2026 · Film
Michael
Antoine Fuqua's biopic stars Jaafar Jackson as his uncle Michael Jackson, tracing his life from the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to the Bad World Tour of the late 1980s.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 24 October 2026, Michael is streaming in India on JioHotstar with a subscription.
- Checked Sat, 24 Oct, 2026 via Airtel Xstream listing
The story
In 1966 in Gary, Indiana, steelworker Joseph Jackson drills his sons into a band, the Jackson 5, with young Michael on lead vocals. Their success at Motown moves the family to California, but as Michael grows up he wants to make music on his own terms. The film follows him as he pushes back against his father's tight control, works with producer Quincy Jones on his first adult solo albums, and rises to worldwide stardom.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Music fans and viewers curious about Michael Jackson's early career and his break from family control will find that story here. Note that the film does not cover the later abuse allegations against him.
Genres:MusicalTrue stories
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
John Logan wrote the film and Graham King produced it, with Lionsgate releasing it in the US and Universal Pictures handling most international markets. Filming ran from January to May 2024. References to the 1993 abuse allegations were later removed after a clause in an earlier legal settlement came to light, the third act was revised, and 22 days of reshoots followed in June 2025. The release moved from April 2025 to October 2025 and then to April 2026; it opened in the US on 24 April 2026.
According to Wikipedia, it grossed about US$1.03 billion worldwide, making it the first biographical film to pass $1 billion and the highest-grossing Lionsgate film. In May 2026 Lionsgate announced that a sequel is in development, and Antoine Fuqua has said enough footage was shot to cover Jackson's later life.
The facts
- Language
- English
- Hindi
- Hindi dub available
- Genre
- Musical biopic
- Runtime
- 127 min
- Director
- Antoine Fuqua
- Cast
- Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Juliano Valdi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Michael in India?
- As of 24 October 2026, Michael is streaming in India on JioHotstar with a subscription.
- Is Michael available in Hindi?
- Yes. Michael was made in English, and a Hindi-dubbed version is available on JioHotstar.
- How long is Michael?
- Michael runs for 2 hours 7 minutes (127 minutes).