The first teaser trailer for the upcoming biopic Michael, the film about the legendary Michael Jackson, has made an enormous splash. Released by Lionsgate in early November 2025, the trailer hit 116.2 million global views within its first 24 hours, according to analytics firm WaveMetrix. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by three-time Oscar nominee John Logan.
This isn't just impressive, it’s historic for multiple reasons such as:
- It is now the most-viewed trailer for any music biopic or concert film in history.
- It is also the largest 24-hour trailer debut in Lionsgate’s history.
To put the scale in context; the previous record for a music/trailer was held by Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour at 96.1 million in its first day. In fact, in just the first six hours the trailer surpassed 30 million views, outpacing what a major action film did in its early launch.
What the teaser shows
The trailer provides a tantalising first look at Jaafar Jackson, nephew of Michael Jackson in the lead role as King of pop.
The trailer has the following key features:
The trailer has the following key features:
- Reconstructions of Michael Jackson’s signature moves including the iconic moonwalk and nods to his landmark “Thriller” video.
- A sampling of major career eras: his early days with The Jackson 5 and his ascendancy as solo superstar.
- Visual motifs tied to his artistry and performance legacy, showing the fusion of spectacle, talent and pop-culture imprint.
The massive engagement signals several things:
- The enduring global fascination with Michael Jackson as both an entertainer and cultural icon.
- A very high expectation for the film: when a trailer becomes a record-breaker, it suggests both strong awareness and strong emotional connection from audiences.
- For Lionsgate, this is a major win in the realm of marketing and hype. A trailer that reaches over 100 million views in a day isn’t just a PR victory, it sets the stage for box-office and cultural impact.
- From a biopic perspective: many music-star films struggle to break through; this one is already showing it might be an exception.
However, a few things to keep in mind:
- Trailer views do not guarantee box office success. They show interest and reach, but translating that into ticket sales is a separate challenge.
- The film has faced delays: originally it had a different release schedule and there have been discussions about its length and structure.
- There is also the question of how fully the film will address the more controversial parts of Michael Jackson’s life, which have long shadowed his legacy. Some reports suggest those areas may be treated selectively.
‘Michael’ is slated for April 24, 2026 release globally. Given the trailer’s performance it will be interesting to track how the full trailer does (when released) and whether the buzz continues to build. The teaser for ‘Michael’ isn’t just generating routine excitement it is turning into a major cultural moment. The 116.2 million views in 24 hours reflect the power of Michael Jackson’s legacy, the curiosity surrounding Jaafar Jackson stepping into his uncle’s shoes, and the appetite for a vivid, cinematic portrayal of one of music’s most influential figures
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