4 Minutes
Trailer breaks streaming records
The first teaser for Michael — the forthcoming biopic about Michael Jackson — exploded across the internet, registering a staggering global response in its first 24 hours. Industry data from WaveMetrix shows the trailer collected more than 116.2 million views worldwide within a day, making it the most-viewed teaser ever for a music biopic and the biggest trailer debut in Lionsgate history. The breathless online reaction underlines how high expectations are for a film about one of pop music's most iconic, and controversial, figures.
What the teaser shows
The teaser gives viewers a brisk, evocative glimpse of a young Michael coming into his own: Jaafar Jackson — Michael’s nephew — appears in the role, channeling signature moves such as the moonwalk and offering a short recreation of the Thriller choreography. The sequence feels carefully calibrated to thrill fans while promising a film that leans into the spectacle and performance that defined Jackson’s public life.
Cast and creative team
Antoine Fuqua directs from a script by veteran writer John Logan. The cast rounds out with Miles Teller as John Branca, Coleman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Kat Graham as Diana Ross, Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones, Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe, and Juliano Crovato Valdi as young Michael. Producers include Graham King, John Branca, and John McClain — names that signal the studio’s intent to balance cinematic showmanship with access to the Jackson estate and archives.
How it compares to other music biopics
The early buzz recalls the launches of films like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, whose trailers set fan expectations and fueled box-office runs. Unlike Freddie Mercury’s deeply intimate focus or Elton John’s stylized fantasia, Michael appears positioned as a crowd-pleasing, performance-forward portrait that also traces Jackson’s rise from the Jackson 5 to global stardom. Director Antoine Fuqua, known for gritty dramas such as Training Day and The Equalizer, faces a different challenge here: capturing musical wonder and choreography with the same kinetic clarity he brings to action scenes.
Context, challenges, and fan reaction
Music biopics today must balance spectacle with nuance. Fans demand accurate recreations of landmark performances, while critics expect thoughtful handling of complicated personal narratives. Early reactions on social media have been split between excitement for the recreation of classic moments and cautious curiosity about how the film will treat Jackson’s complex legacy. Behind the scenes, reports say choreography teams worked closely with Jaafar Jackson and consulting choreographers to nail the moves — a reminder that authenticity in movement matters as much as casting.
Michael opens in theaters on April 24, 2026. With the trailer already rewriting record books, all eyes will be on whether the film can translate online enthusiasm into critical success and a meaningful cinematic portrait of the King of Pop.
A short note: this biopic promises spectacle and a front-row view into a starting chapter of Michael Jackson’s life — whether it becomes definitive will depend on how it balances performance, context, and the film’s willingness to engage with complexity.
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