April 10, 2026 (Berlin)
April 24, 2026 (United States)
Michael is a 2026 American biographical film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan. It follows the life of the American singer Michael Jackson, covering his involvement in the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to the Bad tour in the late 1980s. Jackson is portrayed by his nephew Jaafar Jackson and as a child by Juliano Krue Valdi, both in their film debuts. The supporting cast includes Nia Long, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, Mike Myers, Miles Teller and Colman Domingo.
Development began in November 2019, when it was reported that the producer Graham King had secured the rights to produce a film about Jackson, with Logan attached to write. Lionsgate Films announced the film in February 2022. In January 2023, Fuqua was announced as the director and Jaafar was cast as Michael. Further casting took place from January to April 2024.
After delays caused by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, filming took place between January and May 2024. After a clause was discovered in a legal settlement, references to the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson were removed, the third act was revised, and reshoots took place in June 2025. Studios including Industrial Light & Magic provided the visual effects.
The first trailer, released in November 2025, became the most viewed for any musical biopic or concert film. Michael premiered in Berlin on April 10, 2026, and was released on April 24 by Lionsgate in the US and by Universal Pictures in other territories. It received mostly negative reviews; critics praised Jaafar Jackson's performance but criticized the story as "sanitized", though it was generally lauded by audiences. It has has broke several box office records.
Storyline
Movie Trailer
- Michael (2026) (Trailers)
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, Medium Exterior Crow PE140401 (Heard once in a low volume.)
- Sound Ideas, CHIMPANZEE - EXCITED CALL, ANIMAL, MONKEY, APE 01 (Used for Bubbles.)
- Sound Ideas, TELEPHONE, ELECTRONIC - ELECTRONIC 1: RINGING, OFFICE
- Sound Ideas, THUNDER - BIG THUNDER CLAP AND RUMBLE, WEATHER 01 (Heard once right before the "Thriller" scene.)
- Vincent Price Laugh