Michael Runtime Revealed: Exactly How Long Jaafar Jackson’s King of Pop Biopic Runs
Michael, the Jaafar Jackson-led biopic of the King of Pop, clocks in at 2 hours and 10 minutes—landing in the same league as Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman.
Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, finally has a runtime and a clearer game plan. Short version: it is not the two-part epic it was shaping up to be, but the cut we are getting lands right in the music-biopic sweet spot.
How long is it?
AMC's listing currently puts Michael at 2 hours and 10 minutes. For reference, Bohemian Rhapsody ran 2:14 and Rocketman clocked in at 2:01. So, comfortably in that zone where you can stage the hits and still breathe.
What the movie actually covers
The film tracks Jackson from the early discovery years as the Jackson 5 frontman through the run-up of his solo superstardom, with a mix of off-stage life and re-creations of major early performances. The studio pitch calls it
'a cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy' of one of the most influential artists.
Expect an emphasis on the ambition that drove him to become the biggest entertainer in the world, and a timeline that reportedly stops during his 1980s ascent rather than trying to cover everything in one go.
Who is playing who (and who is making it)
- Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson
- Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael
- Nia Long as Katherine Jackson
- Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson
- Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe
- Miles Teller as John Branca
- Directed by Antoine Fuqua; written by John Logan
- Produced by John Branca, Graham King, and John McClain
The release plan (and the pivots)
This one has had a journey. It was originally mapped out as two movies: part one in April 2025 and part two in November 2025. Then came reshoots and significant changes to the third act, and the plan shifted. Now it is a single film, with the option for a follow-up if audiences show up.
Lionsgate is set to release Michael in theaters and IMAX on April 24, 2026.
As for the studio line on what you are in for, they promise audiences a front-row view of Jackson as they have not seen him before. Or, as they put it:
'a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before.'
Translation: big performances, big mythmaking, and a cut that stops before the story gets unwieldy. Smart move.