Key facts — Michael, the Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael Jackson biopic starring nephew Jaafar Jackson, opened in France on 22 April 2026 and topped $1 billion worldwide by mid-2026, the first musical biopic to do so. Runtime: 127 minutes, rated PG-13. See his wax figure at Wax of Legends in Colmar.
The Michael Jackson biopic is finally here. Michael, which reached French cinemas on 22 April 2026, retraces the King of Pop's journey from the Jackson 5 to the Bad tour. In front of the camera: Jaafar Jackson, Michael's own nephew, making his very first film appearance. Looking for the release date, the full cast, or the box-office figures? Here is what to know about this 2026 Michael Jackson movie, and an unexpected way to meet the star in Colmar once the credits roll.
In brief — Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua, opened in French cinemas on 22 April 2026 (24 April in the United States and internationally). Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew, plays the adult singer. In France, after a wide theatrical run, the film is expected on VOD around late August 2026 (media-release windowing); in the United States, it is already available digitally and on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD.
The rollout of this 2026 Michael Jackson movie was staggered from one continent to the next. In France, the film arrived in cinemas on 22 April 2026, the same day as in the United Kingdom, after a world premiere in Berlin on 10 April 2026 (Uber Eats Music Hall).
The US release and the wide international rollout, IMAX screenings included, followed on 24 April 2026. In France, success was immediate: Michael stayed at the top of the weekly box office for six weeks in a row, becoming the country's most-watched biopic, ahead of La Vie en Rose.
Here are the key dates to remember:
In other words, if you are reading this in the summer of 2026, the film has already had its full run in French cinemas; to watch it again at home, the French VOD release is expected towards the end of the summer. All told, six weeks separate the Berlin world premiere from the US physical release.
It is the first question audiences ask, and the answer is a surprising one. The adult Michael Jackson is played by Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson and therefore the singer's nephew. The family resemblance is unmistakable, backed by real preparation for what is his very first film role.
The young Michael, at age 10, is played by Juliano Valdi, who carries the entire "Jackson 5 years" strand of the story.
Around them, a solid cast brings the singer's inner circle to life. Eight lead roles are confirmed to date:
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Jaafar Jackson | Michael Jackson, adult |
| Juliano Valdi | Michael Jackson, age 10 |
| Colman Domingo | Joseph Jackson, the father |
| Nia Long | Katherine Jackson, the mother |
| Miles Teller | John Branca, the manager |
| Mike Myers | Walter Yetnikoff |
| Laura Harrier | Suzanne de Passe |
| KeiLyn Durrel Jones | Bill Bray |
Kendrick Sampson and Larenz Tate also appear in the credits, in roles yet to be confirmed.
Did you know? Handing the role of Michael to a member of his own family is a rare gamble in a musical biopic. Jaafar Jackson carries the name, the eyes and, early viewers say, a stage presence that instantly recalls his uncle.
The other question fans keep asking is about the voice. Michael Jackson's dancing, his gliding steps, the way he owned a stage: reproducing all of that took more than a simple look-alike. Jaafar Jackson physically embodies the singer on screen, choreography included, after lengthy preparation.
On the precise details of the vocal work (Michael's original voice reused, re-recordings, or a blend of both), the production has not issued an official, definitive statement. This point therefore remains to be confirmed, but what is certain is that the film draws on the King of Pop's repertoire for its musical sequences, from the early days with the Jackson 5 to the hits of the Bad era.
The film covers a broad stretch of Michael Jackson's life: from his childhood within the Jackson 5, in the 1960s, to the Bad tour in the late 1980s. What the film traces, then, is the rise — from the child prodigy of Gary, Indiana, to the global superstar — rather than an exhaustive account of an entire life: roughly two decades condensed into 127 minutes.
At the helm: Antoine Fuqua directing and John Logan writing the screenplay. On the production side are Lionsgate Films, GK Films and Optimum Productions, with distribution handled by Lionsgate in the United States and Universal Pictures International abroad.
A few practical details worth noting:
As for the critical reception, the film split the press even as it won audiences over on a huge scale. The scores from the review aggregators keep shifting, so they are best checked as they are updated.
As of 2 June 2026, Forbes credited the film with a worldwide total of 849.7 million dollars (340.1 million in the United States, 509.6 million internationally), which already made it the second highest-grossing musical biopic in history, just behind Bohemian Rhapsody.
Later tallies, once the physical release was under way, report a worldwide total crossing the symbolic one-billion-dollar mark (around 1.001 billion, of which 371.8 million in North America and 629.8 million internationally). Michael is thus presented as the first biopic to pass that milestone worldwide. The exact date of this crossing remains to be confirmed. Between the Forbes tally of 2 June and passing that milestone, the film added more than 150 million dollars in receipts in just a few weeks.
| Box-office marker | Amount |
|---|---|
| Worldwide total as of 2 June 2026 (Forbes) | $849.7M |
| of which United States | $340.1M |
| of which international | $509.6M |
| Worldwide total after physical release | ≈ $1.001B |
| of which North America | $371.8M |
| of which international | $629.8M |
Key figures — More than 1 billion dollars in worldwide receipts, 127 minutes of film, a nephew of Michael's in the title role, and an international release spread across the whole spring of 2026.
