06/28/2026
Michael and Oppenheimer are two of the biggest biopics ever made, but they tell very different stories. Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, follows the life and career of Michael Jackson, focusing on his rise from a child star in the Jackson 5 to becoming the "King of Pop." Jaafar Jackson, Michael's real-life nephew, plays the lead role and performs many of Jackson's signature songs and dances. Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, tells the story of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his leadership of the Manhattan Project, which developed the first atomic bombs during World War II. Cillian Murphy stars as Oppenheimer, with the film exploring the scientific achievement, moral consequences, and political fallout of his work.
The two films also differ in style and tone. Michael is a PG-13 musical biopic filled with concert recreations, choreography, and iconic songs from across Jackson's career, while Oppenheimer is a three-hour, R-rated historical drama driven by dialogue, courtroom-style hearings, and practical filmmaking techniques, including large-format IMAX photography. Despite those differences, both became major box office events. Oppenheimer earned about $976 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing biopic in history, while Michael broke the record for the biggest biopic opening weekend and became the highest-grossing music biopic ever. It has earned more than $900 million worldwide and is closing in on Oppenheimer's all-time biopic record.