Every Reason Why Michael Jackson Biopic Conquered the Box-Office

The Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, received negative reviews from critics after its release, but it did not affect its box-office numbers. Despite negative first reactions to the biopic, the movie has earned over $226.5 million globally since its release on April 24, 2026 (via Box Office Mojo, as of April 29, 2026).

The movie turned out to be a music biopic critics never wanted, but audiences embraced it as a celebration of the late pop star. But what factors led to the global box office success of Michael? Fans who are wondering what the reason is behind the movie’s successful performance, here are all the factors that may have come into play:

Info	Key Details
Name of the movie	Michael
IMDb Rating (As of April 29, 2026)	7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Ratings – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 29, 2026)	38% | 97%
Directed By	Antoine Fuqua
Box Office (As of April 29, 2026)	$226 million globally

1 The Michael Jackson Biopic Trailer Did Half the Work

The trailer for the biopic itself broke the record as the most-watched teaser of a music biopic, garnering a whopping 116.2 million views in its first 24 hours (via Deadline). In the history of concert film releases, no other music biopic was as watched as Michael‘s trailer, not even Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

This itself showcased that the movie won way before there was a single negative review. Critics called the film “dull” and “sanitized,” but fans of the star had already made an emotional commitment to the movie.

2 The Controversy Surrounding the Michael Jackson Biopic Was Free Marketing

The biopic, Michael, faced heavy criticism before its release for not including the se*ual abuse allegations against the star. The movie had originally covered the allegations made in 1993, which eventually led to reshoots of the biopic, due to legal restrictions.

But the chatter around it only helped the movie by keeping it in the headlines for months before its release. The controversy did not affect the biopic but helped Michael live on the radar of audiences, likely helping its box-office success.

3 Jaafar Jackson Playing Michael Jackson Was the Right Choice

Not only was Jaafar Jackson a lookalike of the superstar, but also his nephew. The decision to cast his nephew in the biopic acted as a green signal from the family. It made the biopic feel authorized by the Jacksons, making it different from any biopic released.

Jaafar, playing his own uncle, likely felt emotional for Michael’s fans. Audiences were not watching a normal actor play the pop star, but they were witnessing his family trying to carry forward Michael’s legacy. A unique circumstance for any biopic that no other casting might be able to replicate.

4 No Other Musician Can Match Michael Jackson’s Fame

Michael Jackson’s fame transcends generations of musicians and fans, and new fans might discover him through their parents and streaming platforms. This drives more audience, even if they weren’t present during the pop star’s iconic era. The views on the trailer alone tell audiences why the musician’s biopic was meant to be a success.

Michael’s level of fame suggests the existence of built-in fans on every single continent before the release of his biopic. From his “Moonwalk” to his soul-catching music, Jackson’s influence is present throughout generations, which is what makes his level of fame untouched by any other musician in the industry.

5 The Music of the Michael Jackson Biopic Is the Real Star

Deemed as the “crowd-pleaser,” Michael, is a concert film that heavily relies on recreations of some of the pop star’s iconic performances. Notably, recreations of songs like Billie Jean, Thriller, and Beat It.

The biopic became more than just a concert experience, along with his music and the packaging of his story in a narrative that celebrates him, which likely led to its success. Fans of the pop star will likely be ready to purchase IMAX tickets to experience the music as it was meant to be, along with other fans. Despite the movie being a hit, some fans felt the biopic ended too early.

The box office success of Michael showcases how, despite bad reviews, a film can still perform positively. Even after receiving only 38% positive reviews (via Rotten Tomatoes), the movie received an A- CinemaScore.

This is the gap between critics and audiences, and what fans deemed a reminiscence of Michael’s music, performances, and dance was dismissed as a redundant biopic by critics. As for the Michael, the biopic, its success is not a surprise for fans of the legendary artist.

Would you watch the musician’s biopic? Which music biopics exceeded your expectations? Let us know in the comments below.

Michael has been released and is available to watch in theatres.