Michael Begins Streaming on Starz After $1 Billion Box Office Run
Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic starring Jaafar Jackson, has begun streaming on Starz today, August 10, following a theatrical run that pushed the film past $1 billion at the global box office.
The Antoine Fuqua-directed film opened in cinemas in April and became the first biographical film to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide, while also delivering Lionsgate its first billion-dollar theatrical release.
Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, plays the singer as an adult, with Juliano Krue Valdi portraying him during his early years. Colman Domingo, Nia Long and Miles Teller are also part of the cast. Starz now lists the film as available to stream in the United States.
Its move to streaming comes more than three months after its theatrical debut, giving the film a substantial cinema window before becoming part of Starz’s subscription offering.
That journey is notable in a film market where studios continue to experiment with how long major releases should remain exclusive to cinemas.
Michael has already proved commercially successful on the big screen. Its arrival on Starz now gives Lionsgate another opportunity to extend the film’s audience beyond cinemas while using one of the year’s biggest theatrical releases to strengthen the streaming service.
The film follows Jackson’s career from his childhood with the Jackson 5 through his rise as a solo performer. It was produced with involvement from the Jackson estate, a relationship that has also shaped discussion around how the film presents parts of the singer’s life.
Starz describes the film as a portrait of Jackson’s rise from child performer to global music star.
