The biggest musical biopic of the year is coming home. Lionsgate has announced that ‘Michael’, the worldwide box office blockbuster chronicling Michael Jackson’s life and legacy, arrives on Premium Digital and Premium Video on Demand beginning June 9th, followed by DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and collectible editions on July 14th. With a 97% Popcornmeter score, the film has grossed $852.4 million to date.
The cast runs deep. Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson stars in the titular role in his film debut, alongside Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Miles Teller, Colman Domingo, Kat Graham as Diana Ross, and Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the film was produced by Graham King, John Branca, and John McClain.
The story digs beneath the music. ‘Michael’ traces Jackson’s journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of The Jackson 5 to his rise as the visionary artist who relentlessly pursued becoming the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Jackson as never before.
The numbers behind it are staggering. ‘Michael’ opened in theaters April 24th with a $217.4 million debut, the biggest opening weekend ever for a musical biopic, surpassing Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Deadline reports the Universal/Lionsgate production is the second-best opening year-to-date, trailing only Universal’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Collectors get plenty to dig into. The home release packs special features including the making-of documentary “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” a behind-the-gates look at Hayvenhurst, multiple time-lapse transformations, and more, some exclusive to the physical editions. Lionsgate is also making the film available through Movies Anywhere as part of its initial June offering.