The first footage from Michael, the Michael Jackson biographical drama, was shown to theater owners at CinemaCon on April 10, 2024. Producer Graham King presented an early trailer or first-look clip; it was not a public online release. Lionsgate released a public teaser in November 2025, and the film opened in U.S. theaters on April 24, 2026.
What happened at CinemaCon?
At the April 2024 CinemaCon convention, a gathering for theater owners, producer Graham King showed an early trailer or first-look clip for the film then in production. TheWrap’s contemporary coverage described the presentation as emotional and intense and identified the project as a Michael Jackson biopic. TheWrap’s CinemaCon report is the source for the event account.
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The footage was screened as an exhibitor presentation, not released for the general public. The available reporting does not establish the exact shots or scenes in that CinemaCon cut, or whether it matched the later public teaser.
When was the public teaser released?
Lionsgate announced its official teaser on November 8, 2025. The studio said it received 116.2 million global views in its first 24 hours, a figure it attributed to WaveMetrix. Lionsgate called that the largest 24-hour trailer debut in its studio’s history and the most-viewed trailer for a music biopic at the time; those are the studio’s claims, not an independently audited industry ranking. Lionsgate’s announcement includes the viewership figure and film details.
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What is the film about?
Lionsgate describes Michael as following Jackson from the discovery of his talent as lead singer of the Jackson Five to solo stardom, including his life away from the stage and early solo performances. The studio’s synopsis says the film traces his journey toward becoming “the biggest entertainer in the world.” That is the distributor’s promotional framing, not an independent assessment of how completely the film covers Jackson’s life.
The released film’s scope has an important limit: the Associated Press reported that revisions resulted in a story concluding in 1988, before the allegations against Jackson discussed in its coverage. That context describes the film’s narrative endpoint; it does not establish what the CinemaCon preview showed. The AP report covers the opening and production context.
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Who stars in Michael?
Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, plays the adult Michael Jackson. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan. Lionsgate also names Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo among the cast. Its current listing identifies Valdi as young Michael, Long as Katherine Jackson, Teller as John Branca, and Domingo as Joseph Jackson. Lionsgate Limited’s film listing provides the credits.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When did the film come out?
Lionsgate listed April 24, 2026, as the U.S. theatrical release date. The film subsequently opened theatrically; on April 26, the Associated Press reported a $97 million U.S. and Canada opening estimate based on studio estimates. That figure is an opening estimate, not a final box-office total.
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