The full timeline
Day 0 (US wide release) is 24 Apr 2026. Filter by phase, market, tactic, mechanic, partner, evidence or origin; the address updates so you can share the view. Use the copy button on any card for a citation.
07 Feb 2022 T−1537
Lionsgate took worldwide rights to a Michael Jackson biopic from producer Graham King and writer John Logan. The estate's co-executors John Branca and John McClain were producers, and Katherine Jackson gave a statement.
USGLOBALReported
Studio-led
18 Jan 2023 T−1192
Fuqua was attached to direct. In his statement he tied his own start in music videos to watching Jackson's work on MTV.
USGLOBALReported
Studio-led
30 Jan 2023 T−1180
Lionsgate cast Jermaine Jackson's son Jaafar as Michael. It was his first major film role.
GLOBALReported
Jaafar Jackson · Talent as distribution
03 Oct 2023 T−934
Universal acquired all international distribution outside Japan. Lionsgate kept the US.
GLOBALReported
Studio-led
11 Jan 2024 T−834
Lionsgate and Universal dated the film for 18 April 2025, with filming to begin on 22 January 2024.
GLOBALReported
Studio-led
05 Nov 2024 T−535
Lionsgate moved the film from the April 2025 Easter frame to 3 October 2025.
GLOBALReported
Studio-led
02 Apr 2025 T−387
Deadline reported the cut ran close to four hours and that splitting it into two films was being considered. The October date looked unlikely.
GLOBALReported
Fan / organic
22 May 2025 T−337
Jon Feltheimer told investors there were three and a half hours of footage and that the film would likely leave the fiscal year. Variety noted no footage was shown at CinemaCon 2025 and that reshoots were planned.
GLOBALReported
Studio-led
23 Jul 2025 T−275
Lionsgate announced a worldwide release from 24 April 2026 in theatres and IMAX. Kino Films would release in Japan and Universal in the rest of the world.
GLOBALUSReported
IMAX
No primary source was opened for this item; it rests on the outlets cited.
13 Feb 2024 T−801
Lionsgate released a photo of Jaafar performing "Man in the Mirror" in Dangerous-tour staging. It was taken by Kevin Mazur, who photographed Michael on tour and at his final rehearsals.
GLOBALReported
Jaafar Jackson
Snopes quotes Lionsgate's X post; the desk has not opened the post itself.
10 Apr 2024 T−744
Lionsgate closed its CinemaCon presentation with footage of Jaafar moonwalking and performing "Thriller". Graham King called it "an inside look at the most prolific artist who ever lived."
USReported
Jaafar Jackson
02 Apr 2026 T−22
Three-week tracking put the opening above $60M, a record for a musical biopic. Lionsgate had already screened the film for exhibitors, and early sales included the fan screenings.
USReported
Studio-led
18 Jul 2024 T−645
Kino Films took Japanese distribution. Fuqua and King gave statements aimed at Japanese fans, and King recalled the Bad tour in Yokohama.
JPReported
Studio-led
02 Sep 2025 T−234
After Colman Domingo said Paris had been supportive, she wrote on Instagram that she had zero involvement and that notes she gave on an early draft were not addressed.
GLOBALReported
Colman Domingo
27 Jan 2026 T−87
Graham King told fans at Munich Film Week that the film would premiere in Berlin on 10 April, followed by a multi-day fan festival.
DEEUROPEReported
Studio-led
10 Mar 2026 T−45
Lionsgate set one-night early screenings in IMAX and Dolby on 22 April, on sale the next day. It announced them on the anniversary of "Billie Jean" debuting on MTV, using the MTV News desk and VJ Bill Bellamy through Paramount Media Labs.
USReported
Paramount Media Labs · MTV · Bill Bellamy · IMAX
No primary source was opened for this item; it rests on the outlets cited.
12 Mar 2026 T−43
The soundtrack, from the Jackson 5 to "Thriller", was set for 24 April on CD, double vinyl and cassette.
GLOBALReported
Columbia Records
Apr 2026 T−23
Deadline described dance-troupe buses, traveling DJ trucks with a Dallas set by Spinderella, a billboard DJ set by D-Nice on Sunset Boulevard, an 11-foot 3D statue casting a shadow on a Sunset billboard, and a Hudson Yards finale with Questlove joined by Domingo and Long.
USReported
Spinderella · D-Nice · Questlove · Colman Domingo · Nia Long · Spectacle for social proof
Dates and cities are not given; all are reported in Deadline's opening-weekend recap, sourced to Lionsgate.
