Back in May, MJVibe revealed that Michael, the blockbuster biopic chronicling the life and career of Michael Jackson, would make its streaming debut on Starz. Now the wait is almost over, as the film officially arrives on the platform on August 10.
For many fans, however, the announcement came with one big question:
Why isn’t Michael heading to Netflix, Apple TV+, Peacock or Paramount+?
It’s a fair question, especially after the film became one of the biggest box office successes of all time.
A Different Story Before Release
Let’s rewind to when Michael was first announced.
From the very beginning, Lionsgate confidently told investors that the film had the potential to become a $1 billion box office phenomenon. At the time, many in the entertainment press dismissed those expectations, with some publications already predicting disaster before audiences had even seen a single frame.
History proved Lionsgate right.
Michael went on to earn over $1 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing music biopic ever made and one of the biggest theatrical successes of 2026.
But before that success became reality, many companies appeared reluctant to associate themselves with the project.
Unlike major studio releases such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Toy Story 5 or The Devil Wears Prada 2, Michael received relatively little support through merchandising partnerships and promotional tie-ins. Fans noticed the difference throughout the film’s theatrical campaign.
Streaming Platforms Seemingly Hesitated Too
The same cautious approach appeared to extend to streaming services.
Rather than securing Michael, Netflix instead invested in another Michael Jackson-related project from the creators behind Leaving Neverland, continuing a narrative that many fans strongly dispute.
Whether that influenced other streaming platforms is impossible to know from the outside. Licensing negotiations involve countless commercial factors, including existing studio agreements, regional rights and financial offers. However, it is clear that Michael ultimately found its streaming home with Starz.
While some fans are disappointed that the film won’t initially be available on one of the world’s largest subscription services, there is another way to look at it.
Credit Where It’s Due
Starz believed in the film.
In an environment where many companies appeared hesitant to embrace a Michael Jackson project before its release, Starz stepped forward and secured the streaming rights.
Now subscribers will finally have the opportunity to watch or rewatch, the record-breaking biopic from the comfort of home.
Would millions more people have discovered Michael immediately if it had landed on Netflix? Probably. Netflix’s enormous subscriber base offers exposure that few platforms can match.
But every successful streaming journey has to begin somewhere, and for Michael, that place is Starz.
After defying expectations at the worldwide box office, perhaps its streaming story is only just beginning.
