Michael Jackson Biopic 'Michael' Sets August 10 Starz Streaming Date After Crossing $1 Billion

The biggest music biopic in cinema history is finally coming home. Lionsgate's Michael, the record-shattering Michael Jackson biopic, will make its streaming debut on Starz starting August 10, 2026 — just over three months after it conquered theaters worldwide.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson — Michael's real-life nephew — the film chronicles the King of Pop's rise from child prodigy with the Jackson 5 to global icon, while also confronting the controversies that shadowed his later years. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, Nia Long plays Katherine Jackson, and the project is produced by Graham King, the Oscar-winning producer behind Bohemian Rhapsody. Fuqua has described the movie as an intimate portrait rather than a simple greatest-hits tribute, aiming to show the man behind the music without flinching from the hard chapters of his life.

When Michael hit theaters on April 24, 2026, expectations were already sky-high. What followed stunned even the optimists. The film crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office, becoming the first biopic in history to reach that milestone. Along the way it smashed the record previously held by Bohemian Rhapsody ($910 million), officially becoming the highest-grossing music biopic ever made. Jaafar Jackson's uncanny performance — from the vocals to the choreography — drew widespread praise and instantly made him a breakout star. Critics singled out his rendition of the classic setlist, with sequences built around Thriller, Billie Jean, and the Motown 25 moonwalk moment earning some of the film's loudest applause.

The Starz streaming premiere gives subscribers a chance to experience the phenomenon at home, and it also sets up a fascinating second life for the film. With a reported production budget around $155 million, Michael proved that music biopics remain one of Hollywood's most reliable bets when the story and the star are right. It also reignited interest in Jackson's catalog — his classic albums like Thriller, Bad, and Off the Wall all climbed streaming charts again in the weeks after the theatrical release, introducing a new generation of listeners to the music that made him a legend.

For fans who missed it in cinemas — or who want to rewatch the moonwalk on the biggest screen in their living room — August 10 can't come soon enough. Michael joins a busy Starz slate this summer, and with awards season already buzzing about Jaafar Jackson's performance, the conversation around this film is far from over. Early Oscar chatter has already placed the young actor in the conversation for Best Actor, with Fuqua's direction also drawing mentions in technical categories.

Will Michael repeat its box office magic on streaming? If the numbers so far are any indication, don't bet against it. Mark your calendar for August 10 on Starz — and bring tissues, because this one is a rollercoaster from the opening chords to the final bow.