Apr 2026 T−23
Hologram installations taught visitors dance moves from the film, choreographed by Jackson's choreographers Rich + Tone.
USReported
Rich + Tone · Physical-to-digital
Locations and dates are not given; reported in Deadline's opening-weekend recap.
Apr 2026 T−23
The TikTok plan centred on fan edits and remixes found through the For You page. Spotify's The Stage placed fans in Jackson eras based on their listening and produced shareable assets.
GLOBALReported
TikTok · Spotify · Creator access
Reported in Deadline's opening-weekend recap; dates not given.
07 Apr 2026 T−17
A silver cup modelled on Jackson's glove, made by Ping Solutions, went on presale on 22 April to Club Cinépolis members.
MXReported
Cinépolis · Ping Solutions · Scarcity & collectibles
07 Apr 2026 T−17
Variety reported the original third act dealt with the 1993 allegations and was cut after estate lawyers found a settlement clause barring any depiction of accuser Jordan Chandler. Reshoots followed.
GLOBALReported
Fan / organic · Reactive / leak recovery
Variety and one Deadline story put the reshoots at $15M; other Deadline stories say $50M, covered by the estate.
08 Apr 2026 T−16
Lionsgate held a red carpet and private screening in Baton Rouge for Southern's band, with Kendrick Sampson, and a screening for Jackson State's band in Jackson.
USReported
Southern University Human Jukebox · Jackson State Sonic Boom of the South
10 Apr 2026 T−14
Universal premiered the film at the Uber Eats Music Hall, then ran a weekend of screenings in chosen languages, an exhibition of costumes and props, a moonwalk station with Jaafar, AR outfit try-ons and a dance party.
DEEUROPEGLOBALReported
Jaafar Jackson · Creator access · Spectacle for social proof
16 Apr 2026 T−8
Deadline reported "Don't Walk, Moonwalk" flash mobs in 20 markets. In Lima, 30 dancers performed to "Beat It" at a central intersection as part of the film's campaign.
GLOBALPEReported
Studio-led
Dates varied by market; the Lima date is used here.
06 Nov 2025 T−169
Lionsgate released the first teaser on the morning of its earnings day. Universal posted it internationally the next day. Lionsgate said it reached 116.2 million views in 24 hours, citing WaveMetrix, ahead of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour film at 96.1 million.
GLOBALConfirmed
Jaafar Jackson · Spectacle for social proof
The release is confirmed by Lionsgate's YouTube upload. The view count is studio-reported via WaveMetrix and carried by the trades.
14 Nov 2025 T−161
The teaser played in theatres with Lionsgate's Now You See Me, Now You Don't from its opening weekend.
USReported
Studio-led
01 Feb 2026 T−82
Lionsgate bought a commercial in the Grammy Awards broadcast to flag the trailer launch on Monday morning.
USReported
Studio-led
02 Feb 2026 T−81
The full trailer opened on "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and moved to "Billie Jean", with Colman Domingo's Joe Jackson and Nia Long's Katherine.
GLOBALConfirmed
Jaafar Jackson · Colman Domingo · Nia Long
08 Feb 2026 T−75
Deadline reported Lionsgate would run a Michael spot in the game, recalling its earlier buys for The Hunger Games in 2012 and Gods of Egypt in 2016. Primetimer listed the spot among those that aired.
USReported
Studio-led
The desk has not found the spot on an official channel or confirmed whether it ran in-game or pre-game.
08 Apr 2026 T−16
Lionsgate published the final trailer on its YouTube channel.
GLOBALConfirmed
Jaafar Jackson
27 Feb 2026 T−56
For Black History Month, Lionsgate's "MICHAEL CELEBRATES" campaign posted performances by Florida A&M's Marching 100, Jackson State's Sonic Boom of the South and Southern's Human Jukebox across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook.
USReported
Florida A&M Marching 100 · Jackson State Sonic Boom of the South · Southern University Human Jukebox · Cultural transposition
30 Mar 2026 T−25
A New York gallery showed film props, unseen production imagery and a new piece by artist Dimithry Victor. Deadline says it was a Complex gallery that opened with a tastemaker night with Jaafar.
USReported
Complex · Dimithry Victor · Jaafar Jackson
20 Apr 2026 T−4
Jaafar's aunt and uncles La Toya, Marlon, Jermaine and Jackie, and Michael's son Prince, attended. King and Fuqua introduced the cast to a house of 3,300.
