Michael Jackson's biopic Michael has become the first biographical film to earn more than $1 billion worldwide, but the historic box-office result has reignited accusations that the production presents a sanitised account of the King of Pop's life. The film, starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, passed the milestone in July after earning approximately $372 million in North America and $630 million internationally.
Released in the UK on 22 April and the US on 24 April, Michael follows the performer from his childhood in the Jackson 5 through the peak of his early solo career. However, the story concludes in 1988, five years before the first public allegations of child sexual abuse against Jackson, prompting critics and viewers to question whether the film qualifies as a complete biography or an authorised celebration of his legacy.
Viewers Question the Film's 1988 Ending
I finally watched MICHEAL… and I get why people are arguing.
— FOWOBI OF LAGOS 𓃵 (@FowobiofLagos) April 28, 2026
This isn’t a biopic.
It’s PR with a budget.
Jaafar Jackson did his thing, no doubt. The voice, the movement, the aura… he STUDIED Michael Jackson properly.
But acting alone can’t save a story that’s scared of… pic.twitter.com/KuPQtr2hxN
The debate intensified after an X user wrote: 'A great biopic doesn't worship. It reveals. Think of films that show BOTH brilliance and flaws. That's what makes legends human.' The post argued that Michael was more interested in protecting Jackson's image than examining the contradictions that continue to shape public discussion of his career.
Jackson faced multiple allegations of child sexual abuse during his lifetime. He denied the claims and was acquitted of all charges in his 2005 criminal trial. His estate has also continued to reject allegations made against him since his death in 2009.
By ending before 1993, the 127-minute film does not cover those allegations, Jackson's trial or the controversies that followed him during his later career. Its story instead focuses on his difficult childhood, relationship with his father Joe Jackson and rise from Jackson 5 singer to the artist behind albums including Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad.
The production's official synopsis describes the film as a portrayal of Jackson's 'life and legacy' that follows his journey towards becoming 'the biggest entertainer in the world'. Its closing message, 'His story continues', has also fuelled expectations that a potential sequel could address the decades omitted from the first film.
Box-Office Records Tell a Different Story
The criticism has not stopped audiences from turning Michael into a global event. The film earned $97.2 million during its opening weekend in the US and Canada before reaching a worldwide total of approximately $1.002 billion, according to its latest box-office figures.
That result moved it past Freddie Mercury drama Bohemian Rhapsody and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, making it the highest-grossing biopic released to date. It also became Lionsgate's first billion-dollar film, overtaking titles from franchises including The Hunger Games and John Wick.
Jaafar Jackson's performance has remained one of the film's strongest talking points. The singer and actor recreated his uncle's choreography, stage costumes and performances, while Juliano Krue Valdi portrayed Jackson during his Jackson 5 years. Colman Domingo played Joe Jackson, Nia Long appeared as Katherine Jackson and Miles Teller portrayed entertainment lawyer John Branca.
A Sequel Could Face the Harder Questions
The billion-dollar result makes another Michael Jackson film commercially possible, although no sequel has been formally confirmed. Director Antoine Fuqua has previously indicated that enough footage exists to continue the story, while the first film deliberately frames itself as the beginning rather than the entirety of Jackson's life.
A follow-up covering his later career would potentially have to confront the allegations, criminal trial and increasingly intense scrutiny surrounding his private life. It could also explore major professional moments including the Dangerous and HIStory eras, his marriages, the birth of his children and the preparations for his planned This Is It residency.
For now, Michael stands as both a billion-dollar phenomenon and a renewed flashpoint in the battle over Jackson's legacy. Its commercial performance proves that global interest in the singer remains immense, but the backlash shows that many viewers still expect a biopic to examine more than its subject's greatest hits.
