The awards season journey for Michael, the record-breaking biopic about the King of Pop, has taken an unexpected turn after the Golden Globes rejected Lionsgate’s request to enter the film in the Musical or Comedy categories for the 2027 awards.
The Golden Globes’ committee has decided that the film does not qualify for the category, meaning it is currently expected to compete in the Drama categories instead.
But what does this actually mean? Why was “Michael” rejected?
At first glance, the decision might seem surprising. After all, Michael is a film built around the life, music and legendary performances of Michael Jackson, featuring Jaafar Jackson recreating many of his uncle’s most iconic moments.
However, the Golden Globes have specific rules for what qualifies as a musical.
According to the organisation’s guidelines, a musical can be a comedy or a drama in which songs are used alongside spoken dialogue to further the plot.
The committee reportedly concluded that the musical performances in Michael did not meet this particular requirement. In other words, having numerous songs and spectacular musical sequences is not necessarily enough to qualify a film for the Musical or Comedy category.
It is a question of how music is used within the storytelling, rather than how much music a film contains.
What happens next? Lionsgate can appeal the decision before the October 31 submission deadline. If the appeal is unsuccessful, Michael will have to compete in the Drama categories.
That could make the awards race more challenging, as the film would face competition from other major productions, including Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
The change could also affect Jaafar Jackson’s chances in the Best Actor race, as the lead acting categories at the Golden Globes are divided between Drama and Musical or Comedy. The supporting acting categories, however, are not divided by genre, meaning Colman Domingo and Nia Long would not be affected by this particular decision.
It is worth remembering that this is a category classification issue, not a rejection of the film from the awards altogether.
Does it really matter? Yes, potentially. Awards categories can make a significant difference to a film’s chances of receiving nominations.
The Golden Globes divide their main film awards between Drama and Musical or Comedy, giving studios a strategic decision when submitting their films. A change of category can mean facing a different group of competitors, with different films and performances competing for the same nominations.
Musical biopics have taken different routes in the past. Bohemian Rhapsody and Elvis, for example, competed in the Drama categories, demonstrating that a film centred on a legendary musician does not automatically qualify as a musical for awards purposes.
For Michael, the outcome of any appeal could therefore influence how the film and Jaafar Jackson are positioned during the upcoming awards season.
Whatever happens with the category dispute, the decision does not change what Michael has achieved with audiences around the world.
The film has become a historic box-office success, passing the $1 billion mark worldwide and bringing Michael Jackson’s music and performances to a new generation of moviegoers.
The Golden Globes classification is simply one part of the wider awards conversation, and there are still other opportunities for the film and its cast to receive recognition.
For now, all eyes are on Lionsgate and whether the studio will appeal before the October 31 deadline.
The question is no longer simply whether Michael will be part of the Golden Globes race, but which category it will ultimately compete in.