USReported
Jaafar Jackson · Colman Domingo · Nia Long
21 Apr 2026 T−3
The review embargo lifted three days before release. Deadline reported Rotten Tomatoes at 33% early on. Several critics faulted the film for leaving out the abuse allegations.
GLOBALReported
Fan / organic
22 Apr 2026 T−2
The Wednesday early-access shows took $3.8M of the film's $12.6M US previews.
USReported
IMAX
22 Apr 2026 T−2
Universal opened in France, Germany, Mexico, Australia and other markets on 22 April. The film took $18.5M on its first international day.
GLOBALEUROPEMXAUReported
Studio-led
23 Apr 2026 T−1
Graham posted that "certain legal considerations" removed scenes she filmed. Diana Ross does not appear in the final cut.
GLOBALReported
Fan / organic
23 Apr 2026 T−1
A custom X partnership included an animated profile showing Jackson dancing through the years. On the eve of release the like button became a fedora.
GLOBALReported
24 Apr 2026 T0
Columbia Records released the 13-song soundtrack alongside the US opening.
GLOBALReported
Columbia Records
26 Apr 2026 T+2
The film opened to about $97M in the US and Canada and $217M worldwide, ahead of tracking of $65M to $70M. IMAX and premium formats were 48% of US weekend sales. It was No. 1 in 64 of 82 international markets.
USGLOBALUKINReported
IMAX
30 Apr 2026 T+6
The dance group Zeppe Youngsterz performed a Jackson flash mob in traditional Baju Melayu and Kebaya to promote the film, and the video spread online.
MYReported
Zeppe Youngsterz · Cultural transposition
03 May 2026 T+9
Michael was No. 2 in its second US weekend. Its $97.5M opening remained the year's fourth-best start behind Super Mario Galaxy and ahead of Project Hail Mary.
USReported
Fan / organic
09 Jun 2026 T+46
Deadline reported the film had become the highest-grossing release in Lionsgate's history. The UK, France and Germany led international markets.
GLOBALUKReported
Studio-led
28 Jun 2026 T+65
In its tenth weekend the film reached $977.4M, ahead of Oppenheimer's $975.8M.
GLOBALReported
Studio-led
12 Jul 2026 T+79
Lionsgate and Universal announced $1.0016B worldwide. Japan's $35.75M took it over the line. The film set biopic records in 31 territories and musical-biopic records in 55 more.
GLOBALJPReported
Studio-led
No primary source was opened for this item; it rests on the outlets cited.
13 May 2026 T+19
The film opened in Korea three weeks after most markets.
KRReported
Studio-led
Date from Box Office Mojo's market table.
21 May 2026 T+27
Adam Fogelson said 25% to 30% of a second film was already shot. Jon Feltheimer said there was "a lot more story to tell".
GLOBALReported
Studio-led
05 Jun 2026 T+42
Pop-up shops of licensed Jackson merchandise returned in Tokyo and Osaka, timed to the film's Japanese release.
JPReported
Partner-led
12 Jun 2026 T+49
Kino Films released the film in Japan seven weeks after the US. The same day it became the highest-grossing music biopic at $911.9M worldwide.
JPGLOBALReported
Studio-led
06 Aug 2026 T+104
Fogelson told analysts the target release was the end of 2027 or the first half of 2028, using big musical sequences already shot.
GLOBALReported
Studio-led
28 May 2026 T+34
The Lionsgate spot cut by AV Squad won Best Sound Editing in a TV Spot.
USReported
AV Squad
02 Jun 2026 T+39
Lionsgate set PVOD for 9 June and discs for 14 July, with Amazon and Walmart SteelBooks and a Lionsgate Limited edition with a photo book. It was part of Lionsgate's first Movies Anywhere titles.
USReported
Walmart · Amazon
Screen-Connections reproduces Lionsgate's 2 June release.
14 Jul 2026 T+81
Discs arrived with making-of features and time-lapse extras, plus Amazon and Walmart exclusive SteelBooks.
USReported
Walmart · Amazon
10 Aug 2026 T+108
Starz streamed the film exclusively and gave it a linear TV premiere the same night.
USReported
Starz
29 Aug 2026 T+127
The film reached Indian streaming with a Hindi version after a theatrical run of over Rs 83.5 crore gross.
INReported
JioHotstar
