Audiences will get the chance to see Michael ahead of its wider rollout when the film begins early IMAX screenings on April 22, and tickets are available now. The upcoming biographical drama traces the life and legacy of Michael Jackson, from his rise as the breakout talent of the Jackson Five to the visionary performer whose ambition pushed him to become one of the most influential entertainers in the world. With Antoine Fuqua directing, John Logan writing, and Jaafar Jackson leading the cast, Michael is positioning itself as a major theatrical event, and the IMAX launch makes clear that this film wants to be experienced on the biggest screen possible.
The Spotlight Starts With the Spectacle
The IMAX angle feels especially important here because Michael is not being sold as a quiet, intimate character study alone. The film promises a front-row seat to Jackson’s life on and off the stage, while also highlighting some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career. That kind of scale naturally fits the premium format, especially for a movie built around one of the most electrifying performers in music history.
That is what makes the early IMAX release such a smart push. A film centered on a figure this larger than life should feel immersive, loud, and cinematic. The premium format gives audiences a chance to experience the music, movement, and stagecraft with extra weight, which could make Michael feel less like a standard biopic and more like an event.
The Michael Creative Team is Built for a Big-Screen Portrait
The talent behind the film gives it even more presence. Fuqua brings a strong visual style to the director’s chair, while Logan’s script has the job of shaping a story that covers both public triumph and private complexity. Jaafar Jackson leads the cast, joined by Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, with Miles Teller and Colman Domingo also starring.
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That lineup suggests Michael wants to balance spectacle with drama. The official synopsis points to a story that goes beyond the music, but it also knows exactly why audiences will show up. This is a film about an artist whose performances changed pop culture, and the promise of seeing those moments recreated on an IMAX screen gives the release its strongest hook.
The film is rated PG-13 and has an approximate runtime of 130 minutes, which points to a sweeping theatrical experience rather than a compact retelling. For moviegoers interested in music biopics, star-driven drama, or the chance to see a major release early in a premium format, Michael already has a strong reason to buy in now.
Michael begins early IMAX screenings on April 22. Tickets are on sale now, and audiences who want to see the film early will be able to experience it in IMAX theaters.
factual error: In the film, Suzanne de Passe discovers the Jackson 5. In real life, Canadian soul band Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers sent the group to Detroit for a recorded audition at Motown. Neither de Passe nor Motown president Berry Gordy were present for the recording, but the tape convinced Gordy to sign the boys.
factual error: In the film, Michael writes “Beat It” after watching a news report on the Los Angeles gang war between the Bloods and the Crips. According to Jermaine Jackson, “Beat It” was based on gang activity the Jackson family witnessed in their hometown of Gary, Indiana.
factual error: In the film, Michael signs with Epic Records in 1978. In reality, the Jackson 5 signed with Epic in 1975 after Joseph Jackson had a falling out with Motown president Berry Gordy over royalties. The sole exception, Jermaine Jackson, was married to Gordy’s daughter Hazel, and remained loyal to Gordy until 1982. Motown owned the Jackson 5 name, so the brothers renamed themselves The Jacksons.
anachronism: In the film, Michael makes Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983) before his Motown 25 performance of “Billie Jean”. In real life, the Motown 25 special was filmed on March 25, 1983 and broadcast on TV two months later. Production on “Thriller” started in August 1983, and the finished video premiered that December.
anachronism: When the Jackson 5 perform at the fair, the illumination packages for the background rides are much newer than the 1970s. The Ferris Wheel has color-changing LED lights that didn’t exist until at least 2012.
anachronism: When Michael visits kids in the hospital in 1978, one kid has an Insectoaurus from Monsters vs Aliens (2009).
The story of “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. From his childhood as the star of the Jackson 5, through times of abuse by his father Joe Jackson, to breaking away and making the hit album Thriller and claiming his independence as a solo artist.
Michael will give audiences an in-depth portrayal of the complicated man who became the King of Pop. It will bring to life Jackson’s most iconic performances as it gives an informed insight into the entertainer’s artistic process and personal life. MICHAEL JACKSON’s legacy and global reach as a recording artist, musician, and dancer is indisputable. He is the biggest-selling artist of all time, the most awarded entertainer of all time, and the artist behind the biggest-selling album of all time. Today, in 2024, his music still remains as relevant as it ever was.
Featured in: Michael – Movie Review (The movie is talked about in the episode) , Michael Brings Back the Theater Experience – Movie Review (The movie is talked about in the episode) , Episode dated 27 April 2026 (Clips shown and review of the movie.)
Are you planning to catch Michael early in IMAX? Do you think the big-screen format is the right way to tell Michael Jackson’s story? Which performance are you most hoping to see brought to life? Share your thoughts in the comments or @me.
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