By Anna Menta

The new Michael Jackson movie, Michael, opens in movie theaters this weekend, starring the child-prodigy-turned-King-of-Pop’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua (known for, among others, Training Day and The Equalizer franchise), with a screenplay written by John Logan (known for, among others, Gladiator, The Aviator, and the Skyfall and Spectre James Bond movies), this biopic will take viewers through the pop star’s rise to fame as a young boy in the Jackson 5 in the ’60s, to his early solo career in the ’80s. Jaafar Jackson, the real-life son of Michael Jackson’s brother Jermaine, will star in the film as his uncle. (Juliano Krue Valdi will also appear in the film as a young Michael.)

Michael also stars Colman Domingo as Michael’s father Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Michael’s mother Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as the Jackson estate lawyer John Branca. The film was originally going to address child abuse and sexual abuse allegations faced by Jackson in the ’90s, but spent over $15 million on re-shoots to cut that part of the movie, along with any mention of child molestation. According to Variety, that’s because Jackson’s attorneys found a “clause in a settlement with one of the singer’s accusers, Jordan Chandler, that barred the depiction or mention of him in any movie.”

If you would rather wait to watch the Michael Jackson movie at home, read on to find out what we know about when and where the Michael 2026 movie will be streaming.

Where to watch the Michael Jackson movie Michael:

For now, Michael 2026 will only be available to watch in a movie theater, when it opens in theaters wide in the U.S. on Friday, April 24. You can find a showing near you via Fandango. Michael is not yet available to watch online or on streaming.

Is the Michael 2026 movie streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime?

Michael is not streaming on Netflix right now, and likely will not stream on Netflix any time soon. Michael is a Lionsgate release, and Lionsgate has an output deal with Amazon Prime and Starz, not Netflix.

You will be able to purchase Michael on Amazon Prime Video, when the movie becomes available to buy and rent on digital. You will also be able to stream Michael on Prime for free eventually, thanks to the new deal between Lionsgate and Amazon that will send the 2026 Lionsgate movies to Amazon Prime for the “Pay 1” window, after the films play in theaters. The traditional “Pay 1” window is about four months, which would be around late August 2026 for Michael.

If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six years and get all the perks.

Will the new Michael Jackson movie be streaming on Starz?

You might see Michael on Starz later this year, because it is a Lionsgate film, and Lionsgate extended its output deal with Starz, despite the fact the studios separated in 2025. Supposedly, under the new terms of the deal, Starz will have exclusive rights to Lionsgate films post-theaters, and that the window will now come sooner after the movie’s theatrical run.

It’s not clear if this deal will continue into 2026, now that Lionsgate deal with Amazon is kicking in. The 2025 Lionsgate movie The Housemaid began streaming on Starz on April 1, a little over four months after the movie opened in the theaters.

If  Michael follows the same release pattern, you might see the movie on Starz in about four months and some change, which would be around early September 2026.

Starz typically costs $10.99/month, but right now, you can subscribe and get your first three months for $6.99/month. Additionally, you can prepay for $23.99 for six months of Starz and save over $50.

But not all Lionsgate movies followed that strategy in 2025. Other Lionsgate movies have taken upwards of nine months to stream on Starz. Now that it’s 2026, the Lionsgate movies may be going to Prime instead of Starz. Right now, we don’t have a clear look at Lionsgate’s 2026 release strategy. If you want to see Michael right away, you should go watch it in a movie theater.