Michael (2026) soared past the billion‑dollar mark with $1.001 billion worldwide, becoming the first biopic ever to achieve such a milestone.
The Antoine Fuqua–directed and John Logan–written epic not only surpassed Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer ($976.8 million) to claim the all‑time biopic record, but also delivered Lionsgate its first billion‑dollar release, following earlier studio triumphs like The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($865 million) and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 ($850 million).
Chronicling the King of Pop’s journey from his Jackson 5 childhood in the 1960s to the global spectacle of the Bad World Tour in the late 1980s, the film features Michael brought to life by his 29‑year‑old nephew Jaafar Jackson and newcomer Juliano Valdi as young Michael—both making their film debuts.
King Arthur (2004)— $204 Million
Written by David Franzoni, King Arthur is a historical action epic that offers a grounded, realistic take on the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The film stars Oscar nominee Clive Owen as Arthur and two-time Oscar nominee Keira Knightley as Guinevere. Although it grossed $204 million worldwide, its estimated $120 million production budget meant it delivered only a modest financial return rather than becoming a major box-office success. Even so, it remained Antoine Fuqua’s highest-grossing film for nearly two decades, until it was surpassed by his 2026 biopic.
The Equalizer (2014) — $192 Million
With a worldwide gross of $192 million against an estimated $55 million budget, The Equalizer was a major commercial success based on the 1980s TV series of the same title. Antoine Fuqua’s stylish direction, combined with a standout cast, launched the first chapter of his acclaimed action-thriller franchise and cemented his long-running collaboration with Denzel Washington.
The film stars two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, alongside Marton Csokas as Teddy, Chloë Grace Moretz as Teri, and four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee David Harbour as Masters. Their strong performances helped turn The Equalizer into one of Fuqua’s most successful and influential films.
The Equalizer 2 (2018) — $190 Million
The Equalizer 2 (2018) proved a box‑office hit with $190 million worldwide against a $62 million budget, nearly matching the original’s success and cementing the trilogy’s steady draw.
This time, Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall trades his home‑improvement store job for driving Lyft in Boston, while Marton Csokas (Teddy), Chloë Grace Moretz (Alina), and Johnny Skourtis (Ralphie) exit, making way for Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) as Dave York, Ashton Sanders as Miles Whittaker, and Orson Bean as Sam Rubinstein.
The Equalizer 3 (2023) — $191 Million
The Equalizer 3 (2023) closed out the vigilante trilogy with $191 million worldwide, earning 76% from critics and 94% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
Denzel Washington returned as Robert McCall, while Pedro Pascal, Melissa Leo, Bill Pullman, and Ashton Sanders exited, making way for new faces including Dakota Fanning as young CIA agent Emma Collins, Andrea Scarduzio as Vincent Quaranta, and Gaia Scodellaro as Aminah.
Olympus Has Fallen (2013) — $161 Million
The gritty White House‑under‑siege thriller Olympus Has Fallen (2013), directed and co‑produced by Antoine Fuqua, turned its $70 million budget into a $170.3 million global box‑office hit, launching a full franchise.
Gerard Butler starred as Secret Service agent Mike Banning alongside Aaron Eckhart as President Benjamin Asher, Morgan Freeman as Allan Trumbull, Rick Yune as Kang Yeonsak, and Angela Bassett as Lynne Jacobs.
The success paved the way for sequels London Has Fallen (2016) and Angel Has Fallen (2019), with the principal cast reprising their roles and cementing the trilogy’s place in modern action cinema.
Antoine Fuqua’s most ambitious project yet is his untitled ancient historical epic on the Carthaginian warrior Hannibal, marking his sixth collaboration with Denzel Washington after the highly profitable Equalizer trilogy.
Written by three‑time Oscar winner John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator), the blockbuster centers on Hannibal Barca’s legendary campaign against the Roman Republic, including his tactical invasion of southern Italy with war elephants. Washington is confirmed to star as Hannibal Barca, with Pedro Pascal predicted as Maharbal and Souheila Yacoub as Imilce.