Since the story stops in the late 1980s, a sequel seems logical, and one does appear to be in the works. As of 21 May 2026, producer Graham King mentioned a second instalment in development, with John Logan working on screenplay elements. No official release date has been announced to date, however: this "Michael Jackson biopic 2" remains, for now, a project to be confirmed.
In the meantime, it is Michael, the first of the name, that answers the question "which film is coming out in 2026 about the King of Pop": this one, released in the spring of 2026.
Missed it in cinemas? In France, home availability follows the media-release windowing: the VOD release (purchase and rental, on platforms such as Google Play or Canal VOD) is expected for late August 2026, and a broadcast on Canal+ should follow in the autumn. Prices have not yet been set — we will update them as soon as they are officially announced.
For reference, the film has already been released for home viewing in the United States (digital in June, 4K UHD/Blu-ray/DVD in July), but those editions belong to the US market.
For the pricing of the last cinema showings, it all depends on the operator: best to check directly with your local cinema.
A biopic is two hours spent rediscovering the moves and the voice of the King of Pop. In Colmar, you can extend the experience face to face with his life-size figure, at Wax of Legends: Michael Jackson has his wax figure there, among the great names of music. Reason enough to round off the screening with a souvenir photo, for the length of a visit.
→ Book your tickets for Wax of Legends
And he is not alone. Here you will also find the great voices of music (Katy Perry, John Lennon, Édith Piaf, Louis Armstrong, Mozart) that you can get within a few centimetres of, for a photo. The music carries on into the interactive experiences: in the karaoke space, you step into a studio, the microphone is waiting for you, and it is your turn to hold the note. For the length of a song, you cross to the other side of the screen.
Visit info — The tour brings together 60 wax figures, 30 listening points and 15 interactive experiences, to enjoy in 1h to 1h30. Wax of Legends is open 7 days a week from 10am to 6pm, public holidays included, with last entry at 5pm; the audio guide, included, is available in six languages.
Choco-Story and Vino-Storia are at the same address as Wax of Legends, in the historic pedestrian centre of Colmar — three worlds gathered in one place. You move from one to the next on the spot, without ever getting back in the car.
Choco-Story unfolds the history of chocolate, from bean to tasting. At Vino-Storia, the Alsace wine discovery trail ends with a tasting; for younger visitors, or for anyone who does not drink alcohol, juices echo the same aromatic notes as the wines, so the experience opens up to lovers of local terroir and to the whole family alike.
Good to know — On the ticketing side, the duo pass gives you −20% on two museums and the trio pass −33% on all three (one museum free, in effect). Each pass stays valid for 7 days from the first entry, and booking is done online. Ideal for slotting the visit into the rhythm of your stay.
Did the Michael Jackson film come out in 2026?
Yes. Michael opened in French cinemas on 22 April 2026 (24 April in the United States and internationally, after a world premiere in Berlin on 10 April). In France, its VOD release is expected for late August 2026, at the end of the media-release window.
Who plays Michael Jackson in the new 2026 film?
The adult Michael Jackson is played by Jaafar Jackson, his nephew, in his first film role. The young Michael, at age 10, is played by Juliano Valdi. The cast also includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Mike Myers, Laura Harrier and KeiLyn Durrel Jones.
Does Jaafar Jackson really sing in the biopic?
Jaafar Jackson physically embodies Michael on screen, dance and choreography included, after lengthy preparation. The exact details of the vocal work (original voice, re-recordings) have not been officially disclosed and remain to be confirmed; the film draws in any case on the singer's repertoire, from the Jackson 5 to the Bad era.
How much did the film make at the box office?
As of 2 June 2026, Forbes credited Michael with 849.7 million dollars in worldwide receipts. After the physical release, the total passes one billion dollars (≈ 1.001 billion), making it the first biopic to cross that milestone worldwide.
How long is the film and what is its rating?
Michael runs for 127 minutes and is rated PG-13 in the United States, meaning it is not recommended for younger viewers without the guidance of an adult.
Where did the film's world premiere take place?
The world premiere was held in Berlin on 10 April 2026, at the Uber Eats Music Hall, twelve days before the French theatrical release.
Will there be a Michael Jackson biopic 2?
A sequel is reportedly in development: as of 21 May 2026, producer Graham King mentioned it and John Logan was said to be working on the screenplay. No official release date has been announced, so this remains to be confirmed.
Which film is coming out in 2026 about Michael Jackson?
It is Michael, the biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua, released in French cinemas on 22 April 2026, with a French VOD release expected for the end of the summer.
Can you see Michael Jackson in Colmar?
Yes, his wax figure is on display at Wax of Legends, 12 place de la Cathédrale, among the great names of music. A way to extend the film with a visit, to enjoy in 1h to 1h30.
For the record — Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by John Logan, carried by Jaafar Jackson: released in France on 22 April 2026, 127 minutes, more than one billion dollars at the worldwide box office. And, in Colmar, a wax figure to extend the legend.
Information verified by the Wax of Legends team (July 2026), based on the release data communicated by Lionsgate and the box-office figures published by Forbes.
Cover photo : © Serge NIED — Wax of Legends
