I was only 11 when Michael Jackson died. I remember that day vividly. It felt like the world stopped. In an instant, every TV channel seemed to switch from their regular programming to report on the developing story. The image of the singer’s body being wheeled off a helicopter was seared into the mind.
I don’t think anyone was prepared to lose such an enormous cultural figure, which was evidenced by the outpouring of grief in the weeks after. I sat in front of the TV and watched countless hours of Michael Jackson marathons that featured music videos, documentaries, and interviews. I saw the miniseries “The Jacksons: An American Dream,” the movie “The Wiz,” impersonators, tribute performances, “The Michael Jackson Experience” … It was honestly a very effective crash course on all things Michael Jackson and turned me into a devoted fan. I don’t think I was the only kid to have this revelation, but some of the singer’s older fans think otherwise.
With the release of the “Michael” biopic, the audience demographic seems to be a point of contention among fans. Similar to musical biopics like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Elvis,” “Michael” has been marketed towards fans that were present for the height of his career, not necessarily for those of us that found him later. The film will cover Jackson’s life from his upbringing Gary, Ind. to the release of “Bad.” Due to contractual obligations with his estate, the film couldn’t depict certain people in the later half of Jackson’s career, but should still give audiences a view into why the singer became such a force in the entertainment industry.
As of writing, the film is tracking to open with $55 million at the box office, which would set a record for a musical biopic, and Universal is hoping to reach $900 million to $1 billion factoring in international markets. My mom, who’s been a Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson fangirl since the beginning, already has her tickets, and so do plenty of her friends. But, out of all the tickets sold across the country, surely some of them have to be reserved by Gen Z. Right?
I asked some of our fellow SCAD students if they were planning to see the film and many informed me that they weren’t; not because they weren’t fans but because they don’t feel it’s necessary. It seems that “Michael” is just another film in a wave of musical biopics, a genre that many people are somewhat over at this point. These retellings of the lives of some of the most infamous musical stars from the past are often too watered down for real fans and audiences feel they don’t add much to the already existing library of material surrounding the artists.
Additionally, there’s so much going on in the world at the moment. Some students see going to watch a movie about a superstar from the ’80s feels like a distraction. We’re at a moment when entertainment and the arts take a back seat in the public consciousness to make space for more pressing matters—things like war, inflation, and fascism. I can’t disagree. Frankly, in 2026, Michael Jackson is probably at the lowest level of importance he’s been at since the ’60s.
Which leads to the third factor: the demographic that seems to care less about those detractors in life, or rather, can afford to care less, are the older fans. “Michael” wasn’t made for younger audiences and older audiences are proving that point by showing up and showing out for the film’s release.
On the other hand, only two weeks ago Variety reported that Gen Z is now the most active moviegoing demographic and driving a resurgence in in-person attendance. “Michael” is coming at a time where it can galvanize the older audiences that only attend for tentpole events into buying tickets as well as the younger audiences who are more interested in the communal experience.
While we won’t know the exact demographic breakdown until far after opening weekend, I can’t imagine Gen Z skipping out on the movie. I mean, it’s Michael Jackson! This isn’t a regular biopic like “Rocketman,” “Michael” is projected to make as much money as a major Marvel release. It’s going to be a worldwide event that should, if it lands how I think it will, create another wave of Michael Jackson fanatics like myself who didn’t have the opportunity to experience his rise in popularity.
