The wait is finally over. Michael, the highly anticipated biopic chronicling the rise of one of the greatest entertainers who ever lived, hit theaters on Friday, April 25, 2026 — and the numbers are already rewriting history. With $12.6 million earned in previews alone, the Lionsgate production is on pace to shatter the all-time record for a musical biopic opening weekend, and the culture is fully here for it.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael takes audiences on a journey from the gritty rehearsal rooms of a young, steel-worker father’s dream to the blinding lights of one of the most iconic careers in music history. The film is raw, it is ambitious, and it is unapologetically devoted to legacy.
Jaafar Jackson Steps Into History
The most talked-about element of Michael is its lead. Jaafar Jackson — the real-life nephew of the King of Pop — delivers a performance that has left audiences floored. Portraying his uncle in the film’s debut role, Jaafar carries the film with a presence that is both haunting and magnetic. Audiences have given the biopic a strong A- CinemaScore, a sign that fans are connecting deeply with the story being told.
Jaafar is not alone in the spotlight. The Michael cast brings serious power
- Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, the demanding patriarch whose iron grip shaped both the Jackson 5 and the solo legend who followed
- Nia Long steps into the role of Katherine Jackson, the quiet force and anchor of the family
- Supporting players include Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, and Mike Myers rounding out an ensemble built for impact
Box Office History in the Making
The numbers speak loudly. Michael collected $12.6 million in preview screenings — the biggest of the year, surpassing Project Hail Mary and Scream 7. Internationally, the film opened to $18.5 million on its first day across 82 markets, setting a first-day record for a musical biopic in multiple territories including France and the United Kingdom.
Industry projections for the opening weekend now sit between $65 million and $80 million domestically, with international receipts pushing the global total to a potential $150 million or more. For context, the previous record for a musical biopic was held by Straight Outta Compton at $60 million — a record Michael looks set to crush before Sunday is over.
A Story Built on Legacy, Not Controversy
Michael makes a deliberate creative choice — it ends the story in 1988, with the legendary Bad World Tour concert in London. The decision to sidestep later controversies was not without drama behind the scenes. The original script had addressed a 1993 lawsuit before a legal clause forced producers to scrap the entire third act and reshoot the film’s ending, adding tens of millions to a budget that reportedly reached $200 million.
The result is a film that leans hard into the music, the family tension, and the relentless pursuit of greatness that defined Michael‘s early decades. Critics have been divided, with the film sitting at 40% on Rotten Tomatoes — but audiences are telling a completely different story.
What Comes Next
The success of Michael has already sparked conversations about a sequel. Lionsgate has confirmed that roughly 30% of the material cut during reshoots could form the foundation of a second film. With a $700 million worldwide gross as the internal benchmark, the studio is clearly thinking long-term.
For now, the legacy of the King of Pop is alive on the big screen — and the world showed up to witness it.
