The Michael Teaser Trailer Smashes Records, Surpassing 116 Million Views in 24 Hours
The highly anticipated teaser trailer for the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, has shattered records, amassing an astonishing 116.2 million views worldwide in its first 24 hours. This marks the largest 24-hour trailer launch in Lionsgate's history and the most-viewed trailer for any music biopic or concert movie in cinematic history. The data, sourced from WaveMetrix, highlights the immense global interest in this project.
This achievement surpasses the previous record holder, Taylor Swift: Eras Tour, which garnered 96.1 million views in its first 24 hours after its release on August 31, 2023. It also outshines other notable music biopics like Bob Marley: One Love (60.1 million views), Bohemian Rhapsody (57.6 million views), and Searchlight's Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown (47.2 million views).
The Michael trailer's release coincided with Lionsgate's earnings day, and it generated an impressive 30 million global views in its first six hours, a 50% increase compared to the trailer traffic for John Wick: Chapter 4 over the same period. This rapid growth in views underscores the intense anticipation surrounding the film.
The Michael teaser trailer will be attached to the release of Lionsgate's Now You See: Now You Don't, directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, which hits theaters on April 24, 2026. Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew, will portray his iconic uncle on screen, while the cast also includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Coleman Domingo as Joe Jackson, and Miles Teller as John Branca. Three-time Oscar nominee John Logan penned the screenplay for Michael.
Lionsgate will handle domestic distribution, while Kino Films will distribute the film in Japan, and Universal will manage the rest of the world. This global collaboration showcases the film's potential to reach a vast audience, further fueling excitement for its release.
