Michael Jackson's biopic aims to moonwalk into history as the most opulent biopic ever made with a record-breaking production budget.

Michael Jackson, an illustrious American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist, earned the moniker ‘King of Pop’ for his profound impact on 20th-century culture. Throughout his extensive four-decade journey, his musical innovations, dance prowess, and iconic style propelled him to global stardom, intertwining his public persona with his private narrative. ‘Michael,’ an upcoming biographical musical drama helmed by Antoine Fuqua and penned by John Logan, delves into the extraordinary life of this legendary artist. With rumours swirling of a staggering $150 million budget, it could potentially claim the title of the most opulent biopic ever made. In this backdrop, let's delve into the production cost of top three highest grossing biopics of all time.

Oppenheimer (2023)

Earning a remarkable 13 nominations and securing seven wins at the 96th Academy Awards very recently, ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, directed, and produced by Christopher Nolan, emerges as an epic biographical thriller. Led by Cillian Murphy, the film delves into the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American physicist renowned as the ‘father of the atomic bomb’ for his pivotal role in the Manhattan Project. This World War II endeavour marked the genesis of nuclear weaponry. With a global box office haul exceeding $960 million, ‘Oppenheimer’ ascends to the summit as the highest-grossing biopic in cinematic history. Astoundingly, the film was created on a budget of $100 million.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ a biographical musical drama, chronicles the journey of Freddie Mercury, the iconic frontman of the British rock band ‘Queen,’ from the band's inception in 1970 to their monumental 1985 Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film features Rami Malek in the lead role, supported by a talented ensemble including Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, and Mike Myers. Despite its modest budget of approximately $50 million, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ erupted into a colossal box office blockbuster, raking in a staggering $910.8 million worldwide.

American Sniper (2014)

Directed by Clint Eastwood and penned by Jason Hall, this biographical war drama loosely draws inspiration from the memoir ‘American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History’ (2012) by Chris Kyle, co-authored with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. The narrative delves into Kyle's life, charting his trajectory to becoming the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history, with 255 kills across four tours during the Iraq War, 160 of which were officially confirmed by the Department of Defense. Despite accolades for his military prowess, Kyle grappled with the profound toll his service exacted on his personal and familial relationships. Bradley Cooper portrays Kyle, with Sienna Miller depicting his wife Taya, supported by Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Kevin Lacz, Navid Negahban, and Keir O'Donnell. With a budget of $58.8 million, ‘American Sniper’ soared to global success, amassing over $547 million worldwide.