A Michael Jackson biopic made by Lionsgate, directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by John Logan, and starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson in his acting debut, has crossed $1 billion at the global box office and is now streaming on Starz. Michael premiered in theaters April 24 and arrives on Starz on August 10, 2026, after a 108-day theatrical run. It is the third film of 2026 to reach the billion-dollar mark, joining Toy Story 5 and Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The film covers Jackson's life from his earliest days with the Jackson 5 through the 1988 Bad tour. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, Nia Long plays Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller plays manager John Branca.
Box office numbers
Michael opened to $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide in its first weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. That set the biggest biopic opening of all time, surpassing Straight Outta Compton's $60 million debut in 2015 and Bohemian Rhapsody's $61 million domestic bow in 2018. The domestic opening alone exceeded Straight Outta Compton's total gross by $37 million.
IMAX contributed $24.4 million globally, including $13.8 million from 427 North American screens. That represents 14% of the domestic weekend total, marking the biggest IMAX opening for any Lionsgate release in North America and the largest IMAX debut for a musical biopic.
The final domestic gross was $372.3 million and the international gross was $649.1 million, for a worldwide total of $1.02 billion, according to The Numbers. The original production budget was $155 million, with reshoots bringing the total to approximately $170 million.
The film is now the highest-grossing biopic ever, overtaking Oppenheimer at $955 million. It is also the highest-grossing musical biopic, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody at $911 million. Michael is Lionsgate's biggest film ever, beating The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 on the studio's all-time chart.
Critical reception versus audience response
The film holds a 38% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics but a 97% from audiences, according to Box Office Mojo. CinemaScore gave it an A-. Post-show surveys showed strong holdover numbers.
The critical divide centers on the film's decision to end in 1988, before any accusations against Jackson were made. Director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan reworked the script to conclude at that point. Lionsgate's domestic chair Adam Fogelson told the Associated Press that the studio was not "running around in a panic" but rather navigating a "unique and challenging circumstance."
The reshoots were prompted by a legal clause in a Michael Jackson Estate settlement that barred depiction of certain allegations. The estate absorbed an estimated $10 to $15 million in reshoot costs, bringing the film's total net production budget to approximately $170 million, according to Variety.
What comes next
Lionsgate is already planning a sequel. Adam Fogelson told Deadline that the studio is targeting production start "towards the end of this year or early next," with a release window between late 2027 and the first half of 2028.
The Jackson family's involvement has been supportive. Prince Jackson, Michael's eldest son, served as executive producer and was a regular presence on set throughout production. Some family members attended the premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, though Janet Jackson was not involved in the film.
The Michael Jackson catalog has seen one of its biggest streaming and album sales weeks in years following the film's release. The Legacy Records soundtrack, Michael: Songs from the Motion Picture, dropped on April 24 and has moved in lockstep with the film's theatrical run.
Where to watch
Michael streams on Starz beginning August 10, 2026. The Starz channel premiere airs the same day at 7 p.m. ET/PT. The film is available on all Starz apps and streaming platforms. It previously debuted on premium video on demand on June 9, 2026.
For the official streaming announcement, see the Deadline report.
For box office details, see Box Office Mojo.
See also: Nolan's Odyssey Becomes the Highest-Grossing R-Rated Film Ever