Michael Jackson Biopic Makes History as $1 Billion Blockbuster Heads to Streaming
Hollywood is celebrating significant box office milestones as "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" dominates, breaking multiple records and joining the exclusive 2026 billion-dollar club. Alongside this, Antoine Fuqua's "Michael" has made history as the first biopic to hit $1 billion globally, with a sequel now confirmed and its streaming debut imminent.
After a historic run at the global box office, Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, is making the jump to streaming.
The Antoine Fuqua-directed film begins streaming on Starz in the United States on August 10, giving audiences another opportunity to see a movie that turned Michael Jackson's life and music into one of the year's biggest cinema events. Starz confirmed the August 10 streaming premiere, following the film's theatrical run earlier this year.
But Michael arrives on streaming with a record few expected it to achieve. The film has earned about $1.02 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing music biopic ever and the first biographical film to cross the billion-dollar mark.
Jaafar Jackson takes on the role of his famous uncle, tracing Michael's journey from a young performer in the Jackson 5 to one of the most recognisable entertainers in music history. The cast also includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller and Kendrick Sampson.
The commercial success is particularly striking because the film's reception was far from universally positive. Critics were divided over how the story approached some of the more difficult and controversial periods of Jackson's life, but audiences still turned out in huge numbers around the world.
International moviegoers were crucial to that performance, accounting for a significant share of the film's global earnings and demonstrating the enduring reach of Jackson's music decades after some of his biggest hits were released.
And the story may not end with the first film.
Lionsgate is already working on a sequel, with studio executives saying there is still a considerable part of Jackson's career and music catalogue left to explore. Lionsgate film chief Adam Fogelson said discussions surrounding a second Michael film were progressing well, describing the remaining material as enough to build another major movie.
The first film ends around Jackson's Bad era, leaving some of the biggest chapters of his later career untouched. Parts of the proposed sequel were also reportedly filmed during production of the original movie, potentially giving the filmmakers a head start.
For African audiences, Jackson's story carries particular resonance. His music enjoyed enormous popularity across the continent, while his visits to Africa and his embrace of African imagery and heritage helped deepen a cultural connection that extended well beyond the United States.
Now, after crossing the billion-dollar threshold in cinemas, Michael enters its next phase on streaming — while Hollywood prepares to see whether the King of Pop's extraordinary box-office run can be repeated with a second film.