• Instant Streaming Hit: Lionsgate’s $1 billion record-breaker MICHAEL officially premiered on Starz on August 10, 2026, and immediately skyrocketed to the #1 spot on the platform’s daily movie chart.
• Box Office Titan: The Antoine Fuqua-directed film made history as the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time following its theatrical release on April 24, 2026.
• Physical & Digital Dominance: The streaming arrival follows a massive home video run, where the film topped weekly disc sales across Blu-ray and 4K formats in July.
• Starz Pay-One First Stop: Thanks to Lionsgate’s output agreement, Starz serves as the exclusive first SVOD window before the film transitions to secondary streaming partners down the line.

Dominant in theaters, dominant on PVOD and now dominant on streaming. Fresh off making history as the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, Lionsgate’s MICHAEL has officially landed on Starz and immediately surged to the #1 spot on the platform’s movie chart. Following its exclusive streaming debut on August 10, 2026, the Antoine Fuqua-directed feature dethroned competing blockbusters on the service in less than 24 hours, proving that audience demand for the film remains red-hot months after its April 24 theatrical premiere.

RELATED: Michael (2026) | Cast, Streaming & Reviews

From $1 Billion Theatrical Run to Home Dominance

Starring Jaafar Jackson in a star-making performance alongside Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller and Juliano Krue Valdi, Michael made history earlier this summer by becoming the first music biopic to surpass the $1 billion milestone at the global box office. The film’s jump to the top of Starz marks the latest win in a flawless home entertainment rollout. Prior to its streaming debut, the physical media release topped Circana’s VideoScan sales charts for consecutive weeks in July across 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD formats.

Why Starz Got the Exclusive First Window

Starz secured the lucrative first-run streaming window courtesy of its longstanding output agreement with distributor Lionsgate. The premium network premiered the film simultaneously across its digital app, on-demand platforms, and linear broadcast channel. For cord-cutters and fans who missed the movie’s IMAX theatrical run, the Starz release offers the first opportunity to stream the complete feature as part of a subscription package.

In other news, during an after-market call with financial analysts, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson outlined early production targets for the highly anticipated sequel. “While we are not ready to announce everything at the moment, I would tell you that we are targeting a production start towards the end of this year and early next, and think that somewhere between the end of calendar 27 and the first half of calendar 28 would be a current thought of roughly where the movie could go,” said Fogelson.

Lionsgate currently envisions releasing Michael Part 2 between late calendar year 2027 and the first half of 2028. Fogelson noted that select dance sequences filmed during the original production will be incorporated into the second chapter, though creative teams remain focused on scaling the sequel appropriately.

”The heart of MICHAEL is Jaafar Jackson. With no prior acting experience and 2 years of preparing for the role, he delivers one of the most extraordinary debut performances ever witnessed,” writes Decked Out VP Andrew Greene. “Only a real Jackson can play a Jackson, and Jaafar proves that in every scene. It’s been said before, but bears repeating, he doesn’t just imitate his Uncle Michael, he becomes Michael Jackson. He is absolutely sensational, a revelation who depicts the beautifully special, vulnerable, and mega‑talented character of Michael Jackson perfectly.”

Featured Photo: Lionsgate

RELATED: Lionsgate Eyes Late 2026 Filming Start for ‘Michael’ Biopic Sequel After $1B Milestone