In Just 1 Day, 2026's Record-Breaking Biopic Is Officially the No. 1 Film in the U.S. - MCE Notices | California State Portal

Biopics have always been a part of the film industry. But musical biopics have taken a bigger role since the international success of Bohemian Rhapsody, the 2018 musical biographical drama film following the lead singer of the British rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury. And now, another highly anticipated musical biopic is dominating on PVOD.

Per FlixPatrol, Michael is currently the No. 1 most-watched movie on the Apple TV Store in the United States, as well as in multiple other countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, and more. The musical biopic currently holds the No. 2 spot worldwide on the Apple TV store, and it’s among the most-watched movies on Amazon Prime.

Michael Follows the Early Life of One of the World’s Biggest Stars

Michael stars Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson, aptly known as the King of Pop for his multiple record-breaking albums, music videos, and singles that still influence music today. Michael Jackson was a groundbreaking artist who is considered one of the most culturally significant figures of the 20th century and the greatest entertainer of all time.

The Michael biopic follows Michael Jackson’s early years as he began his career in the Jackson 5, the influence his father had on his musical projects, and the production of some of Michael Jackson’s biggest hits: “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” and “Thriller.” Michael covers the artist’s life between 1966 and 1988, ending with his first solo tour, the Bad World Tour.

Michael was in development for many years, starting in 2019. The biopic went through some changes to the script behind the scenes and was eventually released in theaters on April 24, 2026, in the United States. Michael grossed $890.8 million worldwide against a $155–200 million budget, becoming the third-highest-grossing biographical film of all time.

Filmmaker Antoine Fuqua, known for directing films like Training Day, The Equalizer, and The Magnificent Seven, directed the Michael biopic, with screenwriter John Logan, who worked on Gladiator, The Last Samurai, and The Aviator, writing the script. Alongside Jaafar Jackson, Michael starred Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Michael’s parents, and Miles Teller as John Branca, Michael’s attorney.

KeiLyn Durrel Jones also starred in the biopic as Bill Bray, Michael’s bodyguard, with Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe. Joseph David-Jones, Rhyan Hill, Jamal R. Henderson, and Tre Horton played Michael’s older brothers, and Jessica Sula played La Toya Jackson, Michael’s older sister. Kendrick Sampson starred in Michael as legendary music producer Quincy Jones.

Michael Received Polarizing Reviews

Image via Glen Wilson / Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection

Michael was not a hit with critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the biopic holds a 39% Tomatometer score based on critics’ reviews. Spencer Kornhaber from The Atlantic said, “Unfortunately, Michael is a botched job. After Fuqua does interesting work sowing seeds of folly amid the star’s glorious rise, the movie gives up and turns to total sanctification.”

Richard Brody from The New Yorker gave Michael a moderately positive review, writing, “Setting aside the woeful omission, though, and considering the film outside the realm of pre-existing facts, as if it were a work of fiction about a fictitious character, Michael still counts as only a modestly noteworthy achievement, enjoyable yet flawed.” Viewers, on the other hand, loved the film.

Michael has an impressive 97% Verified Hot Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes based on audiences’ reviews. And on IMDb, the musical biopic has a 7.6 rating with over 100,000 reviews. Evidently, viewers and Michael Jackson fans loved the biographical film, and that might be exactly the reason why Michael is currently a hit on PVOD.