass $1 billion worldwide. The studios announced additional international bookings across Europe and Asia.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as his late uncle, the film opened strongly and has held firm against summer competition. Overseas markets drove the latest surge, with particularly strong turnout in the United Kingdom, Germany and parts of Latin America.

A Lionsgate spokesperson confirmed the $1 billion milestone was reached on July 13 and said the studio expected the film to remain in wide release through the summer. The company also signalled early planning for an awards campaign, positioning Jaafar Jackson's lead performance and the film's musical sequences for recognition.

The milestone marks a significant commercial victory for both studios after a mixed year at the box office. Industry analysts at Comscore noted that music biopics have consistently drawn multi-generational audiences, a factor that helped sustain the film's momentum well beyond its opening weekend.

The John Branca and John McClain estate, which cooperated on the production, has faced scrutiny over how the film addresses allegations against Jackson. Estate representatives have defended the film's approach, and the studios have declined to detail how those themes are handled on screen